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AUTOBODY AL / FL / GA / MS / NC / SC / TN / VA / WV
Auto Body Shops Asked to Submit Experiences with SRS Inspections by John Yoswick
I-CAR is seeking help from collision repairers as it reviews OEM safety inspections related to secondary restraint systems (SRS). Scott VanHulle, manager of I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support and OEM Technical Relations, said the project grew out of a virtual summit the training organization held in March with 150 shops, insurers and automakers. The discussion centered around whether the industry had adequate information about what inspections
were required and when, what the inspections should “look like” and the “why” behind the inspections. The OEMs may not be aware of shortcomings in their procedures related to this, VanHulle said, because traditionally much of the feedback they receive is from dealership service departments that aren’t dealing with collision-damaged vehicles. I-CAR hopes to develop industry-vetted best practices related to the inspections, provide feedback to the automakers about any potential repair information improvements See SRS Inspections, Page 12
Marine Corps Officials Break Ground on New Welding and Auto Body Repair Shop in GA by FOX 31 News
Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Marine Corps Logistics Command and Marine Depot Maintenance Command leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $25.6 million welding and auto body shop June 16 in Albany, GA. “I am extremely proud of the team effort to bring this dream to reality,” said Leonard Housley, executive director, MCLB Albany. The construction of this new facility will support Production Plant Albany and provide both large and
small open bays for repairs to military tactical vehicles. This includes assault amphibious vehicles and light armored vehicles. Col. Wilfred Rivera, commander, MDMC, said the work to bring the project to fruition goes back several years and aligns the Marine Corps with the goal of maintaining pertinence in future generations. “This will open seeds at MARCORLOGCOM and MDMC to make sure a tree grows that takes us to 2030 and beyond,” Rivera said. See Marine Corps, Page 16
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 12 / Issue 5 / July 2021
Toyota Says It’s Still Too Soon to Focus on Electric Cars by Steven Loveday, Inside EVs
Toyota continues to assert its vehicle lineup will offer a variety of options over the next 30 years, a stance it reiterated at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
Toyota has been pushing hybrids and hydrogen for years, and it still insists it’s not time to focus on
electric cars. An investor asked during the meeting why Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has a different view from that of Honda. The competing Japanese brand has set a goal to have a fully electric lineup by 2040. Toyota Director Shigeki Terashi, who joined the call from Toyota’s Aichi headquarters, reportedly replied, “It’s too early to concentrate on one option.” Terashi added between now and 2050, the brand needs to offer mulSee Focus on Electric Cars, Page 12
Allstate vs. AGA Lawsuit Continues Thousands of pages of documents have been filed with the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Florida concerning more than 3,000 windshield damage claims in the case of Allstate Insurance and its related entities (Allstate) vs. Auto Glass America and its owner, Charles Isaly (AGA). In addition to building a case for each side, those documents provide interesting details about how each side functions and how it believes the other side does as well. For example, Allstate’s trial brief of March 8 contends that several years ago, Isaly decided AGA would no longer follow Allstate’s claims reporting procedures. Rather, the brief says, AGA calls either an Allstate agent or Allstate’s 800 customer service number to confirm the insured has comprehensive coverage. It also alleges AGA’s technicians request an insured’s signature on a work order that does not include the prices to be charged for parts or labor, but does include an assignment of benefits (AOB). Allstate also says AGA does not
currently nor has it performed windshield repairs since 2014, a fact later confirmed by Isaly. The brief goes on to say AGA charges Allstate more than it charges any other insurance company and AGA’s invoices to the insurer reflect a discount of -47% of the NAGS list price. A discount of a negative number is actually an upcharge, and Allstate’s brief argues “there is no viable argument that a 47% up charge for the windshield part is competitive, reasonable or market rate.” The trial brief filed by Allstate asks for more than monetary damages. It asks for equitable relief in the form of a declaratory judgement deploring AGA’s practices as deceptive, unfair, unconscionable and in violation of Florida law and FTC rules. It further asks the court to require AGA follow Allstate’s procedures by providing the first notice of loss to the insurer before repairing or replacing any windshield for its insured. Allstate also wants the court to require AGA refrain from telling See Allstate vs. AGA, Page 6
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