July 2024 Southeast Edition

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Automakers Adjust EV Strategies To Consumer Response

Electric vehicle sales are steadily growing worldwide, but perhaps not at the rate some automakers anticipated. Some are adjusting their production strategies to increase profitability, while others are forging ahead by introducing new EV models.

IDTechEx recently reported a 20% dip in global EV sales in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the last quarter of 2023 — but a 30% growth when compared with the

same quarter last year.

The report credited the sales dip to the consistent seasonal trend of lower sales in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter. Despite this, EV sales have shown a steady upward trajectory year-on-year. Furthermore, regional sales comparisons indicate a rise in EV sales across all major markets, including China, Europe and the U.S.

Concerns about a downturn in the EV market often arise from

PPG Pours Resources Into Auto Manufacturing Growth in Southeast

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen:

The Southeast has long harbored major automakers, and the current

electric vehicle boom only promises more growth. That growth means increased manufacturing needs, and PPG, an industry mainstay best known for its paint and coatings, is stepping up to answer the call with

Virginia Backtracks on California’s EV Mandate

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared the state will no longer follow California’s stringent electric vehicle (EV) mandates, starting next year, a significant policy shift in Virginia’s approach to vehicle emissions and green energy initiatives.

“Once again, Virginia is declaring independence — this time from a misguided electric vehicle mandate imposed by unelected leaders nearly 3,000 miles away from the

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Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a statement. The governor’s announcement comes amid ongoing efforts to distance the state from the green energy mandates established by the prior administration.

Earlier this year, Youngkin urged state lawmakers to repeal the 2021 law that tied Virginia’s vehicle emissions policies to California’s. However, the bill failed to advance due to the Democratic majority in the General Assembly.

Despite the setback, State

AL / FL / GA / MS / NC / SC / TN / VA / WV SOUTHEAST EDITION YEARS 42 AUTOBOD YNEWS.CO M Vol. 15 / Issue 5 / July 2024
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ON PAGE 10 REGIONAL NEWS
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REGIONAL NEWS
Ford’s BlueOval City campus in Stanton, TN, currently under construction, is just one of several major auto manufacturing plants PPG’s new facility, also in Tennessee, will supply with coatings and paints.
l CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
Kia recently began production of its first all-electric three-row SUV, the EV9, at its manufacturing plant in Georgia.
Columnist Mike Anderson: Measuring Your Body Shop’s Performance Based on Gross Sales Per Tech 7 Columnist Abby Andrews: How to Determine if Investing in EV Repair Makes Sense for Your Auto Body Shop 8 Columnist Stacey Phillips Ronak: Start-Up NODAR Aims to Equip Driver-Assist, Self-Driving Cars with New 3D Sensing Technology 18 Columnist John Yoswick: Laser Welding May Find Its Way Into Collision Repair Shops 21 INSIDE THIS ISSUE PRESORTED ARANDST D S.U. AGPOST E AIDP P ERMIT 8#28 ,ANAHEIM CA P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018 Change Service Requested
2 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

REGIONAL NEWS

Classic Collision Acquires H&T in Virginia Beach 42

Classic Collision Acquires Ponto’s in FL 43

Classic Collision Expands Acquisition 45

Crash Champions Acquires Mitchell Collision Repair in Florida to Expand Luxury, EV Network 16

Crash Champions Increases Florida Presence with Liles Collision 40

Florida Woman’s Family Sues Over Death Allegedly Caused by Counterfeit Airbag 6

Gold Star Family Receives Refurbished Vehicle at Southeast Collision Conference 35

Maaco Longwood in Florida Welcomes New Ownership 33

North Carolina Approves CuttingEdge Tech Community College Programs 12

North Carolina Raises Auto Liability Coverage Minimums for 2025 30

PPG Pours Resources into Auto Manufacturing Growth in Southeast 1

Veterans Presented Refurbished Vehicles by NABC Recycled Rides at NASCAR Hall of Fame 38

Virginia Backtracks on California’s EV Mandate 1

COLUMNISTS

Mike Anderson

Measuring Your Body Shop’s Performance Based on Gross Sales Per Tech 7

Abby Andrews Grow Your Collision Repair Shop by Investing in Yourself, Your Team 4

Growth Potential Driving Private Equity Interest in Collision Repair 20

How Collision Repairers Can Address Current Needs While Preparing for the Future 26

How to Determine if Investing in EV Repair Makes Sense for Your Auto Body Shop 8

Vehicle Characteristics, ADAS Features Shifting Claims Frequency, Severity 14

Stacey Phillips Ronak ETI ToolTech 2024 Fosters Collaboration Between

11

Global Automotive Startup Companies Recognized During Grand Prix ACF AutoTech Competition 19

Start-Up NODAR Aims to Equip DriverAssist, Self-Driving Cars with New 3D Sensing Technology 18

John Yoswick

Laser Welding May Find Its Way Into Collision Repair Shops 21

SCRS to Study Estimating Systems’ Approach to Structural Set-Up and Measure 17

Taking Out Some of the Glare of Working with Semi-Gloss, Matte Finish Vehicles 22

AirPro Diagnostics Preferred Supplier for Fix Network 38

Autel Approved for Nissan Central Gateway Access 12

Auto Additive Launches 3D Printing Business 35

Automakers Adjust EV Strategies to Consumer Response 1

CREF Awards $235,000 in Scholarships, Tool Grants to Collision Repair Students 39

Dangerous Takata Airbags Still on Roads Despite Decade of Recalls 34

Deadly Driving: New Mexico Has the Worst Drivers in America 40

Estimating Plastic Repair Training Course Cuts Down on Discarded

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 3 Contents
Repairable Parts 43 EV Total Loss Frequency Rises Amid Falling Used EV Prices 27 New Fuel Economy Standard Aims For 50+ MPG By 2027-2031 Model Years 45 New-Vehicle Prices Drop for 8th Month Amid High Inventory 42 Programs Tackle Tech Shortage by Helping Young People Make Connections in Collision Repair 41 Strong May New-Car Sales Driven by Improved Inventory 36 Study Reveals Efficiency Gains with Diagnostics 6 WIN Awards Record 30 Scholarships 32
Audi Gwinnett 36 Audi North Miami 30 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers ����������������� 42 Auto Data Labels 47 AutoNation Ford-Memphis 34 Axalta 15 Car-O-Liner 2 Car-Part com 21 Certified Automotive Parts Association 22 Classifieds 46 Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet 32 Empire Auto Parts ������������������������������������ 14 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers ����������������� 44 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers 45 Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale 37 Gus Machado Ford 13 Harper Volkswagen 35 Hendrick Automotive Group 31 Hendrick Honda Pompano Beach 34 Hendrick Kia Cary 33 Hendrick Kia Concord 33 Hendrick Volvo Cars of Charleston ���������� 40 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers 23-25 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers 46 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers 41 Lauch Tech ��������������������������������������������������� 48 Mercedes-Benz of Tampa���������������������������� 39 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers 44 Miami Lakes Automall 10 MINI of Charleston 40 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers 16 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers 44 NorthAmerican Bancard 11 Ourisman Kia of Fairfax 30 Parker Lord 6 Parks Chevrolet ���������������������������������������� 38 Polyvance 12 Reeder Chevrolet 36 Reed Nissan 32 Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples 28 SATA Spray Equipment 5 Serra Kia 39 Southern Polyurethanes 7, 27 Sport Durst Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram 40 Stivers Decatur Subaru 38 Subaru of Gwinnett���������������������������������� 29 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers 43 Toyota-Mazda of North Miami 28 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers 40 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers 44
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Grow Your Collision Repair Shop by Investing in Yourself, Your Team

Matt Ebert is the founder and CEO of Crash Champions, which grew from a regional MSO in the Chicago market to a national consolidator with nearly 650 locations — all in the span of about five years.

Ebert appeared on The Collision Vision podcast, driven by Autobody News and hosted by Cole Strandberg, to talk about his start in the industry and how he grew Crash Champions, offering advice for other collision shop owners looking to improve or expand their businesses.

Getting into the Industry by Accident

When Ebert was 16, he wrecked his car. He knew a technician who worked on cars in the garage behind his house. Ebert asked the tech to show him how to fix his car, then started helping the tech fix other cars.

“I got into it literally by accident,” Ebert said.

In 1999, when Ebert was in his late 20s, he and the owner of a repair shop he was managing opened another shop together, New Lenox Auto Body in New Lenox, IL. They were partners for 15 years, until Ebert’s partner retired. Ebert bought him out and started growing the business into multiple locations. In 2014, it was rebranded Crash Champions.

By 2019, Ebert had grown Crash Champions to 11 locations. That year, he took on a private equity partner, and Crash Champions took off. Today, the MSO has nearly 650 locations nationwide.

Strandberg asked Ebert about some of the challenges he faced early in his career.

“I came from nothing, so it’s always been a challenge,” Ebert said. He said he once took out a total of $100,000 in cash advances on multiple credit cards.

Ebert and his partner in New Lenox Auto Body also dealt with the effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the Great Recession of 2008. Later, after Crash Champions took on its private equity investor, it acquired its first two shops in new markets on March 1, 2020 — just before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.

“The biggest lesson I learned is there’s always going to be a challenge,” Ebert said.

Pivotal Moments in Crash Champions’ Growth Crash Champions has twice bought MSOs that were bigger than it —

one of its first acquisitions, Pacific Elite in Southern California in 2020, had 23 shops, and in 2022, Crash Champions acquired Service King, which had more than 330 shops in 24 states.

Another pivotal moment was the decision to take on a private equity partner.

“For me, it was a little bit about what would be the risk of doing it alone,” Ebert said. At the time, Crash Champions only had locations in

uses to attract and retain talent include rewarding employees for recruiting others, and implementing apprentice programs for technicians and service advisors.

Ebert said Crash Champions currently uses the same EV training through I-CAR and automakers available to any repair shop, though he thinks it will develop internal training as it grows its footprint in luxury and EV repair. The company already has internal training on

Chicago — the most consolidated market in the industry. Ebert said he thought about what the company would be worth if he grew it to 20 shops on his own, or if anyone else would want to buy it.

“So at some point in my life, if I was going to end up getting paid for all the work [I put into growing it], what would be my exit plan?” Ebert said.

In addition, in 2019, it was already clear vehicles would continue to get more sophisticated -- and it would take more capital to be able to invest in the equipment and people needed to repair them.

“So weighing all of those, for me, was why I ended up going the route I went,” he said.

Attracting and Retaining Talent

“Robots aren’t going to be fixing cars anytime soon,” Ebert said. To attract employees, Crash Champions’ biggest focus is on its culture.

“So much depends on the leadership in your ability to retain people once you get them to get them there, as well as be able to attract them,” he said.

To facilitate that, Crash Champions puts its management team through a proprietary training program. “We’ve seen great results from that,” Ebert said.

Other methods the company

when they do make the decision to expand, Ebert answered from the perspective of an acquirer.

“It’s not about the number of locations, it’s the quality of the locations,” he said. “There’s just so much investment and overhead expense in this industry. You have to fix so many cars just to get to breakeven. And so having five shops that are barely at the break-even point doesn’t create a great business.”

Ebert said the biggest mistake is thinking sheer shop count numbers is going to make the business more attractive to a potential buyer. “It’s not about market domination. It should be about quality.”

“So at some point in my life, if I was going to end up getting paid for all the work [I put into growing Crash Champions], what would be my exit plan?”

The Future of Collision Repair

ADAS, because it has been doing that work in-house for so long.

“I saw the need for that when we were just that handful of locations, six at the time, in Chicago,” Ebert said.

How to Grow Your Own MSO

Ebert said he learned most industries that undergo consolidation continue until they’re about 65% consolidated; the collision repair industry is currently at about 30%.

“It still has a long way to go before it’s done consolidating,” he said. “If your desire is to grow and grow, there’s room.”

Owners should keep the money in the business.

“I wasn’t living an extravagant lifestyle ever,” Ebert said. “It was keeping the money in the business and at work and growing it. To compete in the future, I think facilities need to be nice. Equipment needs to be able to repair the current vehicles.”

Another key is to surround yourself with the right people. “I can cite several examples of where I brought in people who have been where I haven’t been yet, so that they could help me not learn some of the lessons the hard way,” Ebert said.

When asked about mistakes smaller shop owners should avoid

Ebert said none of his predictions will come as a surprise: consolidation will continue to accelerate; claims will increasingly go through DRP programs, and thus to MSOs; vehicle complexity will continue to advance, requiring shops to invest in new technology; and the talent shortage will continue to present challenges.

To address those, Ebert said Crash Champions is spending more than $10 million in 2024 alone on new equipment and training for its team.

He said the company’s goal is to have great facilities, be easy to work for and have the best team. To attract more people, the collision repair industry needs to better promote itself as a viable career path, and raise technician pay to be able to compete with other trades.

Strandberg asked what legacy Ebert hopes to leave with Crash Champions and the industry at large when he calls it a career.

Ebert said he is proud the company can still say it is founderled, as it makes it relatable to other shop owners thinking about selling. “I was just one shop not that long ago and sat in every seat,” he said. He said he is also proud of the team the company has built. “It’s a whole team of people working so hard at this. Everybody loves what we’re doing here.”

4 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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Florida Woman’s Family Sues Over Death Allegedly Caused by Counterfeit Airbag

The family of a Port Charlotte, FL, woman killed in a 2023 crash has filed a lawsuit claiming she died due to a counterfeit airbag installed in her car.

Destiny Byassee, 22, was driving a 2020 Chevy Malibu, which had been previously owned by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and sold to DriveTime through Manheim Auctions. According to the lawsuit, during the sale between Enterprise and DriveTime, Jumbo Automotive was hired to replace the car’s front airbag with parts sourced

seat belt pretensioner, designed to lock the seat belt during a crash, was tampered with, compromising its functionality. Byassee’s vehicle was sold to her without her knowledge of these critical defects.

During the collision, the airbag reportedly deployed, shooting metal and plastic shrapnel into the car, striking Byassee in the face, head and neck, and ultimately resulting in her death. The lawsuit contends that a compliant airbag and a functional seat belt pretensioner

death accountable and bring attention to the dangers posed by noncompliant vehicle repairs.

“Consumers need to be aware of these tactics used to save money, increase profits, and keep vehicles on the road when they pose a severe danger,” Felix added.

“From our investigation, we believe this is a shockingly widespread issue — rental car companies reselling

Opus IVS conducted an online study of more than 3,000 collision repair shop professionals to better understand how the strategic adoption of diagnostic solutions enhances shops’ efficiency and profitability.

The study, conducted during the first quarter of 2024, indicated the right diagnostic solution can minimize issues related to insurance reimbursement processes, reduce technician shortages, and improve overall operational efficiency.

Insurance reimbursement issues affect approximately 33% of repair orders (ROs) on average, according to the study, stemming from discrepancies in assessing repair costs, delays in processing claims, and disputes over coverage. The study showed selecting the appropriate diagnostic scanning partner can potentially reduce insurance reimbursement issues by

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6 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
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Measuring Your Body Shop’s Performance Based on Gross Sales Per Tech

One of the things we’ve been tracking in our 20 Groups, the Spartans, are average sales produced per month per body tech and paint tech. A lot of people talk about measuring technician efficiencies, but I prefer to monitor the average sales produced per person.

is $55,000 a month for each of the five people working in the body department.

Today, we see shops averaging about $65,000 to $75,000 in gross sales per person in the body department. Sure, there are some outliers, those with an average far below that, and some north of $100,000 per person in the body department. But when you exclude those high and low outliers, the average is in that $65,000 to $75,000 range.

In the body department, for example, I would say the average shop prior to COVID had monthly gross sales of between $55,000 and $65,000 per body tech. If a shop had gross monthly sales of $275,000 produced by three body techs and two body apprentices, the average

So what if you’re not hitting that average? I would bet it’s because of one or more of the following reasons.

1. Estimate quality. There are likely labor operations your techs are performing that aren’t being included on estimates or final invoices.

2. Administrative bottlenecks. Your technicians could produce more, but they’re waiting for an admin person to write an estimate or supplement, so they’re not making

the most of their time. Or the techs might be performing some of the administrative functions — checking in their own parts, for example — because the shop is running lean on admin staff. It’s important to understand what that’s costing you. If your shop is making 45% gross profit (unloaded) on the $75,000 a technician is producing in a month, take that $33,750 and divide it by the 160 hours the technician works in the month. Having that body tech checking in his own parts is costing you about $211 per hour in lost potential gross profit.

3. Skill sets or training. Maybe you have a lot of entry-level apprentices. Your average sales per tech may be low in the short-term, but it’s a little pain for the longer-term gain. But also think about what training you can get techs — from I-CAR, 3M or BETAG, etc.— to boost their productivity.

4. Overstaffing. I’ve seen some shops be overstaffed at times ahead of opening another shop location, or because of some upcoming staff retirements. But those should

be shorter-term issues rather than chronic overstaffing.

5. Scheduling. A low average could also be a sign you’re not scheduling in the right mix of work based on the skill sets of your techs.

6. Pay plans. Could your pay plan improve how incentivized your team is to produce? Again, pay plans vary based on shop leadership and culture, but it can contribute to monthly sales produced per technician.

These are the most common reasons I see why shops’ numbers per tech aren’t keeping up with the industry, but there certainly are other potential nuances as well. A high average gross sales per body technician could be inflated by a lot of PDR work after a hailstorm, for example. It could be affected by techs staying late to work, or coming in early or on weekends. A high labor rate, or a mix of work that includes a lot of high-end vehicles, will affect your average. So it’s important to look for all the contributing factors like these when tracking your average gross sales per person.

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How to Determine if Investing in EV Repair Makes Sense for Your Auto Body Shop

As EVs gain market share, auto body shops across the U.S. must consider if and how they will prepare for repairing them.

Kelly Logan, director of collision repair programs at EV maker Rivian, and Kris Burton, owner of Rosslyn Auto Body and a board member with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), stopped by Autobody News’ The Collision Vision podcast, hosted by Cole Strandberg, to share their insights on how body shops can take full advantage of the opportunities EV repair creates.

Strandberg asked Logan about the safety considerations involved in EV repair.

Logan said EV-specific training is critical to make sure technicians have the necessary skills and the information to be able to work on them safely. For instance, highvoltage gloves need to be checked regularly for pinholes, because an electrical short can jump through.

Rivian offers hands-on, instructorled training for technicians who will be working on the vehicles, and online training for everyone who works in a repair shop in any role. “If there’s a vehicle that has a battery pack out or has the front end tore

The Importance of Training and Safety

Logan said Rivian has a network of certified collision centers, but recently launched a new program to bring on third-party, independent service providers to work on the electric delivery vans it is building for Amazon.

Burton said his shop, which is located in Alexandria, VA, near Washington, D.C., started working on its Tesla certification in 2014. It now has that, as well as its Rivian certification.

“I think you’ve got to come into [repairing EVs] open minded, facility wise, tooling wise and then tech wise,” Burton said.

Logan, who has worked for two other EV startups before Rivian, including Tesla, said EV makers are looking for collision repair shops that are “open to growing with us, looking at training requirements and tooling requirements.” He said Rivian tries to ensure shops are only buying special tools they absolutely need to repair their vehicles.

to physically inspect it or do pressure checks to make sure there is no internal damage.

Strandberg asked Burton about how he made the decision to begin pursuing Tesla certification in 2014.

“It was an opportunity for us to be on the forefront, and especially in our region, here in the D.C. area,” Burton said. “There’s a lot of EVs on the road. It was really an opportunity for us to to help our business grow.”

Burton said new tooling is not just an upfront cost, it’s an ongoing one as well. For instance, certain welders have a specific lifespan. Training also requires an ongoing investment, including travel expenses to attend in-person classes, as vehicles continue to evolve.

How the Rise of EVs Will Shape the Future of Collision Repair

Logan said he does not see ICE vehicles becoming extinct, at least not in his lifetime. It will be up to shops on an individual basis to decide which certifications make the most sense to pursue, but the need to specialize could also drive opportunities.

to take your business in the future,” Logan said. “There’s programs out there that are not as strenuous, and that’s OK. And then there’s programs like...Rivian. We have a lot of things to it. There’s standards, there’s tooling, there’s a lot of investment. There’s training commitments.

“I don’t think every certification, every OEM even fits our model. I don’t think you can be everything to anybody anymore.”

“So you can look at maybe dipping your toes into the water with with other programs, if it makes sense for your business,” Logan said. “Or you can just jump right in, like [Burton] has done in the past, and get involved with it.”

apart and there’s high voltage lines exposed, it’s really good just to have everybody in the building on the same page as far as safety,” Logan said.

Compared to ICE vehicles, EVs have much fewer moving parts, Logan said, but their high-voltage battery packs contain many modules, each holding thousands of individual battery cells. Repairers will never be asked by an OEM to fix a battery pack; if there’s an issue with it, it will be replaced. But OEMs do have different instructions for when and how to remove the pack to complete other procedures.

“In the future, as EVs become more mainstream, maybe you’ll have battery repair centers,” Logan said.

Logan said Rivian has a support team for its certified collision network, that looks at batteries in damaged vehicles on a case-by-case basis, to determine if dents or scratches on the case are allowable, or if the pack needs to be replaced. Sometimes that can be done by photos; other times, a technician from Rivian needs

“When you really get good at repairing one vehicle or a particular brand of vehicle, your whole shop gets comfortable. Your technicians get comfortable with how these vehicles are put together and how the repair procedures are laid out, and how how you write an accurate estimate. It really does help your overall business,” Logan said.

Burton said his shop mostly only fixes vehicles for which it has certifications now. “It’s five, six brands of cars that we repair,” he said. “And we’ve got it down pretty well to how to move forward with those.”

He also said he has five apprentices in his shop now, all between 18 and 20 years old, and if the shop had more space, it could probably bring in more.

“I think the the narrative that kids don’t want to do [collision repair] is incorrect,” he said. “I think a lot of kids do want to do this, but they want to be in a place where they’re supported and where they’re free to learn and where they can make mistakes and improve and grow.”

Key Takeaways

Logan said shops should research OEMs’ certification requirements to determine which ones make sense to pursue. Some won’t fit a shop’s particular business model.

“It’s looking at where do you want

“I don’t think every shop is for certifications,” Burton added. “I think you really need to pick. I don’t think every certification, every OEM even fits our model. I don’t think you can be everything to anybody anymore.”

Logan said Rivian has an online application for shops interested in becoming certified to work on their vehicles. As Rivian’s vehicle population has grown — doubling in the past two years — so too has interest in being able to fix them. The EV maker carefully considers which shops to work with, based on where their customers are located.

“We want to make sure that the shops in our programs are successful,” Logan said. “And so overloading the network with too many shops in markets can actually backfire where nobody’s getting a return on their investment.

“Sometimes we get shops that are frustrated; they really are excited. They want to be on the network,” Logan added. “We just want to make sure that they understand if you spend all this money and got brought on to the program, and you didn’t see any vehicles, then you’d be upset.”

Return on investment is key, Strandberg said, as there is a cost to getting certified that takes both time and money.

“Lastly, specialization,” Strandberg said. “That’s something both Kelly and Chris spent a ton of time on. If you want to make sure a certification offers you a good ROI, especially one for EVs, consider specializing if the market’s right. If your talent’s right.”

8 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
KRIS BURTON OWNER, ROSSLYN AUTO BODY

A

Featured Guests:

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autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 9 New episodes available weekly. Listen now on: Brought to you by with Cole Strandberg Also on autobodynews.com & other podcast platforms Weekly episodes featuring industry thought leaders, shop owners and collision pros. We talk trends, culture, growth and scalability, giving actionable insights that will elevate your business. OUR PODCAST IS LIVE!
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a brand-new facility slated to open in Loudon County in Tennessee in 2026.

A Supportive Partner

The 250,000-square-foot plant will be PPG’s first new manufacturing facility in the U.S. in 15 years. The decision to open in rural East Tennessee is about partnership, explained Alisha Bellezza, PPG senior vice president, global automotive coatings.

“There’s a high density of existing steel on the ground in that region,” she said. “Think of the Carolinas, Georgia and certainly in the lower Southeast in general. We see a significant number of players that have been producing there for years and have talked about increases to some of those lines. They’ve talked about conversions from ICE to EV in that area and this is about us being the best partner that we can be to support the automotive industry.”

Indeed, as EV manufacturing rolls forward, big players are ramping up operations in the South. Ford plans to scale its EV production with two campuses in Tennessee and Kentucky. These mega plants represent well over $10 billion in

investments and thousands of jobs.

In Georgia’s Bryan County, south of Savannah, Hyundai is set to open a 3,000-acre, $5.5 billion plant that will roll out 300,000 electric vehicles a year come 2025, the Savannah Morning News reported. The paper called the construction “the largest single economic development project in Georgia history.”

Meanwhile, Toyota is set to begin battery manufacturing in Liberty, NC, and BMW is doing the same at its Spartanburg, SC, plant.

New Equipment, New Processes

The new PPG facility will begin by cranking out 11 million gallons of coatings and paints each year for automakers, but it could expand into supplying other sectors like large equipment, transportation, construction and consumer goods. The company plans to speed operations and meet demand for sustainable products with new manufacturing equipment and processes.

A major focus will be waterborne coatings, which, along with their reputation for being greener than their solvent-based counterparts, have proven themselves in the categories of color matching and productivity improvement. The sustainability

piece seems top of mind for PPG leadership.

“When we look at the dynamics in the industry, we recognize that sustainability is really important for our customers,” said Bellezza. “What we intend to do as we build this facility is put in state-of-the-art technology, process technology and equipment so it can be the most sustainable plant in our entire network. We believe that’s important for PPG to meet our sustainability goals, but also critically important for our customers to help them meet theirs.”

PPG has existing plants in Cleveland, OH, and San Juan, Mexico, and Bellezza said those facilities will see investments toward the same goals.

Visibility, Jobs and Opportunity

Locating in Tennessee will also allow PPG to more readily support manufacturers through simple geographical accessibility. The company’s arrival in Loudon County means more advantageous proximity to auto producers — not just in the Southeast, but across the country.

“Our belief is that this location uniquely positions us to support these customers in a way that is going to make their supply chains more secure and more efficient,” Bellezza

said. “When you think about it, from this location, we’re pretty much one day’s transit from all auto production in the country.”

Loudon County will see 130 new full-time jobs. That number, Bellezza pointed out, doesn’t include the jobs that two years of construction will create. State leaders have taken note.

“Tennessee is leading the nation in attracting top global brands like PPG. I welcome PPG and thank this company for its commitment to creating greater opportunity for the Tennesseans across the Greater Knoxville region,” said Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee

PPG, as one of the industry’s most prolific suppliers, has its hand in production in virtually every space in the auto industry. Between its coatings, adhesive and sealants, an overwhelming portion of cars made today is encased in PPG products.

As Bellezza pointed out, the organization supplies all major original equipment manufacturers and all the major tier suppliers that support them. Having three facilities that can make similar products, she said, will support its visibility to industry partners as a tech leader, and she said the company seeks, in this way, to continue to give its customers confidence.

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ETI ToolTech 2024 Fosters Collaboration Between OEMs, Tool & Equipment Providers

Equipment and tool suppliers, OEMs and other vendors gathered in Newport Beach, CA, in April for the Equipment and Tool Institute’s (ETI) annual ToolTech. The two-day event included presentations on industry trends, networking and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with OEM and aftermarket tool and equipment providers.

“ETI is committed to fostering collaboration between vehicle manufacturers and the providers of tools, equipment and service information,” said Brian Plott, ETI’s executive director. “Seeing the willingness of industry leaders to talk and understand each other’s needs, collaborate on new technologies, and really work together collectively on the direction of the industry makes it an exciting time for the industry.”

During the event, a significant milestone was announced: ETI is entering the European market and creating ETI EU, which will be headed by Winston Lee. Lee, managing director EU, is a long-time ETI member and strong participant.

“Many of our members are global companies, as are our OEM

partners,” noted Plott. This is a step in the direction of contributing to the growth of our membership and helping them clear the path for the industry for the long term.”

ETI also introduced its 2024-25 board members and named Bob Augustine, vp of sales and marketing for AAA Auto Glass & Electronics, president of the organization.

Since becoming involved with ETI in 2006, Augustine said the pace of technology is accelerating.

“We no longer have distinct vertical segments anymore because anyone who performs vehicle

repair has to be service-ready on all aspects of the platform as soon as the vehicles are built,” he explained.

“OEM-approved tooling, training and service information are no longer a nice-to-have; they are requirements to properly complete a safe and complete repair for the motorist.”

ToolTech Highlights

On day one of the conference, Mike Spagnola, president and CEO of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), provided an overview of SEMA. This included information about the SEMA Garage locations in Diamond Bar, CA, and Plymouth, MI.

Pete Bradley, head of international technical training at Hella-Gutmann in Germany, provided an international perspective on the automotive aftermarket industry. He shared insight on some of the challenges taking place regarding ADAS cybersecurity and data ownership.

Cybersecurity issues were shared by Kevin Tierney, vp of global cybersecurity for GM. Tierney discussed how the auto manufacturer is addressing cybersecurity issues and the importance of taking protective measures.

Augustine moderated an OEM panel that included David Stovall, Toyota; Ryan Hays, Ford, Terence Vance, Honda; Danny Uhls, Nissan; Bob Stewart, General Motors; Travis Taylor, Volkswagen/Audi; and Mike Porter, Hyundai.

Joshua Linton, Midtronics’ EV platform manager, talked about accurately testing and diagnosing EV

12-volt batteries. He explained that in a typical EV, a rectangular pack of individual lithium-ion batteries is located under the floor and powers the electric motor.

On day two, Dr. Shawn DuBravac shared insight about some of the forces defining the future of the auto sector. DuBravac said leaders must work on competing time horizons simultaneously.

Richard Ferguson, Toyota’s new markets manager, business development, fuel cells, shared information about fuel cell solutions. He discussed the Toyota Mirai, a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) that uses hydrogen gas rather than liquid gasoline.

Augustine then led a shop owners’ panel with Lucas Underwood, L&N Auto Repair and Changing the Industry Podcast; Gene Morill, Certified Automotive Specialists; Greg Buckley, Buckley’s Auto Care; and Lee Lizarraga, ABC Auto Care. The last presentation was given by Mark Seng, Predii’s vp of sales and business development, who discussed AI implications in the automotive service aftermarket.

For more information about ETI, visit www.etools.org.

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 11
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North Carolina Approves Cutting-Edge Tech Community College Programs

The North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges approved several new programs and certifications to prepare students for emerging industries. The programs, which include EV supply equipment technician certification, AI, lithium-ion battery manufacturing, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations, were approved at the board’s meeting in April.

“By prioritizing active listening to employers, maintaining agility, and responding swiftly to market demands, we’re ensuring that educational offerings remain relevant and impactful,” said State Board Chair Tom Looney “Investing in high-cost, highgrowth programs is a strategic move that addresses the current needs of our employers and positions students for lucrative, cutting-edge career opportunities.”

The EV supply equipment technician certification, offered by Wake Technical Community College, will train students on the

fundamentals of electric vehicle charging, covering different levels of charging infrastructure, regulations and installations.

“Investing in high-cost, high-growth programs is a strategic move that addresses the current needs of our employers and positions students for lucrative, cutting-edge career opportunities.”

Central Piedmont Community College will introduce an associate degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI) starting this fall, making it the second community college in the state to offer such a program after Wayne Community College.

Guilford Technical Community College will provide a program in lithium-ion battery manufacturing,

PLASTIC REPAIR

giving students a comprehensive understanding of battery principles, manufacturing processes and testing.

Beaufort County Community College will offer two new programs in UAS/drone operations: UAS operator flight training, which prepares students for commercial certification, and UAS operations management, designed to help students conduct safe and legal UAS operations in various commercial settings.

The approval of these programs highlights the board’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce capable of driving economic growth. Through collaboration with industry partners, the colleges aim to empower students with the tools they need to succeed in an everchanging world.

For more information, use the Program Finder tool at www.nccommunitycolleges. edu/students/what-we-offer/ program-finder.

Autel Approved For Nissan Central Gateway Access

Autel announced its tablets have been approved for Nissan Central Gateway (CGW) access via AutoAuth, the aftermarket tool OEauthentication service, enabling registered users to access secured systems and perform complete diagnostics on select late-model Nissans.

By registering their shop and tablet at AutoAuth, Autel users can perform diagnostics and service tasks such as clearing codes, bidirectional controls, Active Tests, Special Functions and ADAS calibration on security gateway-equipped Nissan vehicles. As Stellantis did previously, Nissan implemented its security gateway to prevent unauthorized access to the vehicle network.

Nissan vehicles currently included in this coverage are 2020 and newer Sentras, 2022 and newer Pathfinders, and 2021 and newer Rogues.

Autel users should visit AutoAuth. com to create an account and register their shop and Autel tool. There’s a $50 annual charge per shop. It includes five tools and five users. The tablet must have an active Autel subscription and be WiFi enabled.

12 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
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Vehicle Characteristics, ADAS Features Shifting Claims Frequency, Severity

As vehicles continue to grow larger, heavier and faster, accident severity is increasing, but the wider availability of ADAS features like automatic emergency braking (AEB) is showing an effect on accident frequency

That is according to Kay Wakeman, a research analyst with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), who spoke about vehicle fleet trends and how they will affect collision repair during the 2024 Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Annual Conference, held in May in Newport Beach, CA.

which affects the median (overall average) and mean (middle number, when placed in order.)

“Claims severity is a really complicated issue,” Wakeman said. “Yes, there’s a cost of calibration associated with these systems, but there’s also this element that the types of claims that are still happening look different than what we’re used to.”

Vehicles Get Bigger, Heavier, More Powerful

In the early 1980s, the car was king, a small percentage of people drove pickup trucks and no one drove an SUV, Wakeman said. As of 2022, 50% of the vehicles sold in the U.S. are SUVs. Pickup trucks have

Wakeman said the average age of vehicles on the road in the U.S. today has grown to 12 years old, meaning it will take a while for the effects of technology like ADAS features, currently widely available only on newer models, to be reflected in crash data.

As of 2022, about 20% of U.S. vehicles have AEB. Wakeman said it will likely take until 2045 to 2050 before 95% of the U.S. vehicle fleet has the technology, which, it was recently announced, will be a standard feature on all new light-duty passenger vehicles by 2029.

“These things are going to become more and more prevalent, so as you’re thinking about the future at your shops and the types of vehicles you’re going to be repairing, know that this is coming,” Wakeman said.

Adding ADAS to vehicles has proven to drive down the frequency of accident claims, but it increases the average severity, Wakeman said.

Part of that is due to “mean shifting.” ADAS systems that work at low speeds help prevent a lot of “lowdollar” claims, like those in parking lots, removing them from the data set. That leaves higher-dollar claims as the larger share of the entire set,

expensive to purchase and repair, which can impact severity.

Shifting to pickup trucks, small pickups’ popularity hit a low in 2014, but have rebounded recently, helped by Ford bringing back its Ranger and introducing the smaller Maverick. However, larger models, like the Ford F-150, still have the largest chunk of the market.

In 1981, most trucks had a twodoor cab. Today, more than 90% have a four-door cab, which are much bigger and heavier than the twodoor version, adding more mass and weight to crashes.

Looking at SUVs, most sold are small or mid-size, as many of the mini and large models have been phased out, similar to cars.

In the 1980s, there was no such thing as a luxury SUV, but they now make up nearly 20% of the SUVs sold, Wakeman said.

And while truck owners seem to be concentrated in certain parts of the

last 40 years, Wakeman said — it has tripled for pickup trucks and doubled for SUVs and cars.

“We now have vehicles capable of going faster while weighing more than they ever have before,” she said. “That’s leading to much more force in a crash.”

In 1999, the highest-powered vehicle in the HLDI vehicle database was the Ferrari 550 Maranello, which had 478 hp and cost $220,000. There were only 239 in the database.

Fast forward to 2019, and that same amount of power was available for $47,000 in a Ford Mustang Bullitt. A Chevy Camaro with a slightly lower rating of 455 horsepower only cost $27,000. There were 2,500 and 6,000 of each, respectively, in the database.

“Horsepower has become a lot more affordable for the average person,” Wakeman said.

Research shows people drive

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ADAS – We’re Just Painting a Bumper

The adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) has dramatically increased over the past decade, leading to significant improvements in vehicle safety and driving convenience. Popular features, including adaptive cruise control, lane assist, automatic braking, blind-spot detection, and collision avoidance, all rely on properly calibrated ADAS systems driven by many complex sensors.

There are several different types of sensors that are key to the operation of ADAS capabilities, including Radar, LiDAR, ultrasound/SONAR, and cameras, to name a few. All these sensors operate simultaneously, allowing a vehicle to perceive the surrounding environment. There are pros and cons for each type, so many manufacturers have determined that multiple systems need to be used to maximize safety. While LiDAR and camera-based sensing

methods require a direct line-of-sight to objects and hazards on the road, Radar and ultrasonic sensors can be painted, or hidden behind painted fascia components to avoid the use of unsightly cutouts. The use of radar and ultrasonic sensors behind painted layers means that special care must be taken to avoid the use of materials that can degrade sensor performance. Radar-related repairs are especially critical, since the radar systems have a much larger detection range and operate while the vehicle is moving at high speeds, compared to ultrasonic sensors which are mainly used for parking assistance. Collision centers must be aware of Radar and ultrasonic sensors because any repair in the vicinity of the sensor can decrease system performance, or in some cases, disable the sensor.

In the case of bumper repair, the first step is to locate the OEM procedures to determine if there is a sensor near the repair. If there is a sensor present, each OEM has a specific procedure on what can

be done to that area. For instance, most OEMs do not allow plastic fillers to be used to repair a crack near a sensor, instead, it may be necessary to replace the entire bumper assembly. Additionally, the painter must ensure that they do not exceed the maximum film build allowed by the OEM. Once you have validated the film build, you will also need to confirm that the selected paint has been approved by the paint manufacturer and OEM for use over ADAS equipment. Some OEMs list specific colors that can interfere with the Radar sensor performance, and are not allowed to be applied over the factory color. Colors that can decrease Radar sensor performance are usually silvers, golds and other colors with high concentrations of aluminum. Some manufacturers will allow one additional paint repair, while others specify a maximum total film thickness. Therefore, thickness measurement must be carried out prior to working on the bumper, and again after paint application. Finally, all OEM-specified calibration procedures must be performed to ensure proper sensor operation before the vehicle is put back into service.

There are also some general rules about ADAS on bumpers.

1. Use RADAR approved formulas. Some colors have RADAR approved formulas that have been approved by the OEM. If a color has a radar formula, it must be used when painting a bumper during a repair. These formulas have very strict tinting rules as well. In general, you cannot increase the percentage of aluminum or decrease the amount of binder.

2. Keep to the standard number of coats of paint. Use proper sealer shade or Valueshade when possible, to reduce the amount of color needed for hiding.

3. Do not blend over the top of a sensor. Always carry the color to completely avoid or cover over the sensor. Do not stop in the middle of the sensor area.

4. Mask the inside of the bumper to prevent scratches which could deflect or interfere with the sensor.

The importance of checking the OEM procedures and following these general rules cannot be stressed enough to ensure the vehicles are repaired safely and accurately. perfect solution for modern collision centers.

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 15
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Virginia Backtracks

Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an official opinion supporting the governor’s stance. “Virginia is not required to comply with expansive new mandates adopted by the unelected California Air Resources Board (CARB) set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025,” Miyares confirmed.

During a press conference June 5, Youngkin emphasized the importance of state autonomy in policy-making. “I have the privilege of announcing once and for all the California electric vehicle mandate in Virginia. The idea that governments should be telling Virginians what kind of car they must drive is just simply wrong,” he said.

Federal law offers states a choice between adhering to federal vehicle emissions standards or adopting California’s stricter regulations. In 2021, under a Democratic governor, Virginia passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, committing to a green energy transition by 2050, and aligned its EV policies with California’s. California has mandated all new car sales be zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and imposes penalties on noncompliant automakers.

Republicans in Virginia have

consistently opposed these mandates but faced challenges in overturning them legislatively. Miyares identified a legal provision that could allow Virginia to opt out. “Virginia’s air pollution control board has never approved, never adopted these ACCII (Advanced Clean Car Program II) regulations and because there was an explicit sunset provision placed on ACCI, it expires on Dec. 31 of this year,” Miyares explained.

He further noted the permissive language in the Virginia law regarding ACCI permits the state to abandon California’s clean cars policies by 2025. “I can reach no other conclusion as the attorney general of Virginia that the provisions tying us to California ACCII are no longer operable and yes, Virginians, yet again, have consumer freedom,” Miyares said.

Republican leaders have expressed strong support for the move. “Virginians, not unelected bureaucrats in California, should be able to choose the cars that fit their families’ needs,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Michael McDougle posted on X. Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, also voiced his approval, calling the previous mandate one of the “most ridiculous policy decisions forced on Virginians.”

Crash Champions Acquires Mitchell Collision Repair in Florida To Expand Luxury, EV Network

Crash Champions announced the continued expansion of its LUXE | EV Certified repair center network with the acquisition of Mitchell Collision Repair and its two locations in Land O’ Lakes and Belleview, FL.

Mitchell Collision Repair boasts certifications from several luxury and EV manufacturers between the two shops.

The acquisition finalized May 31, with operations transitioning to Crash Champions LUXE | EV Certified effective immediately.

“We are proud to continue accelerating our lineup of OEM and EV-certified repair centers,” said Crash Champions founder and CEO Matt Ebert. “It’s important to meet this demand,

and the strategic acquisition of Mitchell Collision Repair not only expands the Crash Champions LUXE | EV Certified brand in a key market, but it continues to elevate the experience of our customers and business partners.”

Crash Champions now operates 57 locations across the Sunshine State, complementing its national network of more than 640 repair centers in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

“The Mitchell Collision Repair team has built a well-earned reputation for exceptional quality and a commitment to personal service for customers across South Marion County,” said DJ Mitchell, owner of Mitchell Collision Repair. “We are incredibly proud to join the growing Crash Champions organization, one of the most reputable brands in our industry. It was important for us in this process to trust a founder-led team with a passion for quality collision repair service. This move will provide unrivaled benefits to our loyal customers and team members.”

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SCRS to Study Estimating Systems’ Approach to Structural Set-Up and Measure

After its 2022 study of blend refinish labor times, which led all three estimating systems to reexamine their 50% formulas and add more flexibility to their systems related to blending, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) said it will embark on a similar approach to the topic of structural set-up and measure.

“We often hear from our members, just as we did with blends, that the historic approach to set-up and measure doesn’t reflect what current requirements of modern-day vehicles and modern-day equipment require,” Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS, said at the association’s open board meeting this spring in Seattle. “We will perform a study that analyzes both of those tasks, and find a way to communicate back to the industry.

“I think a big difference between the blending project, where we had historical values established similarly by all three estimating systems, is that with the task of setting up a vehicle and measuring a vehicle, those times aren’t defined by any of the estimating systems,” Schulenburg said. “So we’ll be looking at it a little differently in how we produce our results. But I think it will have equal value to the collision repair centers out there who can then take that information and proceed forward.”

Returning to the blend issue, Schulenburg said SCRS has developed a document focused on addressing common questions about the changes in the CCC Intelligent Solutions estimating system related to its blend formula. For each of a dozen questions, the document includes a link to information from CCC or Motor Information Systems — which develops the database of labor times used in the CCC system — addressing the question.

“I’ve heard some people have

been challenged by someone saying, ‘Motor didn’t actually change anything,’ so we put that question in there,” Schulenburg said. “Did Motor Information Systems conduct research on the estimated work time development methodology for color blend adjacent panels? And there is a quote from Motor, saying throughout the first quarter of 2023, Motor reviewed information from multiple sources.”

Did Motor intend for the absence of a defined blend time to default to its prior formula? “Motor removed the previously published color blend formulas after determining they may not reflect the many variations encountered with modern vehicle finishes and designs,” the document quotes from Motor’s published response to a Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) inquiry. “[Because of] these variations, Motor does not intend to publish a list of included or excluded items specific to color blend.”

How does Motor define a judgment time following an on-thespot evaluation? “A judgment time would be the outcome reached when an estimator or appraiser considers the specifics of the vehicle and repair or refinish operation being evaluated to determine the estimated work time,” Motor wrote in a response to a DEG inquiry.

Paint Rep on Blend Issue

Speaking at the meeting, Jeff Wildman of BASF said the document could prove helpful given what he’s seen related to shops adjusting what they charge for blending.

“I’ve done a couple presentations on it, and a lot of the shops out there seem like they’re just looking for an ‘Easy’ button,” Wildman said. “The information you put together, Aaron, really helps explain it, and I think shops are starting to get it, but they’re afraid to ask for more than

50%. When we talk to shops and ask them what’s happening, what they’re doing, most shops just say, ‘Well, I’m just asking for 50%,’ but the shops that are trying to do more, that are leveraging the information, they’re getting paid for it. But you have to try.”

Wildman also said BASF in April had State Farm representatives in its training center, blending panels.

“They’d been asking about the blend study, and I told them, ‘I can’t tell you how long it takes. Come in and do it,’” Wildman said. “So we had three people from State Farm doing twostage and three-stage blends, getting a feel for it to understand what’s really involved. They were there for a full day, eight hours spraying paint. So we’ll see what the outcome is, but people are looking into it.”

“If you come across an error, an omission, or inaccurate data, you can reach out to us through the website.”

Like Motor and CCC, Audatex also removed its blend formula and changed its guidance to say blend times vary and require a vehicle-byvehicle evaluation. Mitchell allows a user to adjust the blend formula in its system but did not change its guidance related to the formula of 50% of full panel refinish time.

DEG Inquiries Making an Impact

Also during the SCRS meeting, Danny Gredinberg, the administrator of DEG, reported that better than half of the more than 500 inquiries submitted to DEG in the first quarter of the year resulted in a change to one of the estimating system databases by Audatex, CCC Intelligent Solutions or Mitchell. Those combined changes, he said, based on inquiries related to omissions or inaccurate information in the estimating systems, added 233 body labor hours, 70 refinish labor hours, and about $4,900 in parts pricing to the systems.

“Again, this is just in the first three months of this year,” Gredinberg said, adding that more than 22,000 such inquiries have been submitted since the DEG’s inception more than 15 years ago.

Gredinberg highlighted some of the recent inquiries. One (#36440)

questioned CCC’s labor time to replace a quarter panel on a 2023 Nissan Rogue; after review, CCC increased the labor time from 18 hours to 23 hours. Just out of curiosity, Gredinberg said, he contacted Nissan and learned that the automaker had sold 549 of those quarter panels just in one year.

Another recent inquiry related to a Subaru Impreza quarter panel replacement caught Gredinberg’s eye, he said, because he’d submitted an inquiry on the same model of vehicle 11 years ago when working as an estimator. The time was increased back then, he said, and this year another five hours were added to the labor time in CCC. Subaru told him about 1,650 of the quarter panels have been sold since 2013. Inquiries sometimes result in more than just changes to the estimating databases, Gredinberg said. One inquiry (#35949) noted the Mitchell estimating system lacked a labor time for the full replacement of the uniside on the 2024 Chevrolet Trax. Gredinberg found General Motors had no published procedure for that operation, but the automaker developed one within about 10 days of being contacted. That procedure was submitted to Mitchell, who used it to establish a labor time of 23.9 hours — so the inquiry resulted in both an entry in the estimating database and a published OEM procedure.

“If you come across an error, an omission or inaccurate data, you can reach out to us through the website,” Gredinberg said, noting the DEG website also includes other tools like the P-pages or guides to the three major estimating systems, and many of the automakers’ electronic parts catalogs. “We’ve got to speak up. We’ve got to submit these inquiries. Because at the end of the day, we just want to get paid fairly for the work that we’re doing.”

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 17
A car sits on a Car-O-Liner Volkswagen 6528 Measuring and Alignment System in a shop in Illinois. Aaron Schulenburg of SCRS said the association will examine whether the historic approach to set-up and measure actually reflects “current requirements of modern-day vehicles and modern-day equipment.” Danny Gredinburg said inquiries submitted about the estimating systems in the first quarter of this year alone resulted in the addition of 233 body labor hours and 70 refinish labor hours to the systems. DANNY GREDINBERG DEG

Start-Up NODAR Aims to Equip Driver-Assist, Self-Driving Cars with New 3D Sensing Technology

As new technology is developed to advance autonomous driving features in modern vehicles, start-up companies, like NODAR, are being established to help accelerate mass-market autonomy.

In April 2023, NODAR received the prestigious Grand Prix ACF AutoTech award in Paris, France. The computer vision company, based in Somerville, MA, is building next-generation 3D perception technology for autonomous vehicles (AVs).

To learn more about how this technology is expected to be used in ADAS and AVs, Autobody News talked to NODAR co-founder and COO Brad Rosen. The entrepreneur has a background in software engineering and an MBA from MIT. Over his career, he has been part of seven venturebacked startups where he held roles ranging from software engineer to CEO.

Q:A:

Can you tell us about NODAR?

Dr. Leaf Jiang founded NODAR in 2018 after receiving his B.S., M.S. and PhD at MIT, where he studied and implemented optoelectronic systems. As a recognized expert in light detection and ranging technology (lidar) systems, he spent 12 years at MIT Lincoln Laboratory building lidar systems for the U.S. military. I joined the company in 2019 to help Leaf develop the business plan around the camera-based 3D sensing technology he had been working on, as well as raise money.

Q:

Why is NODAR focusing on 3D sensing technology rather than lidar?

A:

Lidar is a useful and precise tool, but is not perfect for all applications requiring 3D information. Lidar is very expensive due to the electronic components required to measure photons, and lidar has low resolution as compared with cameras. Another shortcoming is that most lidars to date have spinning mechanisms, which break after about 7,000 hours. Knowing these points and that most intelligent machines regardless of market — whether vehicles or robots or monitoring equipment — will require reliable 3D information, Leaf set out to build a less expensive, higher performing, and more robust 3D ranging solution than lidar. Rather than lasers, Leaf used cameras and a technique that dates to the late 1800s called stereo vision, also referred

to as binocular vision, which can produce extremely accurate distance measurements.

Q: Can you explain NODAR s 3D ensing technology?

A: Autonomous vehicles require real-time and reliable longrange 3D information to navigate their environments safely and measure distances. NODAR’s patentpending Hammerhead™ 3D sensing technology was created to deliver new levels of safety to driver-assisted and full AVs.

The platform is based on untethered (independently mounted), off-theshelf automotive-grade cameras and NODAR software. It is for vehicles of any size — including automobiles, aircraft, ships, last-mile delivery robots and trains — and can maintain performance in harsh environments, such as highvibration, off-road or inclement weather, as well as low light conditions. NODAR’s long-range and high resolution allow for quick detection of small objects at long range, such as a black tire on the road at 200 meters. Having reliable 3D depth is critical for safe operation for any autonomous vehicle or safety monitoring application.

Q: How did hammerhead sharks inspire NODAR’s 3D technology?

A: Hammerhead sharks have exceptional depth perception due to their widely set eyes. NODAR Hammerhead™ employs widely positioned cameras in a similar way to calculate depth with exceptional precision by calibrating the cameras in real time, in software. Whether tracking prey in three dimensions through the ocean or navigating a complex and changing roadway, a wide-baseline vision system will outperform other types of 3D sensing. This allows

vehicle manufacturers to integrate cameras in novel locations, such as the sideview mirror, roof or headlights. For the first time, nearly any obstacle, from a brick to an overturned truck, can be detected well in advance with exceptional accuracy, giving the vehicle perception system sufficient time for evasive action.

Q:

What are some of the advantages compared to lidar?

A: Wide-baseline camera placement provides long-range (up to 1,000m), highly reliable, accurate 3D sensing and the ability to detect small objects at a distance, offering 10x the resolution of industry-leading lidars. The platform runs on industry-standard hardware and, with no moving parts, Hammerhead™ has a significantly longer lifetime than mechanical lidar. It also performs better in inclement weather and low-light settings due to the exceptionally precise calibration between the cameras enabled by NODAR’s algorithms. Using standard cameras rather than high-bandwidth optoelectronics as lidar does, Hammerhead™ is significantly less expensive than comparable lidar systems and the cameras can be mounted in a variety of orientations. In addition, camera movement from road shock, vibration, accidents and temperature fluctuations are automatically calibrated without the need for human and checkerboard, which, before NODAR, was the standard calibration procedure.

Q:

What are the company’s longrange plans?

A: Our goal is to be a ubiquitous component in every self-driving car and automated robotic machine. We believe every car, whether it’s L2 plus L3 or L4, robotaxi or L4 truck, should have a NODAR-powered stereo vision system. This will not only make automation systems more accessible cost-wise for more vehicles and buyers, but it will also raise the safety bar and reduce fatalities.

Q: What are some of the current trends with startup companies?

A: In Clayton Christensen’s book “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” the idea is that it’s very hard for large companies to create disruptive innovations because they’re held back by legacy thinking, politics and improperly aligned internal incentives.

As the automotive industry

transitions from hardware to software, the startup ecosystem is becoming extremely important. Cars are being re-thought from the ground up with a software-first focus, like Tesla for instance. Opportunities exist to innovate in all areas of automotive development, from digital design, to safety and ADAS systems, to interior experience, to the contribution of AI in each area. Startups have the chance to bring disruptive thinking to this rapidly evolving ecosystem, and push on the traditional automotive development cycle.

Q: What are some of the new technological developments you are seeing in the industry?

A: One area of constant innovation is batteries and EVs. New developments are popping up every day in the battery space looking to develop higher-power density, safer batteries made from “greener” components. This is critically important as the world adopts more and more EVs. And then there are the topics of how to charge these new electric cars and recycle the batteries. I’m seeing lots of innovation in these areas as well.

On the software side, we’re seeing developments related to infrastructure and how to most efficiently use energy. Related to automotive, research is being done regarding how our EVs become part of a larger electric grid, taking energy from the grid when needed and sharing (or selling!) energy back as needed. There’s a lot of software that will come to bear around managing the flow of energy as we store it in batteries.

I also believe hydrogen will play a very important role in the future. Honda’s new CR-V is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and is available for lease to California residents. Obviously, hydrogen creation is a critical area of innovation to support hydrogen vehicles, as well as the topic of hydrogen charging stations. Last, we’re seeing the effects of AI initiatives, such as ChatGPT, all around us and starting to affect our everyday lives. AI is prevalent today in many vehicles, for instance in Tesla’s Autopilot and FSD systems, or Mobileye’s EyeQ ADAS system. These products are trained on millions of hours of driving and simulation data to augment human driving. This area of innovation is ripe for startups to contribute to.

18 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
Stacey Phillips Ronak — EmergingTech
NODAR’s Hammerhead 3D sensing technology detecting a small object from 150 meters away.

Global Automotive Startup Companies Recognized During Grand Prix ACF AutoTech Competition

To encourage innovation in the automotive industry, Grand Prix ACF AutoTech holds an annual contest to reward international startup companies devoted to the auto sector. In April, three businesses were recognized in Paris, France, as part of the seventh annual competition. Genomines, Diamfab and Cylib received awards for their excellence in commercialization, manufacturing and design.

More than 94 applicants from 19 countries took part in the contest. The event was hosted by the Automobile Club de France, founded in 1895 by French carmakers, and ESSEC Business School, a school dedicated to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“We are excited to announce our winning companies – all promising startups in the automotive industry,” said Richard de Cabrol, managing director of Grand Prix ACF AutoTech.

Award Winners

Genomines received the Grand Prix ACF Award, designed for companies that are the most advanced in their development and have received a round A of funding or more. The company recovers metals from plants to produce nickel without mine facilities. Nickel is a metal used in the mobility sector, especially in the manufacturing process of batteries.

Diamfab was given The Prix Pionnier ACF Award, which recognizes the youngest startups at the seed funding stage. Diamfab specializes in diamond semiconductors designed for power electronics and quantum applications. The components are expected to help revolutionize the mobility industry by optimizing system costs, reducing weight, minimizing the carbon footprint and mitigating environmental impact.

because we want to make battery recycling more sustainable and enable a green energy transition,” said Linus Glowinski from Cylib. “Sustainability is in our core DNA and we’re beyond excited to receive such positive feedback and acknowledgment.”

Propelling Innovation

Grand Prix ACF AutoTech was established 2017 as a joint venture between the Automobile Club de

“We are deeply honored to receive this award from such a prestigious organization as the ACF,” said Ivan Llaurado, chief revenue officer and co-founder of Diamfab. “Participating in the contest has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Hearing Gilles Le Borgne, the Renault Group CTO, affirm that Diamfab has the potential to significantly impact the automobile industry was the highlight of the event. Beyond the recognition, which greatly motivates our team, we believe this award will accelerate the development of the next generation of power electronics.”

France and ESSEC Business School. Since then, the focus has been on propelling innovation amongst automotive industry entrepreneurs and promoting efficiency and sustainability.

In addition to a financial reward, winners receive an investment assessment, business coaching, legal support, potential investment capital and networking connections with corporate affiliates.

“Our goal is to leverage the expertise of some of the most wellknown companies in France to help establish developing startup companies,” said de Cabrol.

“We cannot do everything internally because the spectrum of technology is too wide,” he said. “You cannot be a specialist in everything.”

Industry Trends

Salessy, a contest judge, explained promising startups were selected that align with the industry’s expectations and shared some current trends.

“The first one is electrification of vehicles or carbon-neutral vehicles,” he noted. “When we talk about electrification, we are including hydrogen applications.”

He said that electrification covers the electrical powertrain, battery chemistry, energy efficiency of the engine, converters and the charging system, as well as the technologies associated with connectivity to simplify the user experience.

He said automakers are also focused on developing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) centered around safety to help drivers better anticipate road situations.

In addition, Salessy said new technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) is being developed to provide drivers with a more personalized experience.

Future Opportunities

Since the inception of the contest in 2018, de Cabrol said each of the finalists has seen proven success.

NODAR, based in Massachusetts, received the Grand Prix ACF AutoTech award in 2023 and Brad Rosen, NODAR’s COO and co-founder, was a contest judge this year.

Rosen said NODAR has been working on disruptive ideas focused on automated driving and parking since 2018, and believes many opportunities exist for startups in the automotive arena as software becomes a driving factor and business model shift.

“We are honored to have won the award Grand Prix ACF AutoTech,” said Fabien Koutchekian, CEO of Genomines. “It was a great opportunity to pitch Genomines to influential experts and players in the automotive industry.”

Koutchekian said the company is very grateful to have received such personalized support before and after the event.

“This award means a lot to us, and above all, we are extremely pleased to see how the automotive industry is committed to supporting impactful solutions for the energy transition,” he added.

Llaurado said they are already scheduling meetings with key industry players, and the Prix Pionnier ACF award is undoubtedly a significant catalyst for the company’s growth. He encourages all automotiverelated start-ups to participate in the contest and all industry stakeholders to closely follow it to uncover new opportunities.

The Mention GPACF GreenTech Award, given to startups that have a positive impact on the environment, was received by Cylib, which has developed a holistic, eco-efficient process for recycling Lithium-Ion batteries.

“Winning the Mention GPACF GrennTech award means a lot to Cylib

Mentor companies include Renault Group, Forvia, Plastic Omnium, Crédit Agricole, FIDAL and MOTUL.

“It’s a win-win situation because we bring them in and give them a lot of visibility and it’s also an opportunity to find the next disruptive type of technology that we might use in our vehicles,” said Jean-Francois Salessy, Renault’s vice president of vehicle advanced engineering and upstream technologies, who joined the company in 2022.

He said that many auto manufacturers, including Renault, take a horizontal approach and identify the best partnerships to develop vehicle technology.

“We’ve benefited greatly from winning this competition last year, including establishing meaningful partnerships with some of the sponsors,” said Rosen. “The Grand Prix was top notch and managed extremely well, from the communications and awareness to the level of competitors, quality of sponsors, and finally, the beautifully run event at the historic ACF facility.”

He said companies don’t have to be based in France or even Europe to participate and win and encourages other startups to learn about the 2025 competition, which will be accepting applications in October.

For more information, visit en.grandprixacfautotech.com.

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 19
Company respresentatives from Genomines accept the Grand Prix ACF Award. Grand Prix ACF AutoTech’s seventh annual competition recognized international startup companies devoted to the auto sector.

Growth Potential Driving Private Equity Interest in Collision Repair

A new report from Focus Advisors showed private equity firms have invested more than $9 billion in the collision repair industry in the last five months alone, despite interest rates that are significantly higher than even a year ago. Private equity now collectively manages more than $400 billion in assets within the industry.

One of those private equity firms is Kinderhook Industries, which in March announced it became the lead investor in Kaizen Collision Centers, in partnership with Jacob Tilzer and LNC Partners. Founded in 2013 by Tilzer and headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, Kaizen has 48 locations across Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Iowa, Nebraska and Nevada.

Kaizen is Kinderhook’s 30th automotive/light manufacturing platform investment. The firm’s portfolio also includes Repairify, parent company of asTech, and Continental Auto Parts, an aftermarket

equity firms see collision repair as an industry with a “tried and true strategy” and a strong outlook.

“Places where you’ve got real strong organic tailwinds, coupled with opportunities for M&A [mergers and acquisitions] are good for private equity interest,” Cifelli said.

Increasing severity and vehicle complexity are driving up the cost of repairs.

“Those will continue going up, so it will continue to be more and more expensive to repair, so you’ve got built-in inflation for the next few years at least,” Cifelli said.

Firms interested in investing in collision repair shops are looking for great cycle times and CSI scores. If a shop has a list of DRPs, that can prove its ability to operate in that world.

“PE is really focused on operations, and having those scores that are important to insurance companies be above the averages,” Cifelli said.

Geography is also key — some markets have more population growth than others.

collision parts distribution company headquartered in New Jersey.

Paul Cifelli, managing director at Kinderhook, said the firm was approached in summer 2023 by its lending partner, Twin Brook Capital Partners, about investing in Kaizen. Kinderhook already had experience in the collision repair industry; it previously owned ProCare Collision, growing it from eight to 45 stores in four years before selling it in 2021 to Classic Collision.

Cifelli said Kinderhook was interested because Kaizen had a good footprint in markets with strong demographic growth and a lot of remaining opportunity for consolidation. In addition, Vince Brock, a Kinderhook executive who had been CEO of ProCare when the firm owned it, was looking to get back in the collision repair game.

In general, Cifelli said private

Focus Advisors said the private equity sponsors that have recently entered the industry or increased their positions have mostly replaced smaller firms. TPG Capital’s acquisition of Classic Collision introduced one of the world’s largest alternative investment funds to the industry.

“I would tell someone starting a [collision repair] business to go somewhere like Texas or Florida, places people are moving to,” Cifelli said. “That leads to congestion and traffic, which ultimately leads to collisions.”

Other Recent Investments

In Focus Advisors’ report, it said of the $9 billion invested in the last several months, the biggest chunk was $4.6 billion by Caliber Collision, which issued new debt to refinance existing debt and fund a significant dividend for current shareholders.

Crash Champions also refinanced a significant piece of its debt and brought in an additional equity investment, which it is using for more acquisitions.

The original private equity sponsors of VIVE Collision, Garnett Station Partners, sold to a larger private equity firm, Greenbriar Equity Group. Similarly, Center Oak Partners, original private equity sponsor of CollisionRight, sold the company to Summit Partners, a much larger private equity firm.

Classic Collision, after less than five years with New Mountain Capital, announced a recapitalization with new sponsor TPG Capital, the private equity arm of the $220 billion global asset management firm TPG.

The Investors

Large firms see an opportunity to accelerate their growth as the availability and cost of their capital vastly exceeds smaller players and independent shops, Focus Advisors explained. Another reason is that increased revenues — driven by higher labor rates and calibration — have positively impacted EBITDA margins, making them more attractive to lenders and new investors. And there’s also the ongoing attractiveness of arbitraging acquisitions. Buying strong single shops and small MSOs at five to seven times EBITDA while raising capital at valuations of 12 to 14 times allows this new capital to effectively leverage their superior capital into faster growth.

Early private equity investors take more risks when they acquire platforms and then add more MSOs and single shops. They are supporting management teams that may not have proven themselves in operating at a much larger scale or buying and integrating multiple targets in a shorter span of time. The playbook for these earlier investors is pretty much the same with a few variations.

As early investors succeed in launching platforms, their acquirers

“Places where you’ve got real strong organic tailwinds, coupled with opportunities for M&A are good for private equity interest.”
PAUL CIFELLI KINDERHOOK INDUSTRIES

are buying with expectations the risks have been reduced. The predictability of cash flows has increased. The management teams are more proven. The costs of acquisitions and new locations are more stable and the direction of consolidation is more clear. And the very large private equity firms are able to write much larger checks — in fact, they need to write larger checks given the size of their funds.

More Private Equity Investors Waiting in the Wings

Focus Advisors said it tracks more than 120 private equity firms that have examined the collision repair industry, and its team has had conversations with more than 100 of them over the past 12 months. Some are already well-informed; others are rapidly coming down the learning curve. Successful growth and exits by other PE firms are driving much of the interest.

For many of these prospective investors, the nuances of the industry often surprise them. There are substantially different challenges in collision repair from the more conventional strategies that have worked so well in other industries. Among those challenges is the fact third-party intermediaries — insurance companies — heavily impact the flows of business through DRPs. In addition, the skill sets needed to create profits reside in a technical workforce that has been in short supply for a generation.

With more than 80 MSOs with five or more shops that Focus Advisors has identified in its proprietary database, there is no shortage of candidate platform targets, depending upon the appetite of PE investors. While there are relatively few $30 million revenue platforms, there are many in the $15 million+ range. The true scarcity is management teams that are capable of rapid unit growth and attracting the skilled technicians required to staff their platforms.

Conclusions

Focus Advisors offered the following conclusions to its report:

More private equity firms will make initial investments. Focus Advisors expects the industry will see many new private equity firms entering the market in the next five years. Some will invest to build and flip. Others will buy and build for the longer term.

Independent MSOs will find attractive partners. Independent MSOs with strong management teams will continue to find willing capital partners at attractive values. Targets with a stable and growing base of technicians will attract more attention and higher values.

Exit opportunities with larger sponsors will increase. Welldeveloped private equity-sponsored platforms will continue to find large acquirers, either through consolidators growing by merger or very large private equity firms seeking to buy out early private equity investors.

20 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
Creidt: Shutterstock

Laser Welding May Find Its Way Into Collision Repair Shops

Scott VanHulle, manager of I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support and OEM Technical Relations, thinks the type of laser welding automakers use in assembly factories may make its way into collision repair shops and could be “a game changer” in the industry. One reason: improved affordability of the equipment.

“You’re using mirrors and lenses to focus that laser beam into an extremely small, tight area.”
SCOTT VANHULLE I-CAR

uses electrons to heat the material, laser welding involves photons, he said.

“You’re using mirrors and lenses to focus that laser beam into an extremely small, tight area,” VanHulle said. “It’s an intense heat in that area, but it’s an extremely small area. And it can pretty much weld everything: steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, nickel alloys, dissimilar metals, even different kinds of plastic. There is even some talk about certain kinds of ceramics that can be laser welded.”

Because it doesn’t require a filler wire, it doesn’t introduce different alloys into the weld. The speed and very small heat effect zone are two of other advantages of laser welding.

“And you only need one-sided access,” Van Hulle said. “So if we had

VanHulle said.

“With laser welding, that gun that looks like a traditional MIG welding gun has mirrors and lenses in it that can get smudged or damaged. It’s not a quick swap out of a contact tip,” he said. “You’ve kind of damaged a very expensive part of that tool.”

Laser welding also involves some of the same kinds of hazards as traditional welding, including fumes.

I-CAR’s Scott VanHulle said the

if you’re welding and you’re getting reflection off of something, it could actually burn a hole in the helmet.”

Specialty safety glasses are needed as well to protect from more than just sparks and debris.

“If the laser reflects off something and it hits your eye, it’s not like welders flash that feels like you have sand behind your eyes but will eventually get better,” he said. “This does permanent, irreversible damage to your eyes if you’re not wearing safety glasses that are rated for it.”

That’s one of the reasons when laser welding is done during the vehicle manufacturing process, the car moves into an area that is then closed off during welding so no one is potentially exposed.

“We may have to have something like the aluminum clean rooms if

Taking Out Some of the Glare of Working With Semi-Gloss, Matte Finish Vehicles

With an increasing number of newcar buyers paying a premium ranging from $1,000 to $17,000 or more for a matte or semi-gloss finish, they’re likely to be even more attuned to any refinishing done to that vehicle following auto body work. The Collision Industry Conference’s Parts and Materials Committee paint representatives at this spring’s CIC, held in Seattle, offered tips for successfully matching the look and gloss of these finishes.

Bradley Letourneau, a trainer with BASF, said most automakers view the finishes as custom.

“So it’s not like a manufacturer will measure gloss unit and say, ‘OK, in order for it to be a frozen finish or a piano finish, it has to be within a certain amount of gloss,’” Letourneau said. “They kind of take a look at it, and as long as there are no big runs, dust or dirt in it, it goes to the lot and it gets sold. So because there are no industry standards, these are viewed as custom. You should expect to see a lot of variation within the sheen.”

He said he teaches refinishers the sheen will impact the color a lot more than the color will impact the sheen.

“Time and time again, I see painters doing their first matte finish think that their color is wrong when it’s not,” he said. “It’s actually the sheen that they need to adjust to get that proper match. Typically, if we have a bad color match, we can blend that color out so the customer can’t see it. With a matte vehicle, we’re not blending clear coat. We have to do a panel match. There is no option to blend that clear out to transition it into what is currently on the vehicle. So matching of the sheen is always done by panel match.” He shared photos showing how three panels, each with the same

color, appeared different based on whether a matte, semi-gloss or medium gloss clear was applied, as well as how two panels with the same color appeared different based on whether one coat or two of the same matte clear was applied.

Painters must consider which method and process to use, Letourneau said.

“Both can work, but if you’re going to choose just one coat of clear, you must understand how that’s going to impact the color and the shade of the vehicle,” he added.

Letourneau said it’s also important to view the matte finish from the correct angle.

“All too often, you’ll see a technician look at it at from a 90-degree angle,” Letourneau said. “This isn’t going to a give you an accurate representation of the sheen. The best way to view these is from between a 5-degree and a 15-degree angle. Especially with your test panel. When you’re

a gloss meter can cut back “quite a bit” on preparation time.

“And here’s where sometimes I get into some arguments with some shops or insurance companies: always refinish two or more panels,” Letourneau said. “Usually it’s best to

“It’s like anything else: these are actually pretty simple to do once you’ve done a handful of them.”
BRADLEY LETOURNEAU BASF

paint the whole side because, again, we are panel matching the sheen. We can’t blend the sheen out. So in order to minimize variation and increase the odds of success, paint the whole side.”

Improper washing of vehicles with a matte finish is the primary reason a warranty gets voided, he said, so make sure to use the manufacturer’s

you’ve done a handful of them. It’s really all about preparation.”

The committee’s presentation seemed to reassure attendees about matte finishes rather than scaring them off. At the start of the session, a poll of CIC attendees found 21% of shops said they likely wouldn’t accept a matte finish job, and another 16% were “on the fence” about it; asked again at the end of the session, just 3% were still on the fence and the percentage who said they wouldn’t accept a matte finish job was down to just 13%.

California shop owner Kye Yeung went a step further and said shops “almost have to have” a gloss meter to refinish matte vehicles successfully. The meters use three cameras to measure the gloss on a scale of 1 to 100, he said, and “can differentiate the amount of gloss that the human eye can’t detect.” They can be as much as $5,000.

“But we’ve done some research,

22 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
Bradley Letourneau of BASF said he teaches refinishers that the sheen can significantly impact the color of a matte finish
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How Collision Repairers Can Address Current Needs While Preparing For the Future

As the rise of emerging technologies collide with the collision repair industry’s talent shortage, two experts from I-CAR — Bud Center, director of technical products and curriculum, and Scott Kaboos, principal OEM technical lead and subject matter expert — visited The Collision Vision podcast, driven by Autobody News and hosted by Cole Strandberg, to discuss where the industry is today, the requirements and ROI for shops looking to invest for the future and what that future looks like.

The Evolving Landscape of Auto Body Repair Technology

Center said the increasing relevance of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), electric vehicles (EVs) and the use of mixed materials in vehicle construction are top of mind for collision repairers.

“We’ve got EVs and all the electrical side that one of your traditional collision repair techs would run from and say, ‘Send it over to the mechanic,’ or ‘Send it to the dealer,’ when it’s electrical,” Center said. “But now with all these EVs, we don’t have any choice. We have to develop that skill set on the collision side and really start jumping into it.”

EVs also use mixed materials to reduce weight, which comes with unique joining methods that also require new training, Center said.

Groundbreaking Tools and Materials

Kaboos talked about the innovative tools and materials that have recently entered the market.

“First thing came to my mind was glue pulling,” Kaboos said. “We’re seeing some phenomenal glue pulling equipment that’s actually being used for structural repairs.”

Kaboos said ADAS calibration equipment is also making strides, as more and more OEMs endorse or allow the use of some aftermarket equipment. He said there are now more fixture jig attachments and specialized jigs for pulling, straightening and structural attachments.

The Impact of Innovation on Shops and Technicians

Center said I-CAR is exploring 3D printing at its Chicago Technical Center, as some parts manufacturers are considering enabling the ability for shops to print some of their own parts, like brackets and clips.

“We’re starting to look at what does it take to get into that space? Is it really a viable option in the collision repair space or not? What type of materials do you need to use for that type of printing?” Center said. “What are the things you need to be aware of? You know, the pitfalls, so that you don’t start printing parts that fail.”

Kaboos said I-CAR purchased a laser welder for its Appleton Technical Center in Wisconsin to see if that technology — which automakers

makes sense down the road, consider investing in the tools and training to expand to other OEMs.

“I think a good idea is to specialize,” Kaboos said. “I think we’re going to see more of that anyway, where not everybody’s going to fix every car that comes in the door. And I think that’s a good thing.”

New Skills Needed

Center said technicians need to learn how to work on EVs safely. Batteries

Credit: Shutterstock

already use to build cars — could also be viable for collision repairers.

The ROI of New Technology

Kaboos said shops need to consider if they will do ADAS calibrations or EV repairs in-house, and if so, which manufacturers they’re equipped and trained to handle. Many shops don’t have the space and conditions to perform static ADAS calibrations in-house, Kaboos said, and a lot of dealerships don’t either, which has led to a rise in independent calibration centers.

Strandberg asked how business owners should look at a cost-benefit analysis when considering investing in new repair technologies.

Kaboos said shops should first consider their car count, and what type of cars they’re working on — is there a higher volume of any particular OEM’s vehicles?

Then shops should consider how much space they have available to possibly do ADAS calibrations inhouse.

“[Doing calibrations in-house] is not a requirement. It’s not a mandate,” Kaboos said. “It’s an opportunity where you need to make a smart business decision. You need to weigh the cost.”

Kaboos said it could be a good idea for a shop to invest in being able to calibrate the top two or three OEMs’ vehicles it works on, and, if it

He also touched on I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support portal, which has an app that allows users to search by make and model for any repair information I-CAR has available, and the Collision Careers program, which I-CAR established to promote collision repair as a career option and attract new technicians.

Looking Into the Future

Strandberg asked Center and Kaboos what future technologies they foresee becoming an integral part of the collision repair business.

Kaboos said repairers are already seeing new OEM procedures, including ones to refinish bumper cover areas where ADAS sensors and cameras are located. He said rivet bonding, including self piercing rivets and low form rivets, will become more common.

“We’re seeing more manufacturers going to the gigacasting or mega casting method of assembly,” Kaboos said. “It’s a lot more cost effective for them to build a vehicle that way. So I think that’s going to be our future 10 years down the road, where we’re going to see a lot more of that.”

in a collision-damaged EV need to be checked periodically throughout the repair process, as they can suffer a “concussion.”

“In sports, you bang your head, you get a concussion; the battery reacts the same way,” Center said. “So something that is fine today may not be OK tomorrow.”

Kaboos said technicians also need to be aware of how many seemingly simple repair procedures can require recalibrations. If those aren’t complete, ADAS features may not work properly, which could cause a crash.

He said he also sees a skills gap in welding and other joining techniques, which can also lead to safety issues in a repaired car.

“We’re seeing that in MIG welding, MIG brazing, squeeze type resistance, spot welding, all of those disciplines,” Kaboos said. “And it’s compounded by the fact that the vehicle manufacturers are building the car with high strength steel, ultra high strength steel and then mixed materials. Now we’re seeing multiple attachment methods being used on just one simple part.”

I-CAR’s Role in Bridging Knowledge and Skills Gaps

Center said I-CAR offers a lot of training — both online and in-person — for ADAS calibrations, EV repair and mixed joining methods.

Kaboos said that will also possibly lead to more total losses, if the castings cannot be repaired. If they can, it will be a much more intrusive repair.

Strandberg asked what advice Center and Kaboos would give a collision repair shop owner.

Center said his first suggestion would be to implement a learning culture, if a shop doesn’t already have one, and to take advantage of resources like I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support portal

He also suggested engaging with local vocational programs and career fairs to meet young people interested in a career in the industry, and to get involved with trade associations like the Collision Industry Conference.

Kaboos said the evolving repair methods are “the cool thing about this industry.”

“I was fixing my first car back in the ‘80s, and I look back at how I fix that car and it’s almost embarrassing,” Kaboos said. “We would never think of doing that anymore. But it was the norm back then and it was acceptable.

“If you stop learning, you’re going backwards, because the cars are moving forward. The technology is moving forward, the manufacturers are moving forward,” he added.

“There’s just no way tribal knowledge is going to keep up. It just doesn’t work anymore.”

26 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

EV Total Loss Frequency Rises Amid Falling Used EV Prices

Mitchell, an Enlyte company, released its “Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights” report for the first quarter of 2024. The report showed a rise in electric vehicle (EV) total loss frequency in both the U.S. and Canada, attributed to a decline in prices for used EVs.

The data showed the total loss rates for EVs in the U.S. and Canada reached 9.93% and 7.48%, respectively. This marks an increase of approximately 8% from Q4 2023 and 30% from Q3 2023. Despite this surge, the EV total loss frequency is still comparable to newer internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which recorded a rate of 9.51% in the U.S. and 7.44% in Canada.

EV repairable claims frequency also rose, to 2.26% in the U.S. and 3.41% in Canada, an increase of approximately 40% and 38% respectively over Q1 2023.

“Slowing new sales, manufacturer price reductions and changing consumer sentiment are impacting the value of used EVs,” explained Ryan Mandell, Mitchell’s director of claims performance. “As a result, the total loss frequency for collision-damaged EVs is increasing.

However, it is also increasing for new gasoline-powered vehicles, which are comparable to EVs in terms of their complexity and cost to repair.”

vehicle at $48,759.

That same rapid move towards price parity, however, also resulted in weakened consumer confidence in the financial viability of used EVs, with prices falling by more than 30% year over year versus a 3.6% decline for used ICE vehicles.

Tesla price reductions in late 2023 spurred precipitous price drops throughout the EV segment.

As a result, price parity between EVs and ICE vehicles may be coming faster than previously predicted.

For example, Cox Automotive reported in the U.S., the average transaction price at the end of 2023 for a new EV was $50,798, only $2,040 more than a gas-powered

The report also highlighted other notable differences between EV and ICE vehicle claims.

Repair labor hours: The average mechanical labor hours for EVs were nearly double those for ICE vehicles, at 3.04 versus 1.66 hours. With the average mechanical labor rate for both the U.S. and Canada exceeding $100 per hour, this additional time adds significant cost to EV repairs.

The extra EV labor hours are likely due to the management of the high-voltage battery, which requires de-energization and often complete removal to protect it during collision

repair and refinishing processes.

Claims severity: Despite a decrease in average claims severity in Q1, EVs continue to have higher severity costs. In the U.S., the severity difference between EVs and ICE vehicles was $1,363 or 29% ($6,066 versus $4,703). In Canada, the difference was $1,700 CAD or 33% ($6,810 versus $5,110 CAD).

Claims frequency: EV claims frequency increased to 2.26% in the U.S. and 3.41% in Canada, representing a rise of 40% and 38% respectively over Q1 2023.

Parts use and repair: Due to the lack of a robust inventory of aftermarket and recycled parts, EV collision repairs are more likely to involve OEM parts compared to ICE vehicles (89.29% versus 65.14%). EV parts are also more challenging to repair due to their lightweight nature designed to offset heavy batteries. In Q1, 13% of EV parts were repaired compared to nearly 15% for ICE vehicles.

For more detailed insights and to access the full report, visit the Mitchell website at www.mitchell. com/plugged-in.

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market demands, introducing five new models while pausing the development of two battery-powered sedans.

The announcement is part of Nissan’s broader effort to adapt to a softer-than-expected demand for EVs. “We are adjusting the timeline for the introduction of these five new models to ensure we bring the vehicles to the market at the right time,” a company spokesperson explained.

The revised lineup includes several battery-powered crossover SUVs, which are expected to roll out more swiftly than the planned sedans. Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Canton, MS, will play a crucial role in supporting the production of these next-generation vehicles.

The announcement is a modification of Nissan’s March plans, which aimed to accelerate the EV transition with seven new models by 2026 and establish a robust EV manufacturing hub in the U.S. However, the current shift in strategy indicates a more cautious approach in a market that has shown a lukewarm reception to electric vehicles compared to hybrids and traditional gas-powered models.

Tesla Supercharger Access Delayed for Some Brands

Access to Tesla’s Supercharger

network for several brands adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) has been delayed due to recent layoffs at Tesla.

General Motors, Polestar and Volvo were poised to gain access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network in North America, which includes 15,000 stalls. This expansion was expected to significantly enhance charging availability for EV drivers across the U.S. and Canada. However, Tesla’s decision to lay off numerous Supercharger team members, including Senior Director of Charging Infrastructure Rebecca Tinucci, impacted this timeline.

A Polestar representative stated their timeline “had been adjusted to later this summer.” Similarly, General Motors has delayed the anticipated purchase of its NACS adapter, which is essential for their EVs to connect to Tesla Superchargers.

Ford, GM Clash on Hybrid Vehicle Future

Ford and GM executives presented divergent strategies for hybrid vehicles at a recent industry conference, as reported by Reuters.

Ford CEO Jim Farley argued hybrids should not be seen merely as a transitional technology on the path to full electrification. “We should stop talking about it as transitional

technology,” Farley said. “Many of our hybrids in the U.S. are now more profitable than their non-hybrid equivalent.”

Farley emphasized the profitability and relevance of hybrid vehicles, noting that extended-range hybrids are vital for the industry’s future. He mentioned Ford’s plans to quadruple hybrid sales over the next several years and acknowledged the company’s recent adjustments to its EV investment strategy. This includes pulling back on some EV investments and delaying production in Canada and the U.S.

Conversely, GM CEO Mary Barra views hybrids as a temporary solution, with the ultimate goal being a fully electric fleet. “It’s not the end game because it’s not zero emission,” Barra said. She added GM plans to introduce plug-in hybrids by 2027 to meet regulatory requirements but is primarily focused on advancing EV technology.

Ford is balancing its investments between hybrid and electric technologies, aiming for profitability in the hybrid segment while refining its EV strategy. Farley also expressed a belief that EVs should not rely on subsidies and that automakers must quickly achieve profitable production of battery-powered models.

In contrast, GM is doubling down

on its commitment to EVs, seeking to maintain competitiveness against Chinese automakers, who Barra acknowledges as formidable rivals. “I take the Chinese competitors, especially the top ones, very seriously. We’ve got to continue to take cost out so we can compete successfully,” Barra said.

Kia EV9 Debuts in Georgia as U.S. EV Sales Surge Kia, on the other hand, announced it has begun production of its first allelectric three-row SUV, the EV9, at its assembly plant in West Point, GA.

The 2025 Kia EV9 has already garnered multiple accolades, including the prestigious “Best of the Best” Red Dot award in April 2024 for the Cars and Motorcycle category, and several “Best in Class” titles from the Texas Auto Writers Association, including Performance SUV, mid-size CUV, and electric vehicle.

The Kia EV9 contributed heavily to the automaker’s 151% increase in EV sales in the U.S., said Eric Watson, vice president of sales operations at Kia America.

“Through Plan S, Kia is poised to be a leader in the e-mobility sector for years to come,” said SeungKyu (Sean) Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America. “EV9 will be in excellent hands with

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Rivian Announces Illinois Plant Expansion

Rivian decided to halt work on its second manufacturing facility in Georgia, but announced it will use $827 million in incentives from Illinois to bolster production capacity at its existing plant in Normal.

Originally intending to begin producing its forthcoming R2 vehicles in Georgia, Rivian said it will save $2.25 billion on capital expenditures, product development investment and supplier sourcing opportunities by producing it in Illinois to start. It will also be to launch the R2 earlier.

The incentives package, spanning 30 years, predominantly comprises tax benefits under the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois program, along with an additional $75 million in capital funding under a separate state initiative.

According to a statement from the governor’s office, Rivian intends to invest $1.5 billion to elevate its plant’s capacity in Normal to 215,000 units annually from the current 150,000. This expansion project is projected to generate over

550 jobs within the next five years, a welcome development for the local economy.

Rivian also announced the second generation of its flagship vehicles, the R1S SUV and R1T pickup, featuring substantial improvements in power, performance and technology.

The second-generation R1 platform offers new tri- and quadmotor configurations, and new battery packs offering up to an estimated 420 miles of range.

Significant advancements in the new R1 vehicles include a redesigned electrical architecture, which reduces the number of electronic control units (ECUs) from 17 to seven, and an entirely new autonomy system called the Rivian Autonomy Platform. This system enhances vehicle capabilities with 11 cameras, five radars and AI prediction technology, offering features like high-resolution camera Blind Spot Monitoring and Highway Assist as standard.

Starting at $75,900 for the R1S and $69,900 for the R1T, the vehicles are now available for order on Rivian’s website.

AUTOBODY

North Carolina Raises Auto Liability Coverage Minimums For 2025

North Carolina is set to raise its minimum automobile liability coverage requirements starting Jan. 1, 2025, following the enactment of Senate Bill 452 in October 2023 — the first change in the state’s minimum coverage requirements in 25 years.

The new law increases the required coverage from 30/60/25, in place since 1999, to 50/100/50, meaning drivers must have $50,000 per person injured, $100,000 per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. This adjustment places North Carolina among the few states with such high minimums, joining Maine, Michigan and Alabama, which also require 50/100 coverage. No other state demands more than $25,000 for property damage.

The National Law Review noted that this adjustment aims to better protect individuals involved in accidents, ensuring more comprehensive financial coverage. However, this

change will result in higher auto insurance rates, with an estimated 5% increase, translating to approximately $50 more per year for some drivers, according to WRAL TV news.

The law also modifies the state’s uninsured motorist coverage. Starting in January 2025, insured drivers injured by uninsured motorists will be able to collect the full limit of their uninsured motorist policy in addition to the payout from the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. Previously, insurers could deduct the at-fault driver’s liability amount from the uninsured coverage payout.

However, the new law includes specific parameters for payouts. According to the Ward & Smith law firm, uninsured motorist coverage will not automatically pay out the policy limit. Insurers will consider present and future medical expenses, lost wages and other related costs when determining the payout

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WIN Awards Record 30 Scholarships

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced a record 30 recipients of its 2024 WIN College Student Tuition and Conference Scholarship Awards, which gave select recipients tool kits and/or scholarship funds.

This year also saw a record number of student applications, as WIN partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to expand its reach to those looking for a career in collision repair. These scholarships are presented annually to deserving students enrolled in post-secondary collision repair technology programs.

As part of the application process, each WIN Scholarship applicant registered for and received a complimentary WIN Student Membership. WIN also supports collision repair instructors with access to free WIN memberships through the Pay It Forward campaign.

The program, which was expanded this year, offers awards on two financial levels, ranging from $500 up to $2,500, based on the selection team’s evaluation of an application and the candidate’s review process, explained Laura Kottschade, 2024 chair of the

WIN Student Relations Committee. Recipients can also receive wellstocked new tool kits, valued at more than $500, which included four additional tools per set this year.

“Those scholarship recipients receiving tuition monies and tools were acknowledged in either the Champions or Stars levels,” Kottschade said. “But, because we had so many applicants, two new scholarship categories, Trailblazers and Legends, were added this year where additional recipients were awarded either a financial stipend or a full tool kit.”

All award recipients and applicants will be eligible to partake in WIN’s monthly mentoring program, where they participate in student engagement group calls and share best practices with collision industry professionals as well as their peers.

“WIN student members will connect with other members who are in a similar stage in their careers. The mentoring program also provides connection with women in the industry who can share relevant experiences from their success,” said Kottschade. “These networking groups will support new female entrants to the collision repair

field and hopefully create lifetime friendships that further WIN goals for longer term career advancement and retention.”

Funds to support the scholarship program come from various sponsors and WIN’s general fund, as well as the recent scholarship walk at its Annual Conference.

“This year we have separated the Scholarship Walk and the Scholarship Fundraiser to simplify it for participant involvement, but

there is still the opportunity to donate to the scholarship cause,” said April Keim and Christina Sepulveda, WIN Scholarship Fundraising co-chairs. “Fundraising is still open through May 31, as we have partnered with RallyUp and created the WIN Scholarship Fundraiser which allows those inspired to support our future women technicians of collision repair to still contribute to this important cause.”

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Champions Recipients:

Teisha Chambers, Miami Gardens, FL, McFatter Technical College

Alicia Davis, Clarksville, TN, Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville

Tamara Fowlkes, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga State Community Technical College

Autumn Havey, Boise, ID, Dennis Technical Education Center

Desirae Kane, Lawton, OK, Great Plains Technology Center

Izzy Povod, Williamsport, PA, Pennsylvania College of Technology

Alexa Rogers, Bruceton, TN, Tcat Henry Carroll

Lauren Schmidt, Kennett Square, PA, Automotive Training Center

Mia Seacrist, Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College

Krystal Vazquez, McKinney, TX, Colllin College technical campus

Stars Recipients:

Charlotte Lake, Spring, TX, Universal Technical Institute

Claudia Mandujano, Pelham, AL, Lincoln Tech

Trailblazers Recipients:

Jamie Achenbaugh, Council Bluffs, IA, Metropolitan Community College

Victoria Alexander, Rexburg, ID, Idaho State University

Esperanza Calderon, Marissa, IL, Career Center of Southern Illinois

Mikayla Hoth, Brooklyn Park, MN, Dunwoody College of Technology

Bobbi Lockett, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga State Community College

Magaly Mora, Chicago, IL, Kennedy Kin College

Keyla Orellana, Houston, TX, Universal Technical Institute

Briana Onofre, Minneapolis, MN, Dunwoody College of Technology

Cher Riopelle, The Woodlands, TX, Universal Technical Institute

Samantha Rivera, Highland Mills, NY, Hudson Valley Community College

Legends Recipients:

Amanda Baker, Wake Forest, NC, Wake Tech Community College

Carolyn DesJardin, Clarksville, TN, Tennessee College of Applied Technology–Henry/Carroll

Mattie Johnson, Bagley, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Bailey Longstaff, Ottawa, KS, Washburn Tech University

Jazmyne Martinez, Denver, CO, Warren Tech

Diamond Molina, San Antonio, FL, Hillsborough Community College

Kyla Sanders, Borden IN, Prosser Career and Education Center

Madysen Smith, Dauphin, PA, Dauphin County Technical School

Maaco Longwood in Florida Welcomes New Ownership

Justin DePasquale and Pete Huber, seasoned leaders with proven track records, have taken the reins at Maaco Longwood in Florida from former owner Elimu Kajunju, who still owns Maaco stores in Orlando and Ocala.

efforts such as supporting local technical schools, providing relief in the wake of Hurricane Ian, and raising money for the Pace Center for Girls, a nonprofit providing academic classes, counseling and social services to middle and high school girls.

DePasquale, who also owns Maaco Fort Myers, is recognized for his community-driven initiatives and robust business acumen, which recently led to a 25% increase in sales at his Fort Myers location. That store also won the Southeast Regional Cup Award at Maaco’s 2023 convention. His commitment extends beyond business, with charitable

Pete Huber, transitioning from Maaco’s regional director of operations to franchisee, brings more than two decades of franchising expertise. His focus on profit/loss management and team development has been instrumental in shaping successful multi-unit operations within the Maaco network.

“It fills me with great joy to see such camaraderie within our close-knit network of owners,” said Daryl Hurst, president of Maaco. “For over a decade, Pete has provided his franchising expertise to the Driven Brands family and this pivot further cements our belief in the brand and business model.”

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 33
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Dangerous Takata Airbags Still on Roads Despite Decade of Recalls

Ten years after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) mandated the recall of Takata airbags nationwide because of the risk they pose for bodily harm — or even death — to occupants, more than 6.4 million vehicles in the U.S. still have those airbags, according to CARFAX data.

More than 2.5 million — roughly 40% of all these unfixed vehicles — are located in states that NHTSA calls Zone A, according to CARFAX vehicle history data. These states “pose the highest threat to safety” because of their high heat and humidity: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas.

Fourteen states have 150,000 or more unfixed vehicles with Takata airbags:

Texas: 788,000

California: 739,000

Florida: 305,000

North Carolina: 216,000

Ohio: 209,000

New York: 206,000

Pennsylvania: 204,000

Tennessee: 202,000

Arizona: 201,000

Georgia: 195,000

Illinois: 167,000

Michigan: 164,000

Indiana: 154,000

Alabama: 151,000

Extended exposure to heat and humidity can cause Takata airbag inflators to deploy far more explosively than expected. That excessive force can launch pieces of metal surrounding the inflator into a vehicle’s cabin like shrapnel, posing a high risk to occupants.

NHTSA data shows 27 people in the U.S. have been killed by these airbags and at least 400 have been injured. More than 67 million airbags in more than 40 million vehicles have been recalled in models from 19 automakers.

“Even after a decade of a dedicated and committed effort by the vehicle manufacturers, government, nonprofits and businesses, it’s concerning that so many affected vehicles continue to be driven on U.S. roads with these potentially dangerous airbags sitting inside,” said Faisal Hasan, CARFAX general manager for data. “It’s easy to see recall fatigue settle in for

many consumers, but they need to act. We know that raising the alarm with local media can make that happen urgently. Getting an airbag replaced is quick, free to them, and could save the life of a loved one — or their own!”

“Even after a decade of a dedicated and committed effort by the vehicle manufacturers, government, nonprofits and businesses, it’s concerning that so many affected vehicles continue to be driven on U.S. roads with these potentially dangerous airbags sitting inside,

Nissan Issues ‘Do Not Drive’ Warning for 83,920 Vehicles

Nissan issued a “Do Not Drive” warning for 83,920 model year 2002-2006 vehicles equipped with

unrepaired Takata airbags. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive until the defective airbags are replaced to prevent potential fatalities and injuries.

The recall affects specific 20022006 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 models. These vehicles are subject to open Takata air bag recalls under NHTSA campaigns 20V-008 and 20V-747. The NHTSA is urging all vehicle owners to immediately check if their vehicle has an open Takata air bag recall and schedule a free repair if needed.

Nissan and Infiniti are offering free towing, mobile repair and in select locations, loaner vehicles. Owners can contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 or visit Nissan’s recall website, and Infiniti owners can reach out at 800662-6200 or visit the Infiniti recall website for more information.

Vehicle owners should use NHTSA’s Recalls Lookup Tool with their license plate number or VIN to search for any open safety recalls. Alternatively, the SaferCar app can automatically check for recalls. For future alerts on safety recalls, sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts.

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Gold Star Family Receives Refurbished Vehicle At Southeast

Collision Conference

The Southeast Collision Conference featured a giveaway by the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, in which a Gold Star widow and her daughter were presented with a gift to significantly ease their daily challenges.

Amy Dozier , whose husband, Sgt. Jonathan Dozier , died serving the country 16 years ago, received a fully refurbished 2013 Honda CRV.

The vehicle, donated by GEICO and restored by ProColor

Collision Greensboro West, was unveiled May 16. Technicians at ProColor dedicated their expertise to revitalize the car, ensuring it would be reliable for Dozier and her daughter, who is currently exploring college options and participating in extracurricular activities.

“I’m speechless,” said Dozier. “I’m just so thankful for the entire community that has shown up for my family. It’s humbling. This truly mean so much to us. Thank you to the NABC, GEICO, ProColor and everyone who had anything to do with this wonderful gift.”

The third annual Southeast Collision Conference, held May 1618 in Greensboro, NC, was held by the Carolinas Collision Association and the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association.

“I am very honored to be the executive director of the Carolinas Collision Association and have members who want to take part in such a selfless act and gift a vehicle to someone very deserving in their community,” said Josh Kent , executive director of the Carolinas Collision Association.

The Recycled Rides program has been a cornerstone of the NABC’s efforts since 2007, having donated more than 3,300 vehicles valued at approximately $47 million. These vehicles have been a crucial lifeline for families in need across the nation, providing them not just with transportation, but a pathway to greater independence and opportunity.

Additional partners in the presentation included Sherwin Williams, Beamer Tire, Auto Rumley Services, Bisbee Honda, Precision Collision, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.

Auto Additive launched its new business, providing 3D printing solutions to the automotive repair industry, at the IBIS Global event in Greece.

Auto Additive and its founding partners HP, Headlights.com & 4Plastic, are set to revolutionize the supply of 3D printed tools, jigs and repair parts such as headlight tabs. The weldable and attachable repair tab kits will be available for sale exclusively through Headlights.com.

Auto Additive is collaborating closely with key industry stakeholders in 3D printing, including HP and Forcast 3D. The business is also leveraging advanced blockchain-driven software to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the highest quality standards in the aftermarket and OEM sectors. Auto Additive is set to offer a range of services to meet the growing industry needs in the collision sector, including building custom parts catalogues, 3D printing and managing existing digital parts, engineering custom tooling, and working on tailored projects.

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 35
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Strong May New-Car Sales Driven by Improved Inventory

Automakers reported year-overyear sales gains in May, but one analyst reported dealers will face significant challenges in June as new and certified vehicle inventories are at their highest levels in three years, offering consumers a broader selection of options.

Ford

Ford Motor Company announced its EV sales nearly doubled in the first five months of 2024, surging by 87.8% compared to the same period in 2023, while hybrid sales increased by 50.9%. Overall, Ford’s U.S. sales from January to May saw a 5.6% increase over the previous year, totaling

877,685 units delivered. Despite the impressive gains in EV and hybrid segments, ICE vehicles still dominate with an 87.3% share of total sales, equivalent to 766,428 units. In comparison, hybrids hold an 8.4% market share with 74,049 units sold, and EVs represent 4.3% with 37,208 units sold.

The sales data revealed a continued preference for larger vehicles among consumers. Trucks lead the sales with 460,006 units, a 2.5% increase. SUVs followed closely with a significant 9.9% increase, totaling 394,141 units sold. However, the car segment remains small, with only 23,538 units sold, representing a minimal 0.4%

increase, entirely attributed to the Ford Mustang, the only remaining car model in Ford’s American lineup. Among individual models, the Ford Mustang Mach-E experienced the most impressive increase, with sales rising by 88.7% to 18,737 units, attributed to price discounts that have attracted more buyers. Ford’s other electric offerings, the F-150 Lightning truck and the E-Transit van, also showed strong sales growth. The F-150 Lightning sold 13,093 units year-to-date, a 78.5% increase, driven by discounts on the remaining 2023 models. The E-Transit van achieved a sales growth of 111.2%, with 5,378 units sold.

In the ICE segment, the Ford Maverick stood out with a stellar growth of 84.9%, totaling 64,754 units sold. Conversely, the Ford Ranger saw a significant decline of 44.4% in year-to-date sales, reaching 10,948 units, primarily due to production shortages. The Ford Bronco also experienced a 16.1% decline, with 42,061 units sold. However, both the Ranger and Bronco showed positive trends in May, with the Ranger reporting a 17.5% sales increase and the Bronco a 17.9% increase compared to May 2023.

Honda

American Honda reported total sales of 127,129 units in May, marking the company’s second-best sales month this year. This surge represents a 14% year-over-year increase.

Honda brand sales topped 114,000 units in May, continuing a strong trend with four consecutive months exceeding 100,000 units. Honda’s electrified models contributed significantly to this growth, with 26,912 units sold, driven primarily by the CR-V hybrid, Accord hybrid and the new Prologue. The CR-V, in particular, saw sales exceeding 30,000 units for the fourth consecutive month, with hybrid versions making up more than 50% of this figure.

Additional highlights for the Honda brand included HR-V sales, which jumped by over 45% year-over-year, totaling more than 13,000 units. The Pilot saw 12,500 units sold, particularly driven by the TrailSport model. Both the Passport and Odyssey posted their best sales months of the year, while Civic sales surpassed 20,000 units for the fourth month in a row. Accord hybrid models represented 52% of the Accord s sales mix.

The Acura brand recorded its best sales figures of 2024 with 12,741

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units sold. The MDX and RDX models were key contributors, with the MDX achieving more than 6,300 units and the RDX topping 3,200 units. The Integra had its best month of the year, selling more than 2,500 units and leading the premium gateway segment with a market share exceeding 40%. Additionally, the all-electric ZDX A-Spec units began arriving at dealerships, with the Type S variant expected in early June.

American Honda’s May sales positioned the company well ahead of its projected 10% growth for the year, with 577,539 units sold through May.

Hyundai

Hyundai Motor America reported total May sales of 78,485 units, a 12% increase compared with May 2023. Hyundai set total sales records in May for IONIQ 5 (+82%), IONIQ 6 (+13%), Tucson HEV (+54%), Santa Fe HEV (+116%), Palisade (+45%) and Santa Cruz (+2%). This was the best all-time retail and total sales for IONIQ 5 and Santa Fe HEV. Hyundai s total EV sales were up 42% in May.

Mazda

Mazda North American Operations reported total May sales of 35,562 vehicles, an increase of 6.9% compared to May 2023. Year-todate sales totaled 166,790 vehicles

sold, an increase of 8.3% compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in May, compared to 25 the year prior, the company posted an increase of 2.8% on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.

CPO sales totaled 6,725 vehicles in May, an increase of 28% compared to May 2023.

Highlights included the best-ever sales of CX-50, with 6,307 vehicles sold, and the best-ever May sales of CX-30, with 8,305 vehicles sold.

Subaru

Subaru of America, Inc. reported 58,356 vehicle sales for May 2024, a seven percent increase compared with May 2023 (54,531). SOA also reported year-to-date sales of 267,215, a 7.3 percent increase compared with the same period in 2023.

Outback was the top seller with 16,506 vehicles sold, followed closely by Forester with 15,345 vehicles sold, a 45 percent increase over May 2023. Crosstrek also had a strong month with 13,836 vehicles sold, a 32.3 percent increase over the same month in 2023. Solterra achieved its best month ever at 1,546 vehicles sold, beating its previous record (1,456) from last month.

Toyota

Toyota Motor North America reported May sales in the U.S. of 216,611

vehicles, up 15.7% year over year on a volume basis. Of those, 85,335 were electrified vehicles, up 68.7% year over year on a volume basis.

Sales Gains Driven by Improved Inventory

Movement for new, used and certified vehicles surged to multi-year highs in May, but dealers are bracing for a challenging month in June, according to ZeroSum’s June State of the Dealer report. The comprehensive assessment reveals a robust automotive market, particularly for new and certified vehicles, yet highlights the hurdles individual dealers must overcome due to heightened competition.

The report indicated new and certified vehicle inventories are at their highest levels in three years, offering consumers a broader selection of options. New vehicle supply rose to 2.89 million in May, a 2.8% increase from April, with the industry eyeing the 3.0 million mark. Certified inventory reached its peak since April 2020, while underlying metrics such as turn rates and days-to-move show sustained levels driven by higher supply.

“The new vehicle movement count is very encouraging and points to a continuing resilience in the marketplace,” said Jeff Englishmen, vice president of dealer success at ZeroSum. “Even in the face of elevated prices and stubbornly

high interest rates, consumers are still taking advantage of the improved availability that comes with strong inventory levels.”

Used vehicle inventories saw a slight increase for the second consecutive month, maintaining a narrow range since the fall. Used vehicle movement surpassed the 1.3 million mark for the second time in three months, with a 30day forecast predicting a continuation of this trend at 1.29 million.

“The recent strength in used vehicle movement is a welcome development, but doing so in light of a flat inventory picture is even more impressive,” said Englishmen. “The ongoing pricing differential with new cars is playing a role in used performance and is likely to continue to do so in the near future.”

Despite these positive trends, the report concluded dealers will face significant challenges due to increased competition.

“The State of the Dealer report strives to address the question of whether it is going to get harder or easier for dealers to sell a vehicle in the next 30 days,” Englishmen said. “At an overall industry level, the answer is ‘easier,’ though the reality for an individual dealer is that there is greater competition that comes along with the wider alternatives that consumers currently have to choose from.”

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Veterans Presented Refurbished Vehicles by NABC Recycled Rides At NASCAR Hall of Fame

Two U.S. Army veterans were gifted vehicles to provide reliable transportation, empowering them to continue their journeys toward independence, during a special NABC Recycled Rides veterans celebration presented by PPG in honor of Military Appreciation Month, along with car donor GEICO and collision repair partner Classic Collision.

The event was held May 23 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC, ahead of one of the biggest weekends in racing, the Coca-Cola 600. Legendary NASCAR crew chief Jeff Hammond was the emcee of the event.

“We are proud to help provide vehicles to these two deserving veteran families,” said Tom Wolf, NABC board member and strategic accounts director, USCA, for PPG. “We have a long history in motorsports and in giving back to our military members, so it is an honor to present these vehicles during Military Appreciation Month.”

The two deserving veteran families were selected by Veterans Bridge

Homes, which provides housing, job and financial support to veterans in North and South Carolina.

“We have a long history in motorsports and in giving back to our military members, so it is an honor to present these vehicles during Military Appreciation Month.”
TOM WOLF

Ramir Maldonado received a 2019 Toyota Corolla. Maldonado, who is pursuing a degree in cybersecurity at Fayetteville Tech in North Carolina, has faced challenges with panic attacks since his service. His old vehicle was unreliable, causing him additional stress.

“This car is a miracle, an absolute miracle,” said Maldonado. “I am so grateful. To me, this means keep moving forward as I work to complete

my degree in cyber security and take care of my family.”

Ehab Elmenshawi received a 2019 Toyota Camry. A decorated veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Elmenshawi struggles with 100% disability and has frequent medical appointments. The reliable transportation is a timely gift as his wife is expecting a child soon.

“I’m out of words. What a wonderful gift for me and my wife,” said Elmenshawi. “It is perfect timing as we are expecting a little one soon. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. It’s a great gift. I am speechless.”

The NABC Recycled Rides program, since its inception in 2007, has donated more than 3,300 vehicles, valued at approximately $47 million, to individuals and families in need.

Additional partners in the presentation included, LKQ, Keystone, INA Towing Network, Modern Parts Center, Black’s Tire, Cars for Charity, Advanced Remarketing Services, MCATEER Towing Services and Enterprise.

AirPro Diagnostics has entered into an agreement with Fix Network to supply its franchisees diagnostics and ADAS calibrations technologies.

This relationship is a significant milestone in AirPro Diagnostics’ commitment to delivering innovative diagnostic technology and solutions to the automotive collision repair and glass industries.

This agreement includes AirPro’s Auggie mobile ADAS forward-facing camera calibrations device for Fix Network’s collision, glass and mechanical brands. These brands include Fix Auto Collision Canada, Fix Auto Service, NOVUS Glass, ProColor Collision, Speedy Auto Service and Speedy Glass USA.

In addition, AirPro’s systems and equipment deliver to its current customer base a 99.6% service success rate, dramatic reduction in cycle time and comebacks, coverage on 98% of all vehicles (including 2024 models), quick response from a Brand Specialist tech on tool in less than two minutes, and a huge return on investment (ROI).

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CREF Awards $235,000

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) announced more than $235,000 in scholarships and tool grants have been awarded to 90 students nationwide, funded through the generosity of industry partners.

For the first time, more than twothirds of the recipients are women and minorities, signifying a move towards a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

“CREF is honored to recognize these outstanding students through the 2024 scholarships and tool grants,” said Melissa Marscin, director of operations and administration for CREF. “We were thrilled to receive applications from a greater diversity of students than we’ve ever seen in the past, all of whom have demonstrated their commitment to pursuing their educations and becoming part of the collision industry. We hope these awards help contribute to their successful careers, strengthening the industry by bringing in new perspectives.”

Seven students received the prestigious Adelmann Family

Tool Grants To Collision Repair Students

Scholarships, each worth $10,000. These scholarships, established by retired industry veteran Tim Adelmann, aim to support students at a higher level and leave a lasting impact on the industry.

3M awarded $40,000 in scholarships and tool grants through two separate initiatives. The Hire Our Heroes grants are open to collision repair students who currently serve, or recently served, in the U.S. military; this year, 11 veterans received grants of $1,500 each. An additional 10 students received $2,500 CREF scholarships.

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) collaborated with CREF to administer 30 scholarships specifically for women aspiring to enter the collision repair industry. These awards included tool kits valued at $500 and tuition scholarships of $500 or $2,500.

The PPG Foundation funded more than $30,000 in scholarships and tool kits, including $3,000 scholarships for seven students with a special interest in the painting segment of the collision repair industry.

LKQ donated $10,000 toward scholarships and tool grants in 2024, benefiting eight students.

Four outstanding students received $2,500 scholarships from the JW Bagley Foundation, a nonindustry entity that supports CREF’s mission.

Three more students recieved a CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarship, valued at $3,000 each.

Erie Insurance donated $8,000, which CREF awarded to four students — a $2,000 tool kit for one, and $2,000 scholarships for three more.

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Enterprise Holdings, funded a $5,000 scholarship for one student.

I-CAR’s Lon Baudoux Memorial Scholarship was created to honor Baudoux, an I-CAR development manager who passed away in 2008, in recognition of the importance he placed on secondary and post-secondary collision repair students receiving a proper education. Two students received scholarships of $2,000.

AASP-IL funded $2,000 scholarships to assist with two students’ tuition costs, the CREF Board of Trustees awarded two $1,000 tool grants, and one student received a $1,000 tool kit through the Sulkala Family Scholarship, created to honor Chuck Sulkala, founder and executive director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), who retired in 2018.

Finally, one student received the second annual $1,000 Jeff Silver Memorial Scholarship, established in 2022 to honor the memory of Silver, a respected trailblazer and leader in industry repair standards.

This year’s recipients come from a wide range of educational institutions across the country. More than one-third of the recipients identify as female, and nearly half reported a race other than Caucasian. A quarter of the students who received support in 2024 listed their race as Hispanic or Latino. The diversity seen among this year’s applicants can largely be attributed to CREF’s collaboration with WIN to administer its annual scholarships.

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Deadly Driving: New Mexico Has the Worst Drivers in America

As the number of deadly crashes in the U.S. climbed by 12.7% between 2019 and 2023, according to federal safety agency data, a Forbes Advisor study looked at which states have the highest rates of unsafe driving habits, often the culprit in roadway fatalities.

Dangerous driving behaviors studied included speeding, driving while distracted and engaging in aggressive driving.

According to the study, which analyzed data from all 50 states based on eight key metrics, New Mexico has the worst drivers in the country, with a high number of fatal crashes involving a variety of dangerous driving behaviors.

New Mexico recorded the highest rate of fatal car accidents involving a distracted driver, at 10.16 per 100,000 licensed drivers. It was second in the rate of fatal car accidents involving driving too fast for conditions, speeding or racing (9.66). It was third in rate of total fatal car accidents (25.65) and rate of drunk drivers involved in fatal car accidents (8.11). Finally, it

was sixth in the rate of fatal car accidents involving disobeying traffic signs, traffic signals or a traffic officer (1.39).

Overall, New Mexico scored a 100 out of 100 on Forbes Advisor’s scale ranking the worst drivers by state.

Wyoming was second, scoring a 96.62, in part due to tired drivers getting behind the wheel.

The rest of the top 10 worstranked drivers by state were Texas (95.12 out of 100), Oklahoma (92.86), Montana (92.10), Louisiana (88.92), Kentucky (88.45), Kansas (86.63), Mississippi (85.04) and Missouri (84.51).

Mississippi had the highest total number of fatal car accidents per 100,000 licensed drivers at 31.95, and Montana led in drunk drivingrelated fatal crashes, with 9.22 per 100,000 licensed drivers.

On the other hand, six of the top 10 states with the best drivers were in the Northeast, including Massachusetts, which ranked as the state with the safest drivers, scoring 0 out of 100 on Forbes Advisors’ scale.

Crash Champions Increases Florida Presence With Liles Collision

Crash Champions announced it is continuing its Florida expansion with the acquisition of Liles Collision in Ocala, FL. The acquisition was finalized June 7, with operations transitioning to Crash Champions immediately.

The high-quality repair center is located at 4380 NE 36th Ave in Ocala, and has more than 45 years of history serving the area.

and acquire like-minded repair centers with a strong reputation for quality and service. Liles Collision offered just that. We’re proud to welcome their team to Crash Champions and look forward to serving the Ocala community.”

“This is another steady step forward in our strategic growth plans and long-term vision for Crash Champions,” said founder and CEO Matt Ebert “It’s important that we identify

Crash Champions now operates 58 high-quality repair centers across the state of Florida. Its recent growth across the Sunshine State features five new locations since April, including two Crash Champions LUXE | EV Certified locations with the acquisition of Mitchell Collision Repair announced on June 3. The company operates a nationwide lineup of more than 645 I-CAR Gold Class repair centers across 37 states and provides a written lifetime warranty valid at any location.

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Programs Tackle Tech Shortage by Helping Young People Make Connections in Collision Repair

As the collision repair industry grapples with the same labor shortage as many other trades, organizations are working together to first promote it as a viable career option and then help potential future technicians develop the necessary skills, education and support.

According to District Administration, a provider of research-backed information on K-12 education, 37% of high school students do not have a plan after high school graduation. Lack of information on college and technical programs, overwhelming options, job market instability, and uncertainty about the future are leaving students and their parents overwhelmed.

In 2023, I-CAR and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) launched the Collision Careers program, which, on its website, CollisionCareers.com, offers decision making tools, with valuable information and resources for students, parents and educators about the rewarding and lucrative

one that fits their skills and interests.

The program recently introduced #collisiondecision, a hashtag to help students who are choosing a career in the industry amplify their decision on social media. The campaign was launched around May 1, also known as Decision Day, when many of their peers are announcing plans to attend college.

“Decision Day can be a stressful time for graduating high schoolers, especially those unsure of their next steps,” said Dara Goroff, vice president of planning and industry talent programming at I-CAR.

“The automotive collision repair industry offers a dynamic and rewarding career path that many should consider. We’re committed to highlighting these opportunities and providing clear pathways for motivated individuals to enter this exciting field. By talking about the challenges or feelings students may have around Decision Day, we are aiming to turn what could feel like a negative experience into a positive one where they discover the best

Foundation and SkillsUSA announced a collaboration to introduce SkillsUSA members to the foundation s careerbuilding resources via TechForce , an online hub that aids students in navigating their career journey. This platform connects students with scholarships, events, apprenticeships and job opportunities.

“Decision Day can be a stressful time for graduating high schoolers, especially those unsure of their next steps,”

In return, TechForce will promote SkillsUSA membership to its network, emphasizing opportunities for leadership, professional development, enhanced curriculum, industry networking and real-world experiences.

work together for a common purpose, said Jennifer Maher, CEO of TechForce Foundation. Both organizations are committed to the outcome of a skilled, passionate workforce, so ensuring our communications channels crosspollinate ensures our students, and industry, win. With TechForce having over $4 million in scholarships to award this year alone, and SkillsUSA being active in nearly 5,000 schools and over 21,000 classrooms nationwide, it s a natural alliance that supercharges results for the next generation of skilled technicians.

Meanwhile, the TechForce

This nonprofit-to-nonprofit collaboration showcases what can happen when two organizations

SkillsUSA is the No. 1 workforce development organization dedicated to students, added Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. Our organization stands ready to meet the growing need of connecting business and industry with skilled professionals. SkillsUSA s vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success. With partners like TechForce beside us, it is a true winwin for everyone — students and the American economy alike.

ALABAMA

Serra Kia

Birmingham

800-426-4351

205-856-6600

M- F 8am-5pm jessica@serraparts.com

FLORIDA

Deland Kia

Deland 386-734-7800 (386) 822-9278 Fax parts@delandkia.net www.delandkia.net FREE Local Delivery

Kia of Orange Park

Jacksonville

904-771-6078

(904) 674-0221 Fax

M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 dcarr@kiaoforangepark.com

Kia of Vero Beach Vero Beach

772-770-9887 (772) 562-0732 Fax M-F 7:30-5 mikep@toyotaofvero.com

Rick Case Kia Sunrise 954-364-3079

M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 troythomas@rickcase.com

GEORGIA

Sons Kia McDonough 678-783-2193 (678) 783-2298 Fax M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4

SO. CAROLINA

Kia of Greenville Greenville 864-516-2700 (864) 520-8981 Fax aburgos@kiaofgreenville.net

VIRGINIA

CMA’S Colonial Kia Chesterfield 804-431-3838 (804) 431-1646 Fax

M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 dwomack@colonial.cmacars.com

Ourisman Kia of Fairfax Fairfax (703) 934-8877

x227, 237 or 254 M-F 7am-7pm; Sat 8am-5pm mmunn@ourismancars.com www.ourismankiaoffairfax.com

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 41
VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNING AND INDUSTRY TALENT PROGRAMMING AT I-CAR Find your local Kia dealership today at www.kia.com We’ve Got Your Parts Covered 100% Genuine. No Exceptions.
*Kia Genuine replacement parts sold but not installed by an Authorized Kia Dealer are covered for 12 months from purchase date, regardless of mileage, for the part only, and any labor charge is the consumer’s responsibility.

New-Vehicle Prices Drop For 8th Month Amid High Inventory

New-vehicle prices in the U.S. continued to decline for the eighth month in a row, according to Kelley Blue Book’s latest estimates. The average transaction price (ATP) for a new vehicle in May was $48,389, a slight decrease of 0.9% from the previous year, largely due to increased inventory levels and higher incentives.

Higher inventory levels have significantly influenced the pricing dynamics in the automotive market. As of early May, newvehicle inventory reached 2.84 million units, marking a 51% yearover-year increase and the highest level since late 2020. This surge in inventory has provided consumers with more choices and prompted dealers to offer better deals.

“In May, we saw some positive news on the sales front,” said Erin Keating, executive analyst for Cox Automotive. “A lot of those sales gains were juiced by higher incentives and lower prices, which is good news for consumers worrying about inflation. While there are a lot of vehicles transacting at very high prices, that doesn’t mean all new vehicles

are unaffordable. There are still plenty of excellent, well-priced vehicles out there, particularly in the compact segments.”

The average new-vehicle incentive package in May was 6.7% of the ATP, translating to about $3,200 per vehicle, an increase from last year’s 4.0% of ATP, making new vehicles more affordable.

Despite the overall decline in new-vehicle prices, the market remains diverse with significant price variations across different segments. Four of the top 10 bestselling vehicles in the U.S. were fullsize pickup trucks, such as the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado, with ATPs exceeding $60,000. Conversely, popular models like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V had transaction prices well below the national average, at $37,608 and $37,364, respectively.

“It’s called an average for a reason,” said Keating. “The U.S. market is very diverse, with plenty of popular, high-priced vehicles that sell very well and drive the average higher. The popularity of fully loaded, full-size pickup trucks

Audi Part Professionals are experts on collision parts, replacement components and mechanical items.

that are more luxurious than many luxury vehicles is unique to the U.S. market. The Ford F-Series outsold BMW 2-to-1 in May, and BMW’s ATP was only marginally higher than the F-Series.”

Last month, the share of vehicles transacting below $40,000 increased compared to May 2023, suggesting a market shifting to more affordable models. Vehicles transacting below $40,000 accounted for 41.2% of new-vehicle sales in May, up from 36.8% one year ago. Kelley Blue Book counted approximately 70 different models available for below $40,000. Only one model with meaningful sales volume — the Mitsubishi Mirage — transacted below $20,000.

The electric vehicle market also experienced price fluctuations. Tesla’s ATP rose by 3.1% month over month to $57,369 in May, driven in part by the increasing sales of the Cybertruck — an estimated 3,000 were sold in May, at an ATP of $108,667. Overall, EV prices in May were 2.6% higher than in April, although they were 4.1% lower year over year.

ALABAMA

Audi Birmingham Irondale

205.986.7410

205.986.7438 Fax

Classic Collision Acquires H&T in Virginia Beach

Classic Collision, LLC, announced the acquisition of H&T Collision Center in Virginia Beach, VA. H&T Collision Center, established in July 2005, has grown from a family-owned business to one of the largest independent repair facilities in Virginia Beach, occupying a 13,000-square-foot location equipped with state-ofthe-art equipment.

“By doing nothing but quality work and treating our customers right, we have managed to become one of the largest independent repair facilities in Virginia Beach, and we believe Classic Collision will continue our efforts here,” said Troy Fassler, former owner of H&T Collision Center.

“H&T Collision Centers have been acknowledged for their outstanding customer experience and commitment to excellence, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Classic Family and expanding our presence in the Virginia market,” said Toan Nguyen, Classic Collision’s CEO.

Audi West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach

866.441.3309

561.615.4175

561.615.4179 Fax

M-F 7am-6pm; Sat 8am-4pm daniel.williford@audiofbirmingham.com www.audiofbirmingham.com

FLORIDA

Audi North Miami North Miami Beach

305.952.5960

305.944.4009 Fax

M-Sat 8am-6pm amartinez@audinorthmiami.com www.audinorthmiami.com

Audi Orange Park

Jacksonville

904.565.2230

904.565.2216 Fax

M-F 7am-7pm; Sat 8am-5pm cdrake@audiorangepark.com www.audiorangepark.com

M-F 7:30am-7pm; Sat 8am-5pm parts@audiwpb.com www.audiwpb.com

GEORGIA

Audi Gwinnett Duluth

678.258.2535

770.476.9311 Fax

M-F 7:30am-6pm parts@audigwinnett.com www.audigwinnett.com

TENNESSEE

Audi Knoxville

Knoxville

800.382.2787

865.691.3742

865.251.3227 Fax

M-F 7:30am-6pm; Sat 8am-2pm brianmaillet@harperdealerships.com www.audiknoxville.com

Regardless of the age of your customer’s Audi, Audi dealers have access to over 200,000 part numbers and are supported by a nationwide network of distribution centers to help ensure non-stocked parts are delivered the next day.

select
Order Audi Genuine Parts from these
dealers.

Estimating Plastic Repair Training Course Cuts Down on Discarded Repairable Parts

Repairable plastic parts are often discarded because many estimators do not know how to determine the repairability of the part, negatively impacting the shop’s labor hours billed, its repair versus replace ratio, and its cycle time.

To combat this issue, Polyvance announced its new EPR-02 Estimating Plastic Repair course, an instructor-led, structured course provided by Polyvance personnel in the customer’s shop, to educate shop estimators on the variables involved in estimating the repair of damaged automotive plastics.

John Wilburn, head training instructor for Polyvance, said the training is becoming more necessary than ever as automakers use more plastic rather than metal to manufacture parts, as lighter materials translates to an increase in fuel efficiency in ICE vehicles and more miles from a charge in EVs.

Polyvance’s online estimators training course, EPR-01, which has been available for several years,

is very popular with insurance companies, Wilburn said, but the company felt it was time to add a live in-person estimators training course to complement its other inperson training courses.

“Nothing compares to in-person training,” Wilburn said.

Polyvance developed the new course to educate estimators and other collision repair professionals on the variables involved when estimating damaged automotive plastic. After completing it, estimators will be able to write more accurate estimates for plastic repair, and knowledgeably discuss the plastic repair process with the customer and/or technicians who perform the repairs.

“When estimators and technicians have the knowledge and know-how to accurately estimate and repair damaged plastic, the repair process goes a lot smoother,” Wilburn said.

The EPR-02 Estimating Plastic Repair course is a three-hour session that may be attended by up to six students. The course

was recently approved by I-CAR for three hours of annual training credit under their Industry Training Alliance program. Polyvance is a Sustaining Partner of I-CAR.

In the course, students will learn how to assess the damage of automotive plastic parts, focusing on bumper covers and headlights. The majority of the course will consist of a stimulating discussiondriven classroom session. The instructor will also provide an inshop demonstration of a bumper cover repair.

Course objectives include recognizing plastic repair opportunities, understanding the different methods of plastic repair, making an informed decision on repairing or replacing damaged plastic, accurately gauging the severity of damage on bumper covers and headlights, and determining if a damaged textured part can be repaired.

Call Polyvance at 800-633-3047 or email training@polyvance.com for more information or to register for the course.

The following dealerships are eager to serve your needs. Call your local Subaru collision parts specialist today!

Stivers Decatur

Subaru

Decatur (404) 248-1888

Fax (404) 425-5800

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 9-5 dway@stiversonline.com www.stiverssubaru.com

Subaru of Gwinnett

Duluth (678) 475-7245

Mon.-Fri. 8-5; Sat. 8-3 parts@subaruofgwinnett.com www.subaruofgwinnett.com

Troncalli Subaru

Cumming (770) 889-8951

Direct (678) 341-4220 Fax (678) 341-4221 www.troncallisubaru.com

Classic Collision Acquires Ponto’s in FL

Classic Collision, LLC, announced the acquisition of Ponto’s Autobody in Bradenton, FL.

Since 1981, Ponto’s Autobody has been a trusted name in Manatee County, known for its quality repairs and dedicated customer service.

“Our policy has always been to treat the customer as we would want to be treated, and I believe Classic Collision is known for their top-notch customer service,” said David Torino, former owner of Ponto’s Autobody.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ponto’s Autobody to the Classic Collision family. Their commitment to exceptional customer service and quality repairs perfectly aligns with our own values. This acquisition is an exciting step forward in our mission and expanding our footprint in Florida,” said Toan Nguyen, Classic Collision’s CEO.

Jim Armstrong

Subaru

Hickory (888) 905-6135 (828) 322-9372 opt 5 Mon.-Fri. 8-5

parts@jimarmstrongsubaru.com www.jimarmstrongsubaru.com

Parkway Subaru

Wilmington (800) 424-9434 (910) 793-8710 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 8-2

’re focused on getting you the Genuine Parts you need — fast and competitively priced. Put us to the test on your next Subaru repair or service job.

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 43
Think Genuine
Subaru Parts.
GEORGIA NO. CAROLINA

Mercedes-Benz of Tampa Tampa 800-329-2360

813-878-0040

813-865-8153 Fax

M-F 7am-5pm Tpappas@courtesycars.com www.mboftampabay.com

Mercedes-Benz

Delivery designed to hit the mark

FLORIDA

Orlando Volkswagen South Orlando 407-581-0630

M-F 7:30am-6pm; Sat 7:30am-5pm rharris01@vtaig.com

GEORGIA

Jim Ellis Volkswagen Atlanta 800-653-5547

770-454-7711

Fax: 770-986-0001

M-Sat 7:30am-7pm vwwholesaleparts@jimellis.com

Find an authorized Volkswagen dealership near you at vwwholesaledealers.com “

VIRGINIA

Checkered Flag Volkswagen Virginia Beach

757-687-3465

Fax: 757-687-3514

M-F 8am-5pm volkswagenparts@checkeredflag.com

Reed Nissan Orlando

407-295-7379 (407) 291-2541 Fax M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 7:30-5 parts@reedmotorsinc com www reednissan com Infiniti of Gwinnett Duluth

678-812-8545

M-F 8-5, Sat. 8-3 iogparts@gmail com www Infinitiofgwinnettparts com Sutherlin Nissan Vero Beach

772-778-3600 (772) 778-1927 Fax M-F 7:30-6, Sat. 8-3 wstevens@sutherlinautomotive com

44 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com TRUST FORD PARTS CERTIFIED PARTS WHOLESALING DEALERS Grieco Ford of Fort Lauderdale FORT LAUDERDALE 954-466-2176 954-390-6449 Fax Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-2:30 jmcnamara@griecocars.com Gus Machado Ford HIALEAH 305-822-8338 305-825-3018 Fax Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 7-4 avalle@gusmachadoford.com AutoNation Ford Memphis MEMPHIS 800-388-6457 901-362-7381 Direct 901-794-2360 24 Hr Fax Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4 www.autonationfordmemphis.com FLORIDA TENNESSEE Genuine NISSAN & INFINITI OEM Wholesale Parts are Superbly Crafted to Strict Quality Standards THE FOLLOWING DEALERS PROUDLY STOCK GENUINE PARTS FOR YOUR NISSAN OR INFINITI REPAIRS THE FOLLOWING DEALERS PROUDLY GENUINE PARTS YOUR NISSAN INFINITI REPAIRS NISSAN
FLORIDA GEORGIA The Dealers Below Ar e Me rc edes-Benz Genuine Pa r ts Specialists: Finish It Like a Masterpiece with GENUINE PA RT S
NO. CAROLINA
of Winston-Salem Winston-Salem 800-489-6537 336-659-6004 Fax M-F 7:30am - 5:30pm www.mbwinstonsalem.com
FLORIDA
Volkswagen logo
registered trademarks
Volkswagen AG. ©2024 Volkswagen of America, Inc. An
way
get the Genuine Volkswagen Collision Parts you need—our nationwide network can help you deliver on every repair.
Volkswagen” and the
are
of
agile
to

Classic Collision Expands Acquisition

Classic Collision announced its acquisition of Stuart Bowman Body Shop in Asheboro, NC.

The family-owned facility has a longstanding reputation for exceptional customer service throughout the repair process.

“We were absolutely committed to being the industry’s best in attending to our customers’ needs, and we are confident that Classic Collision will continue that same commitment to the Asheboro area,” said Jerry Bowman, former owner of Stuart Bowman Body Shop.

“We are excited to continue strengthening our presence in the North Carolina market by adding this well-operated center. We recognize the need for exceptional service standards and look forward to providing more options to our

New Fuel Economy Standard Aims For 50+ MPG By 2027-2031 Model Years

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced new vehicle fuel economy standards projected to save Americans more than $23 billion in fuel costs and reduce pollution. Starting with model years 2027-2031 for passenger cars and 2029-2031 for light trucks, fuel economy will increase by 2% annually. This will bring the average light-duty vehicle fuel economy to approximately 50.4 miles per gallon by model year 2031, offering more than $600 in fuel savings per vehicle over its lifetime.

Heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans will see even more significant improvements. Fuel efficiency for these vehicles will increase by 10% annually for model years 20302032 and by 8% annually for model years 2033-2035. By model year 2035, these vehicles will average about 35 miles per gallon, saving owners more than $700 in fuel costs over their vehicle’s lifetime.

“Not only will these new

pollution and make America less reliant on foreign oil,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “These standards will save car owners more than $600 in gasoline costs over the lifetime of their vehicle.”

These standards are projected to save almost 70 billion gallons of gasoline through 2050 and prevent more than 710 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by the same year. “President Biden’s economic and climate agenda has catalyzed an American clean energy and manufacturing boom,” said President Joe Biden’s National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “From day one, the president has centered America’s workers, and unions that built our middle class, in this transformative agenda, positioning the U.S. auto sector as a leader in the world. The president’s agenda is working.”

“When Congress established the Corporate Average Fuel Economy program in the 1970s, the average vehicle got about 13 miles to the gallon. Under these new standards, the average light-duty vehicle will achieve nearly four times that at

Edwards Chevrolet BIRMINGHAM

800-467-2660 205-716-3301

800-844-4644 Fax M-F 7:30am-5pm wmyers@chevyman.com

Parks Chevrolet CHARLOTTE

704-598-4020 704-596-9989 Fax M-F 8am-5pm www.parkscharlotte.com

50 miles per gallon,” added NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman. “These new fuel economy standards will save our nation billions of dollars, help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and make our air cleaner for everyone.”

The development of these standards involved extensive engagement with various stakeholders, including consumers, unions, automakers, states and environmental advocates. The new fuel economy standards also complement the EPA’s emissions standards, ensuring a coordinated approach to improving vehicle efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

The final rule aligns with Congress’ direction to conserve fuel and promote American energy independence and automotive manufacturing. While NHTSA does not consider electric and other alternative fuels when setting standards, manufacturers have the flexibility to use all available technologies for compliance, including advanced internal combustion engines, hybrid technologies and electric vehicles.

INSIST ON GM GENUINE PARTS

865-687-7715

- 6pm jwash@jimhudson.com

800-437-7715 M-F 8am - 6pm Sat 8am - 4pm abroome@reederchevy.com

239-734-3215 239-591-3051 Fax M-F 7am - 6pm Sat 8am - 5pm

Fax

7am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 4pm Benny.bishop@hendrickauto.com

autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 45
Call Any of These Wholesale Parts Dealers Below Call Any of These Wholesale Parts Dealers Below
Jim Hudson Buick GMC Cadillac COLUMBIA 888-852-1606
Dale
Chevrolet TALLAHASSEE 850-580-7658
Miami
Chevrolet
305-556-2777 305-820-3862
Rick
NAPLES
Reeder
803-695-2485 803-776-1666 Fax M-F 7:30am
Earnhardt Jr.
850-574-2034
M-F
Lakes
HIALEAH
Fax M-F 7am - 7pm; Sat 7am - 5pm Sun 9am - 3pm
Hendrick Chevrolet Naples
Chevrolet KNOXVILLE
Alabama No. Carolina Florida So. Carolina Florida Tennessee

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Paul Stepanek

Editor Abby Andrews

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Mike Anderson,Stacey Phillips, John Yoswick, Cole Strandberg

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Randi Scholtes

Serving Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher.

©2024 Autobody News, LLC.

Autobody News P.O. Box 1516 Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com editor@autobodynews.com

4660-100 Southside Blvd. 866-973-6996 904-565-2281 904-565-2210 Fax M-F 7:30am - 5:30pm Sat 8am - 4pm manderson@lynchauto.com

Nashville 1512 Broadway 888-707-0658

615-341-3176 Fax M-F 7:30am - 5:30pm partsmanager@downtownnashvillemotors.com www.downtownhyundainashville.com

46 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
RIGHT COLLISION PARTS FOR YOUR COLLISION JOB Visit these Genuine Hyundai Parts Dealers Florida KEY HYUNDAI Jacksonville
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The
MARKETPLACE Ditch the mask. Try our new line perfection tape. www.crashwrap.com | 888.264.3770 Our new and unique line perfection tape is abrasiveresistant and allows you to achieve crisp, sharp body lines. Sand directly on the durable tape surface without shredding. As tape wears, orange appears to warn of wear-through. • Works for blocking, sanding body filler and primer • Chemical resistant • Conforms to contours • Helps eliminate the need for constant reapplication of tape • Saves time and material Give it a try! We’ll send you a free roll of Perfect Line with any online purchase. (Expires 12/31/20) SAVES YOU TIME AND MONEY > EASY TO USE < Go to www.forkliftwrecker.com and watch our video. 877.593.6959 When all you need to do is move a vehicle , use: AUTOBODY www.autobodynews.com Advertise in our Classified Section for $50 per column inch! kcashman@autobodynews.com 800-699-8251 AUTOBODY Don’t Miss the Weekly Industry NEWS Your Shop Needs. Sign Up Free Today! www.autobodynews.com

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autobodynews.com / AUTOBODY NEWS JULY 2024 47 VEHICLEEMISSIONCONTROLINFORMATION
U.S.EPA 2.3L-Group:GFMXV02.3VJW
FEDOBDII Fuel:Gasoline ABZ VEHICLEMFD.BYFORDMOTORCO.INU.S.A. DATE: EXTPNT: RC: DS0: WB BRK INTTR TP/PS R AXLE TR SPR 114 4 GP K 45 V DB F05 UTC THISVEHICLECONFORMSTOALLAPPLICABLEFEDERALMOTOR VEHICLESAFETY STANDARDSIN EFFECTON THEDATEOF MANUFACTURESHOWNABOVE. 01/03 VIN:TYPE:00000000000000000 MPV FRONTGAWR: 2735LB AT AT 205 kPa/30 240 kPa/35 1240KG P235/70R16SL 16X7.0J REARGAWR: 3325LB 1508KG P235/70R16SL 16X7.0J GVWR: 5880LB/2667KG WITHTIRESRIMS PSI COLD WITHTIRESRIMS PSICOLD F0085T0183 UA 13 3U51B TIREANDLOADING TIRE SIZE COLDTIREPRESSURE 303kpa 44psi 303kpa 44psi 303kpa 44psi Thecombinedweightofoccupantsandcargoshouldneverexceed 505 Kg or 1114Lbs. P265/70R17 P265/70R17 P265/70R17 FRONT REAR SPARE SEEOWNERS MANUALFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEATINGCAPACITY TOTAL 3 FRONT 3 CONTROLVEHICLEEMISSIONINFORMATION Conformstoregulations: 2015 Fuel: Gasoline U.S.EPAclass/stds: LDV/TIER2 Californiaclass/stds: PC/ULEVqualified Group: FGMXV01.80111.2L Evap:SFI/HO2S/TWCFGMXR0095805 , OBD:II 00000000 FRONT REAR SPARE 215/55R1697H215/55R1697HT125/85R1699 SEATINGCAPACITY TOTAL 4 FRONT 2 REAR 2
240kPa,35PSI
INFORMATION TIREANDLOADINGINFORMATION TIRE SIZE COLDTIREPRESSURE SRSSIDEAIRBAG
(SRS)
POURÉVITERDESBLESSURES
WARNING AVERTISSEMENT VEHICLE
BY: TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING,
4233LB
RR 2668LB
VEHICLE
ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY , BUMPER , AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE . PASS. CAR C⁄ TR : 4Q2 ⁄ LA43 ACV30L--CEPGKA A ⁄TM: --01A ⁄ U241E MADE IN U.S.A. 08270 00000000000000000 KENTUCKY, INC. 02⁄ 04 D. BY HOND VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLEFEDEMOTOR VEHICLE SAFETYAND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECTON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.V.I.N.: 00000000000000000 TYPE:MPV STK A AA5 --NH737M --A --A 2200KG(4894LBS) 1155KG (2546LBS)P235/55R18 R 1080KG (2381LBS)P235/55R18 99V VEHICLEMFD.BYFORDMOTORCO.INU.S.A. DATE: FEDERALMOTOR 01/03 FRONTGAWR: 2735LB AT 240 kPa/35 1240KG70R16SL REARGAWR: 3325LB 1508KG P235/70R16SL 16X7.0J GVWR: 5880LB/2667KG WITHTIRESRIMSCOLD WITHTIRESRIMS PSICOLD
TIRE SIZE COLDTIREPRESSURE 303kpa 44psi 303kpa 44psi 303kpa 44psi Thecombinedweightofoccupantsandcargoshouldneverexceed 505 Kg or 1114Lbs. P265/70R17 P265/70R17 P265/70R17 FRONT REAR SPARE SEEOWNERS MANUALFOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEATINGCAPACITY TOTAL 3 FRONT 3 REAR 0 VEHICLE MFD .BY: TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING, GVWR 4233LB GAWR FR 2668LB RR 2668LB THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY , BUMPER , AND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE . PASS. CAR 08270 00000000000000000 KENTUCKY, INC. 02⁄ 04 VEHICLE MFD. BY HONDAOFAMERICA MFG., INC. 06⁄’10 THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLEFEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETYAND THEFT PREVENTION STANDARDS IN EFFECTON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.V.I.N.: 00000000000000000 TYPE:MPV STK A AA5 --NH737M --A --A GVWR 2200KG(4894LBS) TIRESIZE RIMSIZE GAWRF 1155KG (2546LBS)P235/55R18 99V 18X7 1⁄2J GAWRR 1080KG (2381LBS)P235/55R18 99V 18X7 1⁄2J VEHICLEEMISSIONCONTROLINFORMATIONConformstoregulations:2016 MY California: Not for sale in states with California emissions standards. TWC/HO2S/WR-HO2S/CAC/TC/DFIU.S.EPA:T2B4 LDV 2.3L-Group:GFMXV02.3VJW Evap:GFMXR0125NBV Noadjustmentsneeded. FEDOBDII Fuel:Gasoline ABZ FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT AUTO DATA LABELS: visit our website at www.AutoDataLabels.com email us at labels@AutoDataLabels.com | or call us at (631) 667-2382 ©2022 LKQ Corporation. Visit us at Portal.LKQcorp.com and LKQcorp.com IT’S AS EASY AS CLICK IT & STICK IT QUALITY PHOTOS PRODUCE GREAT REPLACEMENT LABELS Quality of Lighting: Orientation and File Format: Angle and Distance: Multiple Angle Photo: Proof Photo Before Submission:
2016MY California: Not for sale in states with California emissions standards. TWC/HO2S/WR-HO2S/CAC/TC/DFI
Evap:GFMXR0125NBV Noadjustmentsneeded.
Thecombinedweightofoccupantsandcargoshouldneverexceed352kgor776lbs. 240kPa,35PSI
420kPa,60PSI SEEOWNER’S MANUALFOR ADDITIONAL
COUSSINGONFLABLELATÉRAL
TOAVOIDSERIOUSINJURYORDEATH: •Donotleanagainstthedoor. •Donotuseseatcoversthat Seeblocksideairbagdeployment. owner’smanualformoreinformation.
MFD
GVWR
GAWR FR 2668LB
THIS
CONFORMS TO
TIREANDLOADINGINFORMATION
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48 JULY 2024 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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