December 2022 Southeast Edition

Industry Veteran Frank Terlep Sells Company, Receives Three Awards at SEMA, Named CIC Chair

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

A little over three years ago, Frank Terlep co-founded Auto Techcelarators to help the auto, collision, glass, insurance and truck industries properly estimate, calibrate and validate advanced driverassistance systems (ADAS) repairs and calibrations.

As CEO, Terlep and his team developed Test Drive CoPilot™, a platform designed to change how ADAS safety system verification test drives are performed, managed and documented. They also created Calibration CoPilot™ to properly operate and manage ADAS service and calibration businesses, and

ADAS CoPilot™, an ADAS and calibration information, knowledge and repair procedure mobile app and web portal.

The entrepreneur has worked in the automotive industry for more than 40 years, dating back to 1984, when he launched his first technology business with a $100,000 investment from an angel investor and developed one of the first software applications for the automotive aftermarket industry.

Since then, he said he has helped design and launch the industry’s first Windows-based estimating and management system, the first online parts procurement platform, the first mobile app and digital marketing platform, as well as a remote scanning l CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Nearly Half a Million Claims Have Been Filed Following Hurricane Ian

As insurance claims continue to increase following Hurricane Ian, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning victims to beware of post-disaster scams as they begin the rebuilding process.

To date, NICB has identified nearly half a million claims (471,581) related to Hurricane Ian with a majority of the claims (431,702) reported in Florida. Nearly two-thirds of the Florida claims are homeowner and business claims

(272,465), and the remaining are personal automobile claims (151,892). Despite substantial damage to homes, businesses and vehicles following Hurricane Ian, NICB encourages residents to take their time and not try to accelerate the rebuilding process in order to avoid being scammed.

“We know residents want to get back on their feet, but we are already seeing dishonest fraudsters who are preying

Reca p

Hyundai Breaks Ground on Georgia EV and Battery Plant

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp, company officials and state and local leaders officially broke ground Oct. 25 on Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) LLC’s new manufacturing plant at the Bryan County Mega site. The celebration included a morning groundbreaking on site, followed by a future technology expo at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, GA, where the company highlighted

“advanced technology and extraordinary human achievement” with a wide array of exhibits for hundreds of attendees from the community in attendance.

The $5.54 billion investment by the company and its affiliate suppliers was announced five months ago and includes plans to produce a diverse range of innovative Hyundai, Genesis and Kia EVs and a new battery manufacturing facility.

HMGMA will create more than

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Plan.

In October, Auto Techcelerators, co-founded by Frank Terlep, was acquired by Opus IVS™, a global diagnostics, ADAS calibration, programming and on-demand remote support company

Regional News

1 Injured, Alabama Repair Shop Heavily Damaged in Fire 8

Alabama Jury Returns $6.5 Million Verdict for Woman Severely Injured in Crash 26

Bill Seidle’s Mitsubishi of Greater Miami Honored as Longest-Standing U.S. Mitsubishi Dealer 32

BMW to Invest $1.7 Billion in SC Plants to Build EVs, Produce Batteries 4

Classic Collision Expands Again in Florida 21

First West Virginia Maaco Now Open in Martinsburg 12

Florida Car Dealerships Liable for Illegal Charges on Lease Buyouts 11

National News

Auto Care Alliance Announces Calendar 45

Average Length of Rental Up 3 Days Year-Over-Year 36

Axalta Promotes Muse to VP of Sales 8

Boyd Group Services Inc. Reports 3Q Financial Results 45

CCC Introduces Diagnostics Enhancements 12

CCC Names New Executive 26

CIF Announces 3M as Annual Donor32

Classic Collision Adds 3rd Location in North Carolina, Expands Again in Texas 26

Driven Brands Reports Strong 3Q Results 4

Dynabrade Awarded Certification 31

Equalizer® Gives Back this Holiday Season 49

EV Sales Hit Record, According to Kelley Blue Book 49

Gas Demand Declines as Recession Fears Weigh Down Oil Market Expectations 8

GM Secures All Energy Needed to Achieve Renewable Energy Goal 25 Years Ahead of Target 48

Ford Opens Atlanta Research and Innovation Center 6

Georgia Attorney General Warns of Flood-Damaged Vehicles Being Sold in Wake of Hurricane Ian 35

How Virginia Tire Aims to Get More Women into Auto Repair 16

Hyundai Breaks Ground on Georgia EV and Battery Plant 1

More Than a Dozen People Busted in Million Dollar Car Theft Ring in Florida 16

Nearly Half a Million Claims Have Been Filed Following Hurricane Ian 1 State Farm Insurance Donates $125,000 to Convoy of Hope’s Hurricane Ian Response 31

COLUMNISTS

Mike Anderson

What You’re Missing by Not Researching Battery Disconnect and Reconnect Procedures 10

Abby Andrews

Collision Repairers Learn How to Negotiate with Insurers to Get Paid for All Work 42

Driven Brands Celebrates Opening of 1,000th Collision Repair Location in North America 20

Stacey Phillips

ALLDATA’s ADAS Quick Reference Tool Receives SEMA New Product Award in ADAS Category 24

Collision Repairers Find Cost Savings & Quality Care with SCRS National Health Care Plan 14

Industry Veteran Frank Terlep Sells Company, Receives Three Awards at

Hyundai Recalls 2018 Santa Fe Sports After 4 Fires 12

I-CAR Recognized for Skills Training 51

Kia Recalls 71,000 SUVs for Fire Risk50

Minnesota Law Firm Files Class Action Complaint on Behalf of Kia and Hyundai Theft Victims 21

More Than 745,000 Stolen Vehicles Reported So Far in 2022 42

NABC Donates 9 Vehicles, Presents Awards, Inducts Hall of Eagles Members at SEMA Show 46

Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Busted 40

New-Vehicle Monthly Payment Hits Another Record High in October 32

SCRS Study Concludes Blend Time is Greater than Full Refinish 51

SCRS’ Repairer Driven Education at SEMA Gets Support Boost from AirPro Diagnostics 6

Some Americans Consider Driving Less, Skipping Coverage in Face of Rising Insurance Costs: Report 39

SEMA, Named CIC Chair 1

Mitchell Awarded 3rd Patent for Collision Repair Diagnostics, Showcases Product Enhancements at SEMA 30

Prestigious Awards Announced at Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Breakfast During SEMA 2022 17

Spanesi Americas Introduces FLASH Portable Pulling Column 38

SUN Collision Repair Information Software Helps Technicians Find OEM Repair Procedures 34

John Yoswick

Economist Tells Collision Repairers at MSO Symposium: ‘Beware the Economic Narrative’ 44

How Will Results from SCRS ‘Blend’ Study Be Used Moving Forward? 33

Index of Advertisers

Accudraft Paint Booths 52

Agile Truck & Auto Tools 5

Audi Gwinnett 36

Audi North Miami

Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers 49

AutoNation Ford-Lincoln 39

Axalta Coating Systems 11

Benchmark Automotive 16

BendPak����������������������������������������������������� 9

Carolina Collision Equipment, LLC 20

Certified Automotive Parts Association 22

City Kia of Greater Orlando 40

Classifieds 50

Dale Earnhardt Jr� Chevrolet �������������������� 26

Dynabrade, Inc 15

Equalizer Auto Glass Tools 6

Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers 46

GM Wholesale Parts Dealers 45

Gus Machado Ford

Harper Volkswagen 30

Hendrick Automotive Group 41

Hendrick Honda Pompano Beach 38

Hendrick Kia Cary 35

Hendrick Kia Concord

Hendrick Volvo Cars of Charleston 40

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers 27, 28-29

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers 48

Industrial Finishes and Systems 23

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers 47

KSI Auto Parts�������������������������������������������� 4 Malco 21

Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers 51

Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers 51

Miami Lakes Automall 10

MINI of Charleston����������������������������������� 40

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers 43

North American Bancard 13

Parks Chevrolet 38

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples 32

Rogers-Dabbs Chevrolet �������������������������� 37

SATA Dan-Am Company 7

Sorbothane Soft-Blow Mallet 18

Spanesi Americas 2

Sport Durst Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram 26

Stivers Decatur Subaru���������������������������� 24

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers 44

Tameron Hyundai 42

Toyota-Mazda of North Miami 12

Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers 51

TYC Genera Corporation �������������������������� 19

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers 48

Zero Processing Smart com 31

BMW To Invest $1.7 Billion in SC Plants To Build EVs, Produce Batteries

The BMW Group announced a new investment in the U.S. to expand Plant Spartanburg, SC, and the company’s manufacturing footprint in the U.S. BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management Oliver Zipse announced Oct. 19 a $1.7 billion investment in its U.S. operations, including $1 billion to prepare for the production of EVs at the company’s existing manufacturing facility in South Carolina, and $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in nearby Woodruff, SC. By 2030, BMW Group will build at least six fully electric models in the U.S.

Zipse was joined at Plant Spartanburg by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey III, Chairman of Spartanburg County Council Economic Development Committee David Britt and Woodruff Mayor Kenneth Gist as he also announced an agreement to source next generation lithium-ion battery cells from Envision AESC, which will build a new plant in the state.

“For decades, Plant Spartanburg has been a cornerstone of the global success of the BMW Group. The

home of the BMW X models that are so popular all over the world. Going forward, it will also be a major driver for our electrification strategy, and we will produce at least six fully electric BMW X models here by 2030. That means: The ‘Home of the X’ is also becoming the ‘Home of the Battery Electric Vehicle’,” said Zipse. “In addition, we can showcase BMW Group’s ‘local for local’ principle: Our newly developed sixth generation battery cells, which were specifically designed for the next generation electric vehicles, will be sourced here in South Carolina where X goes electric.”

Envision AESC Battery Cell Plant in South Carolina to Supply Plant Spartanburg In line with the principle of “local for local,” the BMW Group aims to purchase battery cells for its electric vehicles where production takes place. The company has found a partner in Envision AESC, which will build a new battery cell factory in South Carolina, to supply Plant Spartanburg.

Envision will produce newly developed round lithium-ion battery cells, specifically designed for the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, and to be used in the

Driven Brands Reports Strong 3Q Results

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. on Oct. 26 reported financial results for the third quarter ended Sept. 24.

For the third quarter, revenue increased 39% versus the prior year to $516.6 million. Systemwide sales increased 22% versus the prior year to $1.5 billion, with 9% net store growth and an increase in consolidated samestore sales of 11.9%.

Net income increased 16% versus the prior year to $38.4 million or $0.23 per diluted share in the third quarter.

Adjusted net income increased 26% to $55.0 million or $0.32 per diluted share.

“We continue to have solid momentum entering the fourth quarter, building on our strong performance year-to-date. We are growing, taking share and generating cash, leveraging our proven playbook for growth with a robust pipeline of franchise and greenfield openings,” said Jonathan Fitzpatrick, president and CEO.

“The benefits of our scale

and breadth of our offering deepen our competitive moat and differentiate our business, driving unit expansion, same store sales growth and cost savings,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our continued execution combined with the strength of our business model gives us confidence that we are on track to meet or exceed our long-term plan.”

Third Quarter Highlights

Comparisons are third quarter of 2022 ended Sept. 24 versus third quarter of 2021 ended Sept. 25, 2021, unless otherwise noted:

• Revenue increased 39% to $516.6 million, driven by samestore sales and net store growth.

• Consolidated same-store sales increased 11.9%.

• The company added 101 net new stores during the quarter.

• Net income increased 16% to $38.4 million.

• Adjusted net income increased 26% to $55.0 million.

• Adjusted EBITDA increased 32% to $129.4 million.

Source: Driven Brands

next generation electric vehicles. The annual capacity of the battery cell factory will be up to 30 GWh.

the entire region.

The new battery format will increase energy density by more than 20%, improve charging speed by up to 30% and enhance range by up to 30%. At the same time, CO2 emissions from cell production will be reduced by up to 60% through the partial use of secondary lithium, cobalt and nickel material, as well as renewable energy for production.

The cooperation with Envision AESC is an important step in the BMW Group’s plan to strengthen its regional supply chains. The expansion of electric vehicle production in combination with a local battery cell factory will lead to the creation of new supply chains, new networks for subsuppliers and new jobs throughout

BMW Group already announced four additional battery cell factories will be built in Europe and China to meet its demand for next generation battery cells. The cell factories are being built by partners and will each have an annual capacity of up to 20 GWh. Increased Investment and Expanded Manufacturing Capacity in SC Of the new $1.7 billion investment announced, $700 million will be used to build a new high-voltage BMW battery assembly center in Woodruff near Plant Spartanburg. The new facility will encompass more than 1 million square feet, and produce next generation batteries for fully electric vehicles. Around 300 new jobs will be created on site.

Plant Spartanburg currently produces lithium-ion battery modules for the two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles built at the plant, the BMW X3 xDrive30e and BMW X5 xDrive45e. In 2021, nearly 70,000 electrified BMWs were built on site.

The site in Woodruff will also leverage the experience and expertise developed in Plant Spartanburg’s existing operations at the new facility.

Source: BMW Group

Ford Opens Atlanta Research and Innovation Center

Ford Motor Company is opening the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center (FARIC) to advance the company’s digital transformation in areas such as software-led connected vehicles, artificial intelligence, university research and more.

FARIC joins a network of Ford research and development facilities in Tel Aviv and Palo Alto dedicated to pioneering the future of transportation with automated, connected and electrified vehicles. Now, the new Atlanta location places Ford in one of the most diverse tech talent markets in the U.S. and enables the company to develop a pipeline of software experts with a variety of backgrounds.

“Ford is transitioning from a traditional automotive company to a digital products and services company driven by software innovation,” said Jim Buczkowski, executive director for Ford Research, Advanced Engineering. “There’s a high demand for tech talent across industries, and we have an opportunity to create non-traditional career pathways to

attract and develop the expertise needed to stay competitive.”

As the company undergoes the most profound transformation in its history, it remains committed to developing a workforce that reflects the communities and customers that it serves. For Ford, this

Innovation Center, which has the potential to help us grow an even more robust and diverse pipeline,” said Mayor Andre Dickens

Aside from serving as an innovation hub and delivering software solutions, the FARIC team will also focus on increasing Black, Hispanic and female representation in software engineering and high technology careers. Strategies include:

• Leveraging relationships with regional Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and The Atlanta University Center Consortium to help make hightech career opportunities more available to diverse students

career pathways for people interested in pursuing software and high-tech careers, including co-ops, internships, part-time work and non-degree software programs in collaboration with Atlanta-based TechBridge and community partner City of Refuge

includes attracting and retaining historically underrepresented talent, especially in the software engineering and high technology fields.

“Atlanta continues to attract and grow tech companies and startups; and we continue to attract a desirable talent base particularly for Black tech talent.

SCRS’ Repairer Driven Education Gets Support Boost from AirPro Diagnostics

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) recognized AirPro Diagnostics as a prominent sponsor of the Repairer Driven Education (RDE) series, the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit and the digital delivery of the education program following the SEMA Show.

To register for RDE at the SEMA Show, visit www.scrs.com/ rde

“Given the accelerated pace of vehicle complexity we have an obligation to assist repair facilities on the educational front,” said Michael Quinn president of AirPro Diagnostics. “Education is a key cornerstone in AirPro’s values. The industry benefits from education series like what SCRS has built with RDE alongside SEMA as they bring leading subject matter experts to interact with attendees in-person, benefiting the repair community. We are proud to be a part of it.”

AirPro can be found exhibiting at the show in the Upper South Hall, Booth 33225.

• Continuing to create and deepen relationships with regional colleges and universities, including HBCUs and Hispanic Service Institutions, to conduct pioneering research and address Ford’s growing need for the new competencies required for electrification, connected vehicles and software engineering that are revolutionizing Ford products, technologies and services

• Creating flexible, non-traditional

“Underrepresentation is a significant issue in software and engineering industries, especially when it comes to Black and Hispanic communities, which makes it particularly exciting to work with local colleges, universities and nonprofits to help bring greater diversity into the tech space,” said Doron Elliott, senior manager of Ford In-Vehicle Infotainment, who will also oversee FARIC operations.

“Building this critical talent base will enable Ford to continue to find innovative and efficient ways to develop cutting-edge products and services to meet the demands of a very diverse customer base.”

People interested in pursuing career opportunities at FARIC should email FARIC@ford.com.

— Source: Ford Motor Company

1 Injured, Alabama Repair Shop Heavily Damaged in Fire

By Sara Gladney, The Cullman Tribune

A fire injured one person and heavily damaged Just GM Auto & Truck Repair Plus in Cullman, AL, on Oct. 7.

Cullman Fire Rescue responded to reports of an explosion at the local business, located at 105 Third Ave. SW at 10:06 a.m. Authorities said the fire was completely extinguished by 10:45 a.m.

Firefighters from Cullman Fire Rescue Stations 1, 2 and 3 responded to the scene, along with Cullman EMS personnel and members of the Cullman Police Department.

Cullman Fire Chief Brian Bradberry confirmed one person sustained injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick confirmed there were no fatalities.

Cullman Fire Chief of Operations Darren Peeples said, “The preliminary findings are that while one of the workers was working on a vehicle, something

ignited a fire. He was injured and transported. In the course of them trying to get equipment and vehicles moved, they did call Fire Rescue immediately. Fire suppression measures were taken immediately, but it did quite a bit of damage to the main structure of the building.”

an employee was underneath a vehicle working on it, when a gas line ruptured and began to spray fuel. The fuel ignited and after efforts to put the fire out were unsuccessful, they called 911. One employee was transported to Cullman Regional Medical Center via ambulance. Thanks to Cullman City Fire and Rescue for their quick response. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured employee.”

Two vehicles inside the structure were damaged.

Axalta Promotes Muse To VP of

Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. On Oct. 31 announced Jim Muse has been promoted to VP of sales, Global Refinish, effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Muse will return to Axalta’s Global headquarters in Glen Mills, PA, and will report to Troy Weaver, senior vice president Global Refinish.

The Cullman Police Department posted to its Facebook page: “This morning at 10:06 a.m., Cullman City Communications Division received a call concerning a fire at Just GM located on 3rd Ave NW. According to witnesses,

Gas Demand Declines As Recession Fears Weigh Down Oil Market Expectations

By Andrew Gross AAA

Fears of a global economic recession led to a major drop in the price of crude, down $7, which helped to minimize pump price increases the week of Oct. 10.

Meanwhile, domestic gasoline demand decreased as fewer drivers fueled up in the first half of October. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand decreased nationally from 9.47 million b/d to 8.28 million b/d, and total domestic gasoline stocks increased by 2 million bbl to 209.5 million bbl.

Lower gasoline demand, amid increasing supply and fluctuating oil prices, has contributed to the national average moving downward. If demand continues to drop coupled with a slide in oil prices, drivers could see increases in prices at the pump start to slow and even come down through the week of Oct. 17.

The national average pump price for a gallon of gas decreased three cents to hit $3.88. The Oct. 17 national average of $3.88 is 20 cents higher than a month ago and 56 cents more than a year ago.

The nation’s top 10 largest weekly decreases: California (-28 cents), Wisconsin (-23 cents), Oregon (-19 cents), Nevada (-18 cents), Michigan (-16 cents), Washington (-14 cents), Alaska (-12 cents), Indiana (-12 cents), Ohio (-12 cents) and Arizona (-10 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Georgia ($3.25), Texas ($3.30), Mississippi ($3.33), South Carolina ($3.37), Arkansas ($3.38), Tennessee ($3.38), Louisiana ($3.40), Florida ($3.40), Alabama ($3.43) and Missouri ($3.46).

Source: AAA

Just GM Auto & Truck Repair Plus posted to its Facebook page: “As most of you have heard our shop caught fire this morning. The good news is we are all OK aside from some burns on our tech Jimbo Hulgan who needs your healing prayers. The bad news is our shop is pretty much a total loss.

“If you have a vehicle here, please email us your name and number and details about your vehicle so we can get with you about pick up at a later time. Thank you! Justgmauto@gmail. com.”

Prior to this promotion, Muse was Axalta’s vice president, EMEA Refinish, where he was responsible for Axalta’s Refinish Business in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Muse first joined Axalta in 2013 as part of the North American refinish leadership team and was awarded the Axalta Senior Leadership Award in 2015 for his noteworthy contributions to the company.

Muse was also instrumental in the success of Axalta’s initiative to secure and grow market share with multiple location collision shop operators, mega-dealers and nationally recognized collision shop networks.

Source: Axalta

Smoke billows from the top of Just GM Auto & Truck Repair Plus on Oct. 7 in Cullman, AL. Credit: Jason Leonard

During a recent collision industry seminar I was teaching, I asked if there were any technicians in the class, and several people raised their hands.

I asked them: “If I walked into your shop, and asked you if you research the procedures in the OEM repair manual before you disconnect a battery, what would you say?”

It’s a question I’d like you to consider right now as you start reading this article.

In that class, I heard one tech muttering something quietly, and I asked him what he said.

“I would say if you don’t know how to disconnect a battery, you shouldn’t be working on cars,” he replied.

That’s a fair statement, I told him. But then I took him—and the rest of the class—through the OEM procedures for a particular vehicle, showing him what that automaker states you need to be aware of before you disconnect a battery. Yet I think most of you, like that tech in my class, would acknowledge that no, you’re

not researching the OEM repair procedures before you disconnect a battery.

So let’s talk about this. First, one of the things you need to know before you disconnect a battery is whether the vehicle is connected to telematics.

Lexus Safety Connect.

What we’ve found is, in some instances, if the vehicle is connected and you disconnect the battery, it may send an alert through the telematics to the automaker to say something happened to this car’s battery. The OEM may in turn contact the customer via text or email, or sometimes even alert the dealership service department to ask them to reach out to that customer.

Your failure to research the procedures prior to disconnecting that battery just created a bad customer service experience.

So before you ever disconnect a battery, determine whether the vehicle is connected, and if so, determine if you need to place it in “service mode” first.

For one vehicle, the automaker may say you have to wait one minute, while another may say you have to wait six minutes. I’ve seen some OEMs say after you turn the car off, you have to wait 90 minutes before you disconnect the battery.

This is only going to become more important moving forward as more vehicles are “connected” to things like General Motors’ OnStar or Toyota/

Another consideration is “wait time.” Every automaker I’ve researched says you have to wait a certain amount of time after you turn the vehicle off before you disconnect the battery. It’s not a one-size-fits-all procedure.

There are often other precautions listed in the automaker battery disconnect procedures. For example, you may have to protect certain components. I saw a procedure recently that said you have to have the left front door open when you disconnect the battery. If you don’t, it can trigger some diagnostic trouble codes.

“Every vehicle manufacturer that I’m aware of has certain procedures that must be done when you reconnect a battery.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

Okay, so you followed the disconnect procedures, repaired and the vehicle, and you’re ready to reconnect the battery. Are you researching those procedures every time as well?

I know the answer to that question because it’s something we ask about in our “Who Pays for What?” survey every year. We found less than half of you (46%) say you’re researching those procedures all or most of the time. While I would say even “most of the time” isn’t good enough, I’m even more concerned about the 41% of you who say you do it “some of the time” or “only occasionally.” And the 13% of you who said “never” are just inviting trouble.

Every vehicle manufacturer I’m aware of has certain procedures that must be done when you reconnect a battery. Some of them may be initializations, like for a one-touch feature on a window or sunroof.

I can tell you I recently saw reconnect procedures for a Ford that said the vehicle must be driven for a certain amount of time and distance so the engine can relearn or reprogram itself. I’ve seen other OEMs say when you reconnect the battery you have to do a steering angle sensor procedure.

At Collision Advice, we recently built a new training course focused

just on battery disconnect and reconnect procedures. We found enough content related to this topic to fill more than six hours of classroom instruction to ensure estimators and technicians understand what they need to know.

So now that you’ve read this article, I’m going to ask you again: If I walked into your shop, and asked you if you research the procedures in the OEM repair manual before you disconnect a battery, what would you say?

Oh, and another incentive for taking this important step: The “Who Pays for What?” survey found that among the shops performing the OEM battery reconnect procedures, nearly two-thirds (63%) said they are paid for that labor “always” or “most of the time” by the eight largest national insurers.

NEW PODCAST

Launching Jan 2023

Florida Car Dealerships Liable For Illegal Charges on Lease Buyouts

Consumers have been hit with thousands of dollars in illegal buyout fees from car dealers, and many in Florida are being compensated for statutory damages. Darren Newhart, an attorney with Newhart Legal, PA, has recovered more than $130,000 for consumers across Florida and is filing additional cases based on the response to local media reports in south Florida.

“Car dealerships deserve fair profits,” said Newhart. “But illegally changing the terms of a lease after it is signed isn’t fair, and we are successfully recovering fees and statutory damages for affected car buyers.” As used car prices escalated over the last two years, numerous car dealerships throughout Florida started adding fees. These fees enabled dealerships to either increase profits on lease buyouts or bolster used car inventories by disincentivizing lease buyouts.

Under the Consumer Leasing Act of 1976, dealerships can’t charge fees not disclosed in the

original lease. Illegal changes to a vehicle’s buyout terms can include:

• Charging a higher price to buy out the vehicle than the buyout provision in the original lease.

• Adding fees that weren’t disclosed in the original lease agreement.

• Forcing consumers to certify their leased vehicle as roadworthy or as a certified preowned vehicle.

• Forcing consumers to purchase extended service contracts.

Consumers who want to find out if they have a claim can call (877) 921-3543 or visit leasebuyoutclaim.com/claims.

Newhart and the Newhart Legal, PA, team have successfully recovered fees and statutory damages for numerous car buyers affected by these illegal practices at no cost to the individual.

“We want to help car buyers explore their rights and get the compensation they deserve,” said Newhart.

Source: Newhart Legal, PA

First West Virginia Maaco Now Open in Martinsburg

By Toni Milbourne The Journal News

Campbell Martens, one of the owners of the newly opened Maaco located at 1357 Edwin Miller Blvd. in Martinsburg, WV, explained his job as a delivery driver for Amazon helped him realize the need for an affordable body shop in the area.

He said the trucks he and his co-owners drive often receive dents and scratches, needing repairs from time to time. The ability to provide commercial work was a factor in determining to open a Maaco franchise. “One of my biggest concerns was that body shops are so backed up,” Martens said. “We researched Maaco and signed up for the franchise.” He has three partners in the business. Larry Langston, Jaren Kirkland and Gary Schneider joined Martens in the business that opened to the public Oct. 3.

A graduate of Shepherd University, Martens said he wanted to stay. In the area and

was happy when the opportunity to open the franchise arose. “We are the first Maaco franchise in the state of West Virginia,” Martens said. “There was no better place to open than Martinsburg.”

work. The repairs completed at Maaco shops around the country number approximately 500,000 annually. Providing a best price guarantee and lifetime warranty has helped make the company a household name for several decades.

CCC Introduces Diagnostics Enhancements

CCC Intelligent Solutions on Oct. 25 announced the introduction of enhancements to CCC® Diagnostics, a transformative product that meets the evolving needs of an increasingly complex collision repair industry.

Maaco, a new addition to Martinsburg, WV, held a ribbon cutting event Oct. 3. From left are Ryan Schneider, Mike Langston, Martinsburg Mayor Kevin Knowles, Jaren Kirkland, Campbell Martens, Isabella Andrawos, Amanda Smith, Larry Langston, Jasmin Lebrock and Elizabeth Webster. Credit: Journal photo by Toni Milbourne

Maaco has provided service to more than 20 million cars since 1972 when the company began, earning high ratings for customer service and quality of

Hyundai Recalls 2018 Santa Fe Sports After 4 Fires

By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

A 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ABS module recall involves more than 44,000 SUVs following at least four Santa Fe Sport fires.

According to Hyundai, owners of 2018 Santa Fe Sport SUVs should park outside and away from anything that could burn.

The anti-lock brake system could cause a short-circuit with the result of an engine compartment fire.

Hyundai said a fire can occur whether the 2018 Santa Fe Sport is in motion or parked.

An electrical short could cause a significant overcurrent in the ABS module which is what causes a fire. Both Hyundai and Kia have been investigating the root cause of the fires and engineers still haven’t tracked down the real problem.

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ABS module recall is an expansion of a February recall of about 425,000 Hyundai vehicles. The recalled 2018 Hyundai vehicles have vehicle

identification numbers not included in the February ABS module fire recall.

In August, Hyundai was notified about a legal matter regarding a 2018 Santa Fe Sport fire and the SUV wasn’t included in the February ABS module recall.

In October Hyundai learned about another 2018 Santa Fe Sport fire and the automaker learned SUVs built between May 2017 and May 2018 had been excluded from the recall.

Hyundai warns 2018 Santa Fe Sport owners to be aware of any engine compartment fires, melting or burning odors and illuminated warning lights.

Although four 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ABS module fires have been reported, no crashes or injuries have occurred.

Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ABS module fire recall notices are expected to be mailed Dec. 26, and dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse.

Owners of 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sports may call the automaker at 855-371-9460 and ask about recall number 237.

“Now that we are open, we are excited to be able to provide an affordable body and paint shop in this area,” Martens said. “We are proud to offer fast turnaround and excellent work.” The facility offers free estimates and accepts insurance payments as well, providing dent and collision repair as well as a full paint shop. The body tech team is highly experienced, bringing multiple years of experience to the business.

The Martinsburg location is open six days per week with hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The location is closed on Sundays.

For more information or to schedule an estimate for work, contact Maaco at 304-756-5543.

The new functionality will simplify the diagnostics process for repairers and drive consistency in the administration of diagnostics billing, including customizable diagnostic profiles and a dashboard to drive diagnostics workflow. These features are further enhanced through CCC Diagnostic’s existing integrations with leading diagnostic service providers.

Through use of the CCC Diagnostics optional enhancements, repairers will be able to configure notifications to their staff to help inform them when deciding which vehicles need a pre- or post-repair scan, as well as which repairs have had a diagnostic operation completed, but not billed. Visit www.cccis.com/ diagnostics.

Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions

Collision Repairers Find Cost Savings & Quality Care with SCRS National Health Care Plan

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Following the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announcement in September that it implemented a national health care solution for members, Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg said the program has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the collision repair industry.

carrier.

Schulenburg, Dunn and Frazer shared details about the program.

Schulenburg: In 2018, the SCRS board began focusing on how we could best serve member requests around human resources and benefits programs. We found that health care was their biggest challenge. They said it costs a fortune, they get bad coverage they can’t use, spend a ton of money, and feel they don’t have better options.

We’ve worked closely with both companies and have been impressed with the importance they have placed on touching base with the industry and ensuring members understand the plan.

Q:

“Since launching the plan, we’ve been able to save companies within the collision repair space close to $650,000 in premiums,” said Schulenburg. “That’s the tip of the iceberg and doesn’t account for the out-of-pocket expenses families can save.”

Schulenburg said the plan is saving companies up to 20% versus the renewals they are receiving from their current insurance providers. Additionally, he said the plan is unique in that it provides $0 deductibles, employee choice in their out-of-pocket maximum, and a list of no-cost services, such as primary care, urgent care, specialty care, labs and imaging, generic prescriptions and mental health care. He said most plans do not cover these services until an employee meets the deductible.

During the time when most employers go through open enrollment, collision repairers could stop by the SCRS booth at the SEMA Show and learn about the health and retirement plans available from two organizations involved in setting up and managing the programs, Decisely and Gravie. They included Decisely’s CEO and co-founder Kevin Dunn and SVP of Business Development Eric Frazer, and Abir Sen, co-founder and co-CEO of Gravie, the insurance

We worked with Decisely, a firm specializing in benefits brokerage and HR services, and launched the SCRS 401(k) Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) first because it was easier to put together for members. Health care is a complicated area of the industry, so we relied on Decisely to help navigate the available options. We also engaged with Gravie, the plan provider, to learn more about their product Comfort™.

Our goal was to find a national program for SCRS members. We wanted it to reduce costs for employers and employees and improve the quality of care. We needed it to be something that gave our industry a distinct advantage to help recruit entrants. We didn’t need to just compete with larger businesses in our own space; we needed to compete with industries offering more competitive benefit plans.

Q:

Why did you team up with

Decisely and Gravie?

Schulenburg: Decisely was the right partner because it was as important for them as it was for us to find the best plan for the industry.

Gravie’s cofounders also made it clear how important it was to change how people interact with health care. We found they could offer a sustainable plan and deliver average savings between 10 to 15% versus members’ existing plans.

Gravie’s plan utilizes the Aetna and Cigna PPO networks, which most people are familiar with. The result is a familiar experience without the familiar costs and obstacles.

What did you want the plan to include?

Frazer: In 2018, association health plans were a common topic in national news. Regardless of the political climate and the winds of change in regulatory agencies and state insurance organizations, we wanted to find a plan that could rival large corporate buying power. We’re happy we found a solution.

Dunn: Small businesses feel the brunt of high premium costs. Because they often have a small number of employees, they are underwritten with a high premium. It’s unfair that they are not part of a scaled product. That’s what Decisely was able to offer.

We sourced health care like large corporations such as Delta Airlines or FedEx because the collision repair industry is part of an amalgamation of a group of like-minded people. We wanted a plan that could help attract people to join the industry and retain them. We’ve found that an employee will stay at a company three and a half times longer if there is a benefits plan.

Q: What makes the program unique?

Frazer: When basic needs such as primary and specialist care, labs and generic prescriptions are covered at no cost, this meets 88% of health care needs for most people. That’s a 180-degree difference from other programs.

Dunn: With traditional plans, you pay a $50-$200 co-pay as part of your premium. The SCRS plan eliminates those costs, so there is no copay, whether that’s for a doctor’s appointment, an MRI or prescription.

Schulenburg: By offering an affordable insurance plan with no co-pay, you get a healthier population with people who take their prescription drugs and go to the doctor.

This program is about giving health care solutions that people can use today. One of our early adopters employs a technician whose wife is pregnant. When the couple

compared their existing plan to this new one, they found they would save $6,000 in out-of-pocket expenses on the birth of their child. That’s a meaningful difference.

Q: Who is eligible to join?

Schulenburg: Anybody in the collision repair industry can shop the plan and learn about its benefits. Those who choose to participate must be SCRS members.

Q: Why should employers evaluate the plan?

Schulenburg: We encourage all employers, whether they already have a plan, to look at the available options and get a free quote. Imagine if you could leverage a 10% or 15% savings. That is a substantial amount of money that could be reinvested into your business and/or employees.

Dunn: It’s a challenging environment with inflationary concerns and high costs. This plan is great for employers to save on premiums and put money back into employees’ pockets. If you can save a family $6,000, the employee will remember that and be a cheerleader for the company.

With the savings, many employers are taking part of that money and investing it in other plans, such as vision, dental and setting up a life insurance policy.

Frazer: If you want a different result, you must do something different. Gravie’s program SCRS has secured for members is already showing results.

While the plan can help larger SCRS members, it also helps level up the playing field for small- and medium-sized members so they can compete, recruit and retain like a Fortune 500 company.

Schulenburg: There are things that SCRS does that are important as an association and there are things that we can do that really make a difference in people’s lives. This plan can change a lot of people’s lives.

For more information, visit www. scrs.com/healthcare.

Q: Why was the health care plan initiated?

Collision repair businesses had the opportunity to stop by the SCRS booth at the SEMA Show and learn about the health and retirement plans available from two organizations involved in setting up and managing the programs, Decisely and Gravie

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on unsuspecting victims like vultures,” said NICB President and CEO David Glawe. “This is not the time to let your guard down. Stay vigilant and protect yourself and your loved ones from these criminals.”

Before hiring a contractor, call your insurance company. There is no need to rush into an agreement with a contractor who solicits your repair work, especially if it was not requested.

NICB suggests you consider these tips before hiring a contractor:

• Get more than one estimate.

• Get everything in writing. Cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedules and other expectations should be detailed and itemized.

• Request references and do the research. Ask to see the salesperson’s driver’s license and write down the license number and their vehicle’s license plate number.

• Look out for out-of-state contractor licenses, as well as vehicle registrations, as these may also indicate possible fraudulent contractors.

• Never sign a contract with blanks; terms you don’t agree with can be added later.

• Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished.

• Ensure reconstruction is up to current code.

• Make sure you review and understand all documents sent to your insurance carrier. Signing an Assignment of Benefits agreement transfers your insurance rights to the contractor. Know what that means for you.

• Never let a contractor pressure you into making a quick decision or hiring them.

• Never let a contractor interpret the language of your insurance policy.

• Never let a contractor discourage you from contacting your insurance company. Contact your insurance company first.

• Remember, if you didn’t request it, reject it!

Furthermore, some deceitful contractors will state they are supported by the government. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency does not endorse individual contractors or loan agencies. Always request official identification from those claiming to represent governmental agencies. Consumers should call FEMA for more specifics at (800) 621-FEMA.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, call the NICB at 1-800-TEL-NICB or report it here.

Source: NICB

More Than a Dozen People Busted in Million Dollar Car Theft Ring in Florida

By Elizabeth Puckett Motorious

Miami-Dade police have arrested more than a dozen people believed to be connected with a Florida car theft ring.

The grand theft arrests come after months of investigating. Miami-Dade Det. Luis Sierra said they began receiving calls from the Sea Port Operations detectives about cars being shipped out of the state. “It’s been a very organized group of criminals that have been renting out cars and getting cars by other means and re-VIN-ing them. and in fact trying to re-sell them to dealerships throughout the state and throughout the country,” Sierra said. “It’s been several cars, a bit over $1 million in automobile sales.”

Fake titles allowed the crew to sell the stolen cars to AutoNation Ford in Miami, AutoNation Chevy in Coral Gables and a Doral CarMax.

“AutoNation fully supports law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute any form of fraud related to motor vehicles, titling and

affiliated records. We want to make sure consumers are protected,” AutoNation said.

How Virginia Tire Aims To Get More Women Into Auto Repair

By Jeff Clabaugh WTOP News

McLean, VA-based Virginia Tire & Auto started a recruiting campaign in January specifically to attract more women to the auto repair business.

Co-CEO Julie Holmes said she has recruited 31 women since then, for roles that include technicians, sales and administration. Now, Holmes is launching a scholarship for women entering the industry.

The Women in Automotive scholarship will provide up to three scholarships for postsecondary education for candidates planning to attend an ASE-certified auto technology program. The scholarships are worth up to $2,500 per candidate for one semester of tuition and materials.

The scholarships will be awarded to young women who are high school seniors. Those who maintain a minimum grade-point average and meet other requirements may keep the scholarship across multiple semesters. The scholarships do not have any postcertification commitment to work

specifically for Virginia Tire.

Auto technician jobs require much more than mechanical skills. Today’s vehicles are really rolling computers. “To be able to work on today’s cars, you have to be highly technical and highly skilled. Our technicians are effectively applying scientific method as they go through the diagnostic process. We say if you want a career in high tech, that’s this. This is auto repair,” Holmes said. Auto technician jobs pay well. In fact, very well.

“We have technicians who are making over $200,000 a year, and many that are making more than $100,000 or $150,000. The money is there for those who have the ability to solve these problems. And like any career where you can solve a problem, you are rewarded and compensated well,” Holmes said.

Virginia Tire is one of the largest women-owned businesses in the D.C. region. Half of its roughly 270 employees are women. The 46-year-old company opened its 17th location in Northern Virginia earlier this year, and expanded outside of Northern Virginia in 2019 with a location in the Richmond area.

“Goes to show you we are in Miami and unfortunately there is a lot of fraud here,” Sierra said. “How they were able to sell these cars and make them legit is something that we are still trying to figure out.”

Police are still looking for three men, as well as looking for more victims.

“You need to be very careful when you buy something. You need to check, double check and triple check. You do not want to be a victim of fraud,” Sierra said.

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“You need to be very careful when you buy something. You need to check, double check and triple check. You do not want to be a victim of fraud,””

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Prestigious Awards Announced at Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Breakfast During SEMA 2022

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Members of the collision repair industry gathered at the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Breakfast on Nov. 2 during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV.

Prestigious awards and recognitions were given out by the Collision Industry Electronic

IVS, received a Chairman’s Award for extraordinary leadership cochairing the Emerging Technologies Committee, which has spun off several other committees to develop standards.

Enterprise Holdings was named CIECA’s Company of the Year. “The company chosen this year truly supports CIECA and its mission in many more ways than just volunteering on committees,” noted Martinez, who recognized Kim DeVallance Caron for her dedication.

CREF

Pictured, left to right, are CIECA Chairman Phil Martinez; CIECA Chairperson’s Award recipients Gene Lopez of Seidner’s Collision Centers and Frank Terlep of Opus IVS; and CIECA Executive Director Paul Barry

Commerce Association (CIECA), the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Greco Publishing, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).

“This awards breakfast is important for our industry… and I appreciate the companies, organizations and individuals who have supported this effort,” said Jeff Peevy, the master of ceremonies and I-CAR’s vice president of technical products, programs and services. “It’s a beautiful and very respectful thing that we do to make this industry better for the future generations coming.”

The event was sponsored by participating organizations.

CIECA

CIECA Chairman Phil Martinez, senior technical consultant at Mitchell International, announced CIECA’s awards.

Three Architecture Committee members received an Outstanding Contribution Award for working on the next generation of collision industry standards—CIECA API Standards (CAPIS). They included Committee Chair Dan Webster from Enlyte, Andy Bober from Entegral and Mike Hastings from Car-Part. com.

Gene Lopez, of Seidner’s Collision, and Frank Terlep, of Opus

Brandon Eckenrode, managing director of CREF, announced Rod Habel, director of training for Sherwin-Williams, received a Fueling the Future Award, which recognizes an individual or company that has gone above and beyond helping the collision repair school program students and instructors.

“He has always been there for schools and students across the country,” said Eckenrode.

Two instructors shared what Habel’s support has meant to them and their programs. Jay Abitz from Freedom High School in Wisconsin said the generous donations from Habel and Sherwin-Williams have really changed the trajectory of their program.

Kenny McMillian from Kennedy King College in Illinois also shared his sentiment. “I would like to express my special thanks and gratitude to Rod

repair,” said Alicia Figurelli, Greco’s Publishing’s senior vice president.

“My dad passed away in May and this is a memory of him,” said Anderson. “He helped me understand what quality was and customer service, and I’m grateful for that.” He added he was truly humbled and grateful for the award.

I CAR

I-CAR’s awards were announced by John Van Alstyne, CEO and president. Bill Condron at Sawgrass Ford received the Jeff Silver Memorial Award, named after the industry leader who was considered the

“Our mission and vision are to make the collision industry the best it can be and put on its best face for the communities where we live and work,” said Garoutte.

SCRS

During the last presentation of the morning, Danny Gredinberg, administrator of the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG), received the 2022 March Taylor Kina’ole Award. It was presented by Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS; Barry Dorn, vice president of Dorn’s Body & Paint; Toby Chess; and Dale Matsumoto, president of Auto Body Hawaii

“This is a very special, meaningful award for all of us,” said Schulenburg.

Habel and all he has done for our program at Kennedy King College over the years, as well as everyone at Sherwin-Williams who embraced our collision program,” he said.

Greco Publishing

Mike Anderson from Collision Advice received Greco’s Publishing’s Industry Icon Award. “Our inaugural industry icon award winner is known locally, regionally, nationally and globally as the ‘go to’ in collision

Pictured, left to right, are Barry Dorn, Dorn’s Body & Paint; Dale Matsumoto, Auto Body Hawaii; Toby Chess; Danny Gredinberg, Database Enhancement Gateway, and recipient of the SCRS 2022 March Taylor Kina’ole Award; and SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg

pioneer of I-CAR Gold Class and Platinum recognition programs.

“Just as Jeff showed the difference one person can make, our award recipient believes there is something he can do about the pervasive talent shortage,” said Van Alstyne. “He’s made it a personal mission to recruit new talent in the industry he loves. Just as important, he takes the time to nurture the newcomers and support the continuing professional development of everyone he works with.”

Eveland Bros., Collision Repair, Inc., a family-owned and operated operation, received the Russ Verona Memorial Award.

“Our award-winning collision repair center invests heavily in the education of its staff who hold I-CAR Platinum credentials and are certified by ASE and dozens of OEMs,” said Van Alstyne. The business has adhered to I-CAR’s Gold Class standard continuously since 1993, making it one of a very small group of shops in the country to reach this milestone.

NABC

Rather than handing out awards, NABC President and CEO Bill Garoutte gave accolades to those in attendance and those who weren’t.

When March passed away, Schulenburg said it was important this his legacy of Kina’ole—doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons—was honored, acknowledged and rewarded. It also became a mantra for SCRS and many others.

“True Kina’ole really happens naturally. It has a deeper meaning,” said Matsumoto. “It doesn’t happen in your head. It happens here… in your heart.”

Chess, the 2021 recipient of the March Taylor Kina’ole Award, said March was a great mentor and stood for what Kina’ole is. March regularly arrived at his shop at 5 a.m. to communicate with the information providers on times that were not right in the database.

“When he got up to 200 of them, he said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. They are coming in faster than I can handle,’” recalled Chess. That was the birth of the DEG.

When announcing the award recipient, Dorn said Gredinberg is tireless with the DEG, just like March, getting up early and staying up late to do the right thing for those who don’t have a voice. “[Danny] has shown us time and time again that he cares and he cares selflessly about what goes on and he embodies what Kina’ole is.”

“I love giving back because there was a time when I needed help and I was reaching out to resources that were available through the DEG,” said Gredinberg. “I’m very fortunate to be part of a great industry that has given me so much.”

Bill Condron, left, recipient of the I-CAR Jeff Silver Memorial Award, with I-CAR CEO and President John Van Alstyne, right

and calibration software platform. He also authored a book, “Auto Industry Disruption, Who and What is Being Disrupted and What to Do About It.”

In October, Auto Techcelerators was acquired by Opus IVS™, a global diagnostics, ADAS calibration, programming and on-demand remote support company.

that everyone in the automotive, collision, glass, truck and insurance companies can benefit from.

The acquisition will also allow us to expand the sales and marketing of our existing Auto Techcelerators CoPilot suite to existing and future Opus customers in North America, the UK and Australia.

Q:With the sale of the company, what will your new role be?

A:My new title is vice president of ADAS solutions. My focus will be on designing, developing and delivering this platform. It will also include educating the industry on the importance of proper diagnostic, ADAS, calibration and validation processes and documentation.

presentation the next morning so I could attend the SEMA Awards Breakfast and receive the award.

When someone like me invents something from an idea and receives this type of award, it validates all the blood, sweat and tears it took to launch a product like Test Drive CoPilot.

It was also very satisfying to have Test Drive CoPilot receive runner-up in the new ADAS Product Category, be selected as a top five finalist in the SEMA Launch Pad competiton, and receive the SEMA Global Media Award.

standards.

Q:As the new CIC chairman, what is your goal during your term and what are you most excited about?

At the 2022 SEMA Show held in November in Las Vegas, NV, Terlep was honored for his hard work and dedication over the years. During the event, he was inducted into the Hall of Eagles, the collision industry’s Hall of Fame; received a SEMA Best New Product Award in the category of Collision Repair & Refinish; was given a Chairperson’s Award for co-chairing the CIECA Emerging Technologies Committee; and was named chairman of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC).

Autobody News recently had the opportunity to ask Terlep about his accomplishments and what he attributes his success to.

Q:What prompted the sale of Auto Techcelerators to Opus IVS and how will this impact Auto Techcelerator’s focus?

A:The sale to Opus IVS started with a phone call from Brian Herron, the CEO, inquiring if we had an interest in selling our company. After multiple phone calls and a trip to the Opus IVS office, it became apparent that our organizations had many synergies and business opportunities if we integrated Opus IVS solutions with our technologies.

Based on the synergies and opportunities, the decision to sell the company to Opus IVS was easy.

I think the acquisition will allow Opus IVS to make a much bigger impact on the industry when it comes to ADAS services, calibrations and validation. When we combine our technologies, we hope to deliver a single end-to-end diagnostic, ADAS, calibration and validation platform

Based on previous experiences with Auto Techcelerators and other corporations, I am sure I will be involved in other aspects of the company, such as business development, marketing, sales, etc. I want to help the company and its employees be successful.

Q:Congratulations on the awards you received during the SEMA Show, including being inducted into the prestigious Hall of Eagles. Only a few distinguished individuals receive this honor for their contributions toward the betterment of the industry. What do you attribute your success to?

A:Humbled… honored… thankful… When I started in this industry in 1984, I had no idea my “collision industry adventure” would take me to where I am today. When I look at the names of previous inductees, I never thought my name would be added to this list of industry icons.

I am thankful and blessed to have met thousands of great people in this industry who have had a positive personal and professional impact on me and allowed me to learn from them.

I attribute my success to hard work, perseverance and always striving to “do the right thing,” as well as listening and being willing to help anyone who needs it.

Q:What was your reaction to receiving the SEMA New Product Award for Test Drive Co-Pilot?

A:I was at dinner with some of my new Opus teammates when I was told. As you can imagine, I was shocked, excited, happy and satisfied! I had to call Jordan Hendler, the administrator of CIC, at 8 p.m. the night before the CIC meeting to reschedule my committee

What is the importance of being involved as the co-chair of CIECA’s Emerging Technologies Committee and helping to create new standards for the collision industry?

A:Being co-chair of the Emerging Technologies Committee with Gene Lopez from Seidner’s Collision allows us to “see around the corner” on what and potentially how “the next big thing” will affect our industry and how CIECA needs to get involved. CIECA plays such an important role in data and technology and I believe the Emerging Technologies Committee plays a critical role in helping CIECA understand and prepare for future

A:I am humbled and honored to be selected as the next CIC chairman for 2023 and 2024. I know I have a lot of big shoes to fill but I am excited about the opportunity. Darrell Amberson, the past chair, really raised the bar, so I hope to raise the bar even further. I am most excited about my opportunity to lead an organization and work with committed people who can positively impact the collision industry.

I have a few goals and objectives during my term. This includes continuing to “raise the bar,” as past chairs Jeff Peevy and Darrell Amberson have done over the past four years. I would also like to position CIC as THE industry event to learn from, contribute to, participate in, network, challenge industry norms, debate, have fun and leave each meeting wanting to come back. I will challenge “the body” to become more engaged, more vocal and, when appropriate, more provocative. Overall, I want to leave CIC better than it was when my term ends.

Q:

Frank Terlep was inducted into the Hall of Eagles, the collision industry’s Hall of Fame, during the SEMA Show

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

Driven Brands’ collision group on Oct. 18 celebrated the opening of CARSTAR Patriot Auto Body Little Rock in Little Rock, AR—its 1,000th collision repair facility in North America.

From entering the collision market in 2015 with the purchase of 240 CARSTAR locations in the U.S., Driven Collision has quadrupled its footprint across North America in just seven years. Driven Collision now services commercial and retail customers in all 48 states within the contiguous U.S. and all 10 Canadian provinces operating under CARSTAR, ABRA and Fix Auto.

Chase Marchese is the owner of CARSTAR Patriot Auto Body Little Rock. It is his third CARSTAR location; he also owns two in Hot Springs, AR. Before entering the collision repair industry, Marchese served as a medic in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2011, including deployments to Iraq.

He got his start in the business by managing several repair facilities for a friend, and in 2014, he became an owner of a collision repair facility. He joined the CARSTAR franchise family

in 2019.

“I decided to give it a shot, to see what CARSTAR does for me,” Marchese said. “I had just opened my second location. Now all my shops are running at maximum capacity. I opened my new store in Little Rock and was at maximum capacity within three weeks.

“CARSTAR has boosted my business,” Marchese said. “I don’t believe there is any way to have gotten to where we’ve gotten without it.”

Marchese said he aims to eventually open as many as 14 CARSTAR stores in Arkansas.

“I’m honored to be the 1,000th collision repair location in the Driven Brands family,” said Marchese. “As a businessman and entrepreneur, it is an exciting moment to be able to continue growing my business to

reach new incredible communities in this area.”

Marchese always remembered his service in the Army. He selects a veteran each quarter and repairs their vehicle free of charge.

“I’m proud to combine efforts with my paint vendor, BASF, and Driven Brands to help support a local Arkansas veterans’ charity as part of today’s celebration where we’re each donating $1,000 to Veterans Villages of America in honor of the 1,000th location,” Marchese said.

Marchese said he also hires veterans to work in his shops, as the military tends to instill two traits in its servicemembers important for working in collision repair: integrity and attention to detail.

Marchese is far from the only miniMSO owner within CARSTAR, said Dean Fisher, collision president, Driven Brands.

“Probably 40%-plus of CARSTAR stores are part of an MSO,” he said.

Sabrina Thring, collision COO, Driven Brands, said joining CARSTAR gives owners access to the model CARSTAR has built that supports MSO growth in any market.

“The sky’s the limit,” she said.

Brian Newberry, VP of development, Driven Brands, added

a lot of independent owners, like Marchese, are choosing to join CARSTAR because it has “a lot of boxes on the business plan checked off.”

“We’re a great fit for independents with a growth mindset,” he said.

Fisher said Driven Brands now has 58 ABRA locations, 766 CARSTAR locations and 186 Fix Auto locations.

He said the number adds up to more than 1,000 because Marchese opened his store in early September, and the brands have continued to grow since then.

“We’re still growing as we’re speaking,” Fisher said.

“CARSTAR has boosted my business, I don’t believe there is any way to have gotten to where we’ve gotten without it.”

CHASE MARCHESE CARSTAR PATRIOT AUTO BODY

on Behalf of Kia and Hyundai Theft Victims

Hellmuth & Johnson announced its clients have brought a class action against Kia America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor America following a nationwide rash of thefts that revealed a major defect in certain Kia and Hyundai models.

According to the complaint, Kia and Hyundai did not install engine immobilizers in many of their vehicles produced before November 2021. These vehicles are now sitting targets and continue to be frequently stolen across the country.

Manufacturers have regularly installed engine immobilizers in vehicles for decades as a common theft deterrent. Engine immobilizers prevent the engine from starting without using the vehicle’s authorized key. The system is based on a unique key or fob that contains a transponder chip that transmits a specific code to start the engine. The engine control unit does not activate the fuel system or the ignition circuit if the code in the key or fob does

not match.

Law enforcement acknowledges these thefts are part of a nationwide trend, in part due to social media tutorials that show thieves how to exploit the defect, allowing them to bypass the ignition by breaking off the dash panels and simply using a USB port to start the car. Despite knowing and being made aware of the threat these vehicles pose, Kia and Hyundai have failed to provide any permanent solutions to consumers. Their conduct violates consumer protection laws and breaches the companies’ warranty obligations.

For more information about the case, contact Hellmuth & Johnson partner  Anne T. Regan at (952) 460-9285.

The vehicle owners are represented by Anne T. Regan, Nathan D. Prosser and Lindsey L. Larson of Hellmuth & Johnson, Minneapolis, MN.

Source: Hellmuth & Johnson

www.autobodynews.com

Classic Collision Expands Again in Florida

Classic Collision, LLC, announced three new shops Oct. 21 the acquisition of Fenders Collision USA in Fort Walton Beach and Crestview, FL, along with a newly renovated facility opening in Orlando.

doing just that.

“Our company goal was to help people get back to their routine and lives with ease of mind, and I know the Classic family will uphold that commitment to our customers, and we look forward to being part of Classic’s growth in Florida,” said William Roberts, former owner of Fenders Collision USA.

Classic Collision OBT West is conveniently located in the historic Orange Blossom Trail Community. This newly renovated 18,400-square foot building is Classic’s third Orlando metro location.

TOAN

OF

Fenders Collision USA started its business wanting to contribute to the safety and happiness of its community and build premier auto body shops

“We are thrilled to welcome the entire Fenders Collision USA team to the Classic family, which will bring our Florida market to 37 locations. We recognize their high customer service standards and look forward to welcoming these new teammates,” said Toan Nguyen , CEO of Classic Collision.

Source: Classic Collision

“We are thrilled to welcome the entire Fenders Collision USA team to the Classic family, which will bring our Florida market to 37 locations. We recognize their high customer service standards and look forward to welcoming these new teammates,”

NGUYEN CEO

CLASSIC COLLISION

8,100 jobs over the next few years as the company aims to establish a stable supply chain for EV battery and other EV components in the U.S. market.

HMGMA’s new smart factory is expected to begin commercial production in the first half of 2025.

“Hyundai and the people of Georgia share many qualities: respect for our histories, ingenuity, creativity and determination to make the world better for the next generation,” said Chung. “Today, our EVs are recognized as best in class, and with this partnership, we are determined to be the global leader in electrification, safety, quality and sustainability. With the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, we will continue to evolve beyond an automaker to the world’s leading mobility solutions provider.”

“With more Georgians working than ever before, record jobs and investment coming to all parts of our state, and awardwinning workforce development programs and infrastructure, the Peach State’s economy is reaching new heights,” said Kemp. “Our partnership with Hyundai Motor Group and the groundbreaking of this innovative facility exemplifies that unprecedented success. With a long-term commitment to improving lives and livelihoods, we look forward to continuing this partnership and seeing its impact on both this community and our state as a whole.” Approximately $1 billion is anticipated to be invested by non-affiliated HMGMA suppliers in connection with the project in other locations. Hyundai Motor Group to Lead U.S. Electrified Mobility Industry Hyundai Motor Group will be a leader in the U.S. auto market’s EV transition with the new facility. The Group is accelerating its electrification efforts with the global target to sell 3.23 million full electric vehicles annually by 2030. To realize this goal, the Group plans to establish a global EV production network that will ensure a stable supply of EVs around the globe.

With the additional EV and battery production capabilities in the U.S., the Group aims to maintain its position as one of the top three EV providers in the U.S. The Group plans to lead

the EV market not just in sales, but also in terms of design, technologies and mobility solutions optimized for the electric mobility era.

The investment is in line with the U.S. government’s roadmap to accelerate electrification, as global OEMs are announcing plans to expand their local EV production in the U.S. Last year, the U.S. government announced a new initiative under which sales of zero-emission vehicles should account for at least half of OEM’s new vehicle sales by 2030.

Showcasing the Future of Group’s Smart Manufacturing: Intelligent, Sustainable and Data-driven

The new plant will boast a highly connected, automated and flexible manufacturing system, which organically connects all elements of the EV ecosystem to realize customer value. The Georgia facility will become an intelligent manufacturing plant. All processes of production order collection, procurement, logistics and production will be optimized using AI and data. The innovative manufacturing system will

university, with a $120,000 donation to provide scholarships in STEM areas. For the next four years, two $15,000 scholarships will be awarded to eligible students.

• Hyundai Hope On Wheels, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes and treatments for children diagnosed with cancer, presented $500,000 Hyundai Scholar Hope and Young Investigator Grants to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to continue its long-standing fight against pediatric cancer. Since 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has pledged $200 million in support of more than 1,100 childhood cancer research grants.

• Genesis Inspiration Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to improving educational outcomes for children through the arts, presented donations totaling $200,000 to two Georgiabased nonprofit organizations, drawchange and Paint Love. Genesis Inspiration Foundation

program, Accelerate the Good, aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and seeks to inspire human potential, spark innovation and champion sustainability in U.S. communities. As part of Kia’s commitment to the Bryan County community, Kia’s Accelerate the Good program will donate $600,000 to help local youth realize their hopes and dreams.

This Includes:

• Family Promise of the Coastal Empire received $300,000 for housing homeless families that recently lost their homes and purchasing homes for them.

• America’s Second Harvest of GA received $100,000 to establish after-school programs where low-income children can eat and receive tutoring.

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital received $100,000 to pay travel expenses for pediatric cancer care at St. Jude in Memphis, TN.

ALLDATA’s ADAS Quick Reference Tool Receives SEMA New Product Award in ADAS

By Stacey Phillips Auotbody News

Founded in 1986, ALLDATA is known for providing OEM automotive repair and collision information. The company said more than 400,000 technicians use ALLDATA’s software solutions for faster diagnostics, updated OEM information covering 95% of vehicles on the road, and simpler shop management.

At the November SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, ALLDATA received a 2022 SEMA New Product Award in the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) category for its new ADAS Quick Reference tool. The annual awards program recognizes cutting-edge new products introduced to the automotive specialty-equipment market.

The company previously received a PTEN Innovation Award this year.

During the show, ALLDATA representatives shared information about the company’s latest enhancements and provided live demonstrations of its OEM repair information products, diagnostic tools and shop management software, including ADAS Quick Reference, ALLDATA Inspections, and its new partnership with Nexpart Multi-Seller.

“We’re always looking for ways to help shops boost productivity and streamline the workflow process,” said Satwinder Mangat, president of ALLDATA.

ALLDATA Collision®, which makes it easy for customers to find ADAS repair information in one place.

A:ALLDATA’s ADAS Quick Reference provides one-click access to vehicle-specific ADAS information direct from the OEMs.

Shops can easily filter by system, component or location. The ADAS Quick Reference tool links directly to the ADAS system or component by name, such as Backup Camera or Lane Departure System. It also provides the location of the component, identifies removal/ replacement requirements that could result in extra labor for calibration or sublet costs, and displays basic calibration information, required tools and prerequisites for servicing ADAS components.

Having all the ADAS information in one place helps shops save time and prepare more accurate estimates and detailed blueprints based on OEM requirements and procedures.

vehicle, look up or add a new customer, check off a digital inspection sheet, and email it to the customer—all in minutes.

The tool works with ALLDATA Repair®, ALLDATA Collision® and

invoices in real-time.

ALLDATA Inspections gives shops flexibility to check in customers at their vehicles, identify services that are required or due soon, and deliver trustworthy advice on the spot for a better overall shop experience.

Is there anything you would like to share about ALLDATA’s

A:We’re excited about ALLDATA Find-A-Fix, a new information source that provides top-ranked diagnostic solutions for a specific vehicle and Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) based on data-driven analysis for trusted repairs. It’s currently included at no additional cost for a limited time with ALLDATA Repair® and ALLDATA Collision®.

Autobody News had the opportunity to talk to Mangat about the award and the company’s new products.

Q:What was your reaction to receiving the SEMA New Product Award?

A: We were thrilled! ADAS was a huge topic at SEMA, and we were honored to be recognized for this latest update to ALLDATA Repair® and

A:It was great to be back in full force for the first time since 2019. There was a ton of buzz about ADAS this year. That was certainly the case at the ALLDATA booth, where attendees lined up for demos of the new award-winning ADAS Quick Reference tool.

We were also excited to showcase our new partnership with Nexpart Multi-Seller. The tool makes it easy to add parts from leading vendors to an estimate, check local product availability in real-time, and quickly order from preferred suppliers.

ALLDATA Shop Manager now includes Nexpart Multi-Seller parts ordering, providing 24/7 access to leading suppliers in one place, including the AutoZone catalog.

In addition, show attendees could see how ALLDATA Inspections, another new tool, enables shops to jumpstart the customer check-in process curbside and perform digital vehicle inspections (DVIs).

ALLDATA Shop Manager, so that the entire service team can share customer and vehicle documentation for estimates, repair orders and

Another product on the horizon is ALLDATA Repair Forecaster. It generates a list of known failures for the next 12 months or 10,000 miles based on year/make/model/engine (YMME), location and odometer reading. This allows customers to use information from ALLDATA to share predicted repairs with customers.

For more information, visit www. alldata.com/en.

ALLDATA Inspections makes it easy to greet customers at the

Satwinder Mangat, president of ALLDATA, accepts the 2022 SEMA New Product Award for the company’s new ADAS Quick Reference tool

ALLDATA team members at the 2022 SEMA Show included, left to right, Christopher Mochan, Ric Martinez, Robert Gomez, Pat Castillo, Daniel Dimapasoc, Bryan Goux, Ryan Deugaw, Diane Flood, Crystal Brahm and Terry Louizos

Q: What are some features of the product that will benefit collision repair shops?

Q: What did you showcase during the SEMA Show?

Q: How will ALLDATA Inspections help collision repairers?

A:

Q:

future focus?

Alabama Jury Returns $6.5 Million Verdict For Woman Severely Injured in Crash

On Oct. 6, the law firm of Cunningham Bounds, LLC obtained a $6.5 million verdict against State Farm Insurance Company and in favor of its insured, Meghan Grove.

Grove was severely injured during an automobile collision Aug. 29, 2019, when a vehicle crossed the center line of Highway 45 in Mobile County, AL, and crashed head-on into the vehicle driven by Grove. As a result of collision, Grove suffered multiple pelvic fractures, a fractured elbow and a fractured wrist.

The at-fault driver had limited insurance coverage that was insufficient to fully compensate Grove for the injuries and damages she suffered. Accordingly, Grove sought compensation from her underinsured motorist coverage which was provided by State Farm and for which she had paid premiums for many years.

State Farm refused to fully compensate Grove and

even attempted to blame the collision on Grove its own insured contrary to the physical evidence documented at the scene by investigating law enforcement officers. During trial, multiple medical providers testified about the extent of Grove’s physical injuries.

“The jury in this case stood up not only for Meghan Grove but also for corporate accountability in general,” said Robert Mitchell of Cunningham Bounds, who represented Grove, along with his law partner Lucy Tufts. “State Farm had every opportunity to do the right thing, but it made a deliberate decision to put profits over protecting its own insured. We are extremely pleased for our client, who very much deserved this result, and we are also proud of the jury for having the courage to return a meaningful verdict. Hopefully, this result will change the way State Farm treats its policyholders.”

Source: Cunningham Bounds

Classic

Carolina, Expands Again in Texas

Classic Collision, LLC, a leading national multi-site collision repair operator based in Atlanta, announced two new closings Nov. 4 the acquisition of Smitty’s Collision in Mooresville, NC, and a CARSTAR Franchise in Houston, TX.

Smitty’s Collision opened its doors 20 years ago with a commitment to bring quality repairs to the Mooresville area.

“We used the most up to date technology to return vehicles to pre-collision condition with a staff that had over 100 years of experience in the collision repair industry, and excited to be a part of the Classic growth in North Carolina,” said Kenny Barber, former owner of Smitty’s Collision.

The Premier CARSTAR was family-owned and dedicated to exceptional customer care throughout the repair process.

“We were absolutely committed to being the industry’s best in attending to our customer’s needs, and confident that Classic Collision will continue

CCC Names New Executive

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. strengthened its executive team with the appointment of Michael Silva as chief commercial and customer success officer.

Silva will have overall responsibility to deliver innovative outcomes for CCC’s customers across the P&C insurance economy. Silva joins CCC from Salesforce, where he was responsible for global and enterprise customers in the financial services segment.

Silva joins CCC following successful tenures at several leading technology companies. He most recently served as SVP of financial services at Salesforce. Prior to Salesforce, Silva held SVP and general manager roles at IBM, Microsoft and United Health. He has successfully led teams and executed growth strategies delivering several billion dollars of annual revenue. Silva also has P&C insurance operating experience, leading a claims department at Chubb Insurance early in his career.

Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

in

that same commitment to the Houston area,” said Kal Shaban, former owner of Premier CARSTAR.

“We are pleased to welcome both Smitty’s Collision and CARSTAR’s team to the Classic family. We recognize their high service standards and look forward to advancing that once again in Texas and adding our third location in North Carolina market,” said Toan Nguyen, CEO of Classic Collision.

Source: Classic Collision

Collision Adds 3rd Location

North

“We were absolutely committed to being the industry’s best in attending to our customer’s needs, and confident that Classic Collision will continue that same commitment to the Houston area,”

KAL SHABAN FORMER OWNER OF PREMIER CARSTAR

Carlock Honda Birmingham 800-987-0819 205-949-5457

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6 robert thompson@carlockcars com

AutoNation Honda Clearwater Clearwater 888-205-2564 727-530-1173

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5; Sun 10-3 santosr1@autonation com

AutoNation Honda Hollywood Hollywood 800-542-8121 954-964-8300

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5; Sun 9-5 hernandeze@autonation�com

Classic Honda Orlando 888-893-4984 407-521-1115

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-4 parts@classichonda com

Headquarter Honda Clermont 800-497-2294 407-395-7374

Dept Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-5 pepe guevara@headquarterhonda com

Hendrick Honda Pompano Beach Pompano Beach 954-425-8244

Dept Hours: M-Fri 7-6; Sat 7-5; gerardbruno@hendrickauto com

Holler Honda Orlando 407-442-1938 Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4 parts@hollerhonda com

Rick Case Honda Davie 877-544-2249 Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-4 robbutton@rickcase com

South Motors Honda Miami 888-418-3513 305-256-2240 Dept Hours: M-F 8-7 mfranceschi@southhonda com

Carey Paul Honda

Snellville

770-985-1444 Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 gperkins@careypaul com

Ed Voyles Honda Marietta 800-334-3719 770-933-5870 Direct Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 hondaparts@edvoyles com

Gerald Jones Honda Augusta 800-733-2210 706-228-7040

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 tdunn@geraldjoneshonda com

Honda Mall of Georgia Buford/Gwinnett 678-318-3155 Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 cdunlap@penskeautomotive com

Milton Martin Honda Gainesville 770-534-0086 678-989-5473

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6 robertthomas@mmhonda com

Honda of Newnan Newnan 678-423-8183 Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4 samuel trapani@henrickauto com

Nalley Honda Union City 866-362-8034 770-306-4646

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-5 hondawp@nalleycars com

Patty Peck Honda Ridgeland 800-748-8676 601-957-3400

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 pmartin@pattypeckhonda com

Apple Tree Honda Asheville 800-476-9411 828-684-4400

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 appletreeparts@hotmail com

Crown Honda Southpoint Durham 855-893-8866 919-425-4711

Dept Hours: M-Thu 7-11; Fri 7-6 Sat 7-5; Sun 11-5 www southpointhonda com

McKenney-Salinas Honda Gastonia 888-703-7109 704-824-8844 x 624

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 parts@mshonda com

Vann York Automall High Point 336-841-6200 Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3

Breakaway Honda Greenville 800-849-5056 864-234-6481

Dept� Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 fmarshall@breakawayhonda com Piedmont Honda Anderson 800-849-5057 864-375-2082

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 swhite@piedmontcars�com

Leith Acura Cary 800-868-0082 919-657-0460 Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4:30 Jason Mangels@leithcars com

Karen Radley Acura Woodbridge 800-355-2818 703-550-0205 Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 coreythompson@radleyautogroup com

autobodynews.com

Airport Honda Alcoa

800-264-4721 865-970-7792

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6:30; Sat 7:30-5 parts@airporthonda com

AutoNation Honda West Knoxville Knoxville 800-824-1301 865-218-5461

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6 rossd1@autonation com

Wolfchase Honda Bartlett 800-982-7290 901-255-3780

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7 ekerr@wolfchasehonda com

Checkered Flag Honda

Norfolk 800-277-2122 757-687-3453

Dept Hours: M-Sat 7:30-6 honda checkeredflag com

Hall Honda Virginia Beach 800-482-9606 757-431-4329

Dept Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-5 fox@hallauto com

Valley Honda Staunton 800-277-0598 540-213-9016

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 9-5 bwimer@myvalleyhonda com

West Broad Honda Richmond 800-446-0160 804-672-8811

Dept Hours: M-Fri 7:30-6:30; Sat 8-5 wbhonda@aol com

TENNESSEE VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Since introducing Mitchell Diagnostics in 2017, Mitchell International, Inc., an Enlyte company, has received three patents for collision repair diagnostics.

The most recent patent—11,462,061—was awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in October and announced by Mitchell during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The company received its first auto diagnostics patent in 2018 and the second in 2021. The third patent covers the unique methods of using cloud-based technology to bring OEM procedures directly to repair technicians using a diagnostic scan tool.

“The company has continued to enhance its platform with patented and patent-pending technologies designed to assist repairers in meeting the needs of today’s complex vehicles,” said Jack Rozint, Mitchell’s SVP of repair sales. “Our Mitchell Diagnostics patents are just one example of the many things that Mitchell is doing to support

the collision industry in delivering proper, safe and efficient repairs on today’s advanced vehicles, helping to enhance profitability and customer satisfaction.”

Rozint said the latest patent covers key diagnostic workflow enhancements. These include the use of server-based technology to directly link Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) from the scan tool to the associated OEM repair procedure for that code.

With Mitchell Diagnostics, this is accomplished via connection of the scan devices to Mitchell’s cloudbased workflow infrastructure.

This feature was deployed in 2020 through an integration between Mitchell Diagnostics and Mitchell TechAdvisor.

“Linking the DTCs from the scan tool to the associated repair procedure can reduce the time it takes to blueprint and perform collision repairs,” said Rozint. “It can also support technicians in their delivery of a proper and safe repair since they have direct access to the relevant OEM procedures without having to look them up manually.”

When available, the repair

procedures are delivered back to the technician on the scan device. Also included is a way for collision repair facilities to systematically document that the necessary diagnostic and repair procedures were performed. Rozint said allowing shops to upload and easily share diagnostic reports with insurance partners can help

the Diagnostics as a Service (DaaS) platform and integration with Mitchell’s cloud-based solutions, repairers can receive assignments, perform scans, access more than 1,000 dynamic calibration routines, take photos, write estimates, link directly to OEM repair procedures based on DTCs, order parts and manage repair orders. They can also upload standardized scan and calibration reports as well as invoices to share with insurers.

The company said Mitchell Diagnostics has been used to perform more than 4 million pre-, inprocess and post-scans, as well as more than 50,000 dynamic and static calibrations.

At this year’s SEMA Show, Mitchell showcased enhancements made to Mitchell Diagnostics.

expedite claims processing and payment. In addition, repairers have the option to make those reports accessible to vehicle owners so they know the work was completed to OEM standards.

Mitchell Diagnostics was launched in 2017 for the collision repair and automotive claims markets. Through

“The need for diagnostics in collision repair is growing as vehicles get more complex and manufacturers make Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) standard on most new models,” said Rozint. “With our DaaS platform and cloud-based technologies, shops have the tools they need to safely return collisiondamaged vehicles to the road. They

“The company has continued to enhance its platform with patented and patent-pending technologies designed to assist repairers in meeting the needs of today’s complex vehicles,”

JACK ROZINT MITCHELL’S SVP OF REPAIR SALES

can also bring work that they used to sublet in-house, introducing new revenue opportunities for their businesses.”

The company also shared with SEMA Show attendees the enhancements made to Mitchell Cloud Estimating. These include support for the repair of electric vehicles (EVs) and a newly introduced product—Mitchell Cloud Estimating TruckMax—for estimating collision damage to medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

He said the patent-pending EV enhancements are especially timely due to the dramatic growth in EV sales and include new features designed to streamline estimate writing for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Looking ahead, Rozint said the company’s focus remains on providing innovative technology that supports proper, safe and efficient collision repairs.

For more information, visit www. mitchell.com/solutions/autophysical-damage.

State Farm Insurance Donates $125,000 To Convoy of Hope’s Hurricane Ian Response

State Farm Insurance has donated $125,000 to assist disaster relief organization Convoy of Hope in its response to Hurricane Ian.

and Sandy. Experts estimate it will take years for certain areas to recover.

“This generous donation helps Convoy distribute more food, water and supplies to Floridians who were impacted by Hurricane Ian,” said Convoy of Hope’s Jamie Bilton. “We are very grateful for State Farm’s support, and it is our privilege to serve alongside a company that excels at helping people recover from the unexpected.”

To date, Convoy of Hope has served more than 80,000 people in the wake of Hurricane Ian. More than 1,200 volunteers mobilized to help Convoy serve 21 communities in the most affected parts of Florida.

“State Farm is pleased to support Convoy of Hope efforts to help our communities impacted by Hurricane Ian,” said State Farm Corporate Responsibility Director Apsara Sorensen. “Part of our mission is to help people recover from the unexpected. We hope this grant goes a long way in helping our community recover from the hurricane.”

Convoy of Hope has already responded to more than 50 natural disasters this year, in the U.S. and around the world.

Source: Convoy of Hope

Dynabrade Awarded Certification

Dynabrade, Inc., a leading industrial abrasive power tool manufacturer, announced it earned ISO 9001:2015 certification for its quality management system.

ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized quality management standard developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The certification provides a model for companies of all types and sizes to use in creating an effective quality management system.

Dynabrade’s ISO 9001:2015 certificate (#QSR-1915) was issued by Quality System Registrars, the first U.S.accredited registrar of ISO certifications.

Dynabrade’s certification is for providing quality abrasive power tools and process solutions in all industry markets that require material removal and surface finishing.

“Part of our mission is to help people recover from the unexpected. We hope this grant goes a long way in helping our community recover from the hurricane.”

APSARA SORENSEN STATE FARM CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY DIRECTOR

Bill Seidle’s Mitsubishi of Greater Miami Honored As Longest-Standing U.S. Mitsubishi Dealer

Following 40 years of continuous business operations, Bill Seidle’s Mitsubishi, based in Doral, FL, was recently recognized by Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) as the brand’s longeststanding, single-ownership dealer partner in the U.S.

With many communities across Florida just beginning their recovery from Hurricane Ian, the occasion took on greater significance as MMNA President and CEO Mark Chaffin and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Executive Officer for Global Marketing & Sales John Signoriello made a special trip to Florida to celebrate the longevity and resilience of the company’s dealer partner. “We’ve always said that our dealer partners are the backbone of our business, and as our longest-standing dealer partner, Bill Seidle’s Mitsubishi has been a stalwart supporter of the Mitsubishi brand,” said Chaffin. “Over four decades, they have established themselves as both good neighbors and a pillar of respect in their South Florida

community. Now more than ever, and in this region as much as any other location in the world, symbols of perseverance and resilience need to be recognized.”

in the operation. After 39 years, Seidle’s Mitsubishi recently moved into a new location in Doral, and began a major remodel as part of Mitsubishi’s Visual Identity facilities program.

“From the first Tredia, Cordia and Starion on our lot back in 1982 to the upcoming 2023 Outlander PHEV, we’ve seen so many changes over the years, but we’ve never turned our back on Mitsubishi,” said Michael Seidle. “I may not be here in the next 40 years, but my kids and grandkids will be, and I hope they’ll be carrying on the family name and business, continuing to serve this community.”

The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) announced 3M joined in the CIF Annual Donor Program at the Urgent Care tier with a $5,000 pledge.

The Annual Donor Program was designed to bring needed, recurring resources to the foundation, so it can deliver on its mission to ‘Answer the Call’ when those in the industry have been impacted by unforeseen catastrophic events.

The Seidle dealership opened Sept. 9, 1982, in the greater Miami area and has since built a reputation for its customer service by putting the community first. The Seidle family has been in the car business since the 1920s, and today, Dealer Principal Michael Seidle son of the original owner and wife Michelle count four daughters and a son-in-law now involved

New-Vehicle Monthly Payment Hits Another Record High in October

New-vehicle affordability declined again in October with auto loan rates reaching a 20year high as prices increased slightly, according to the Cox Automotive/Moody’s Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index.

The number of median weeks of income needed to purchase the average new vehicle in October increased to 42.8 weeks from an upwardly revised 42.6 weeks in September.

Average Monthly Payment For New Car Hits Another Record High

Supporting affordability, median income grew 0.4%, and incentives from manufacturers increased. All other factors moved against affordability.

The average price paid for a new vehicle in October increased by 0.2% to $48,281, according to Kelley Blue Book. The average interest rate increased another 30 basis points. As a result of these moves, the estimated typical

monthly payment increased by 1.1% to $748, a new record high.

“Higher rates are already shifting access to vehicles and financing towards wealthier consumers,” said Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke. “Affordability will be challenged for years to come in both the new and used markets. It’s not the Fed’s fault, but it will impact consumer access to transportation.”

New-vehicle affordability in October was much worse than a year ago when prices were lower, incentives were higherand interest rates were much lower. The estimated number of weeks of median income needed to purchase the average new vehicle in October was up 7% from last year when the index stood at 40 weeks.

The next update of the Cox Automotive/Moody’s Analytics Vehicle Affordability Index will be published Dec. 15.

Source: Cox Automotive

Separately, to help those who suffered complete losses of vehicles because of Hurricane Ian, MMNA is also offering a $500 incentive valid from Oct. 4 until Jan. 3 toward the purchase of any new 2022 or 2023 Mitsubishi vehicle, valid at Mitsubishi Motors dealer partners located in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Source: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

“As large as the collision industry has grown, it is still a close-knit community one that 3M has been lucky enough to be a part of for well over 100 years. We’re family, friends and neighbors. Supporting shops through good times and bad is just part of our DNA, so working with CIF to help those in need is an easy decision,” said Jason Scharton, global expertise delivery manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket.

“For many years, 3M has been known as a steady supporter of this industry and of the CIF cause. We are grateful that 3M also joined the CIF Annual Donor program,” said Petra Schroeder, “Collisionista” and CIF trustee.

Source: CIF

Bill Seidle’s Mitsubishi, based in Doral, FL, was recently recognized by Mitsubishi as the brand’s longeststanding, single-ownership dealer partner in the U.S.

How Will Results from SCRS ‘Blend’ Study Be Used Moving Forward?

By John Yoswick Autobody News

With the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ release in November of the results of its hands-on study demonstrating that blending of a panel takes an average of 31% more time than a full panel refinish—rather than the 50% less time allocated in the three estimating systems— the association was asked during CIC where the issue goes moving forward.

“Here’s the beauty of CIC: That’s up to you,” Aaron Schulenburg of SCRS said during the conference held during SEMA in Las Vegas. “Our goal was to capture data, and present it in a transparent manner, and to share it with the industry so you can have the dialogue you need to have. I don’t know where that occurs or how that occurs, but I think there’s a big disconnect between what we’ve identified and what exists today.”

The study came about because the three estimating system providers each establish its own refinish labor allowance for any given panel, and while those labor times for the same panel may differ from one estimating system to another, all three companies use 50% as a blend calculation.

“Our members have long challenged that,” Schulenburg said this past summer, before the study was completed.

The association’s 35-page report on the study—which can be downloaded at scrs.com/ blendstudy—details how it was conducted, with painters employed by each of the five major paint companies following their company’s process guidelines for spraying both a full refinish and a blend panel using the same paint colors on new F-150 panels supplied by Ford.

close the [percentage differences] are among all of the companies,” Robb Power, senior manager of refinish solutions for PPG, said at CIC. “I would have never thought it would come in that close. To me, that adds validity to what we see in those results.”

Schulenburg said it’s clearly an issue that needs to be addressed with the information providers, who

the employee who handed out that card may get $500, for example, “and if they stay another six months, they get another $500,” Guthrie said. “Whatever the promotion is that you want to come up with within your own shop. The recruitment card has been a neat little tool for us.”

Guthrie said his company tries to have six to 12 entry-level employees participating in its “earn while you learn” program, which uses a basic curriculum that “starts with the simple EPA/OSHA stuff, and then goes through bumper tools, door panels and bumper repair.” Students learn a skill, then can use it in the shop.

“It takes somebody off the street, teaches them the basics, the theory, and then they go put it into practice,” he said.

Once a student in the program can demonstrate the skill, and has the tools to perform it, they are “signed off for that particular function, whether it’s drilling spot welds or whatever.”

even among insurance companies receiving a similar grade.

Not surprisingly, some of the reasons commonly cited by shops for giving an insurer a low grade were payment-related issues: an insurer seeks “unreasonable” discounts on parts or labor, or is viewed as “slow to pay.”

However, many of the reasons are primarily process-related rather than payment-related. While only 3% of shops grading one insurer said

Across all colors, the average blend time among the five paint lines were between about 128% and about 134% of full refinish time.

“What’s remarkable to me, with all the different [paint] companies and [their] different processes, is how

were invited to attend the SCRS study but who were “not present” over the two days. He said he feels it is an appropriate topic for CIC’s Paint and Materials Committee to address moving forward, but regardless, he said, it “can and should be addressed with the information providers [as] an issue that has been brought to them through our work with different associations…for years.”

“That was the goal from the onset, to capture credible data, to have real conversation, that helps motivate positive change in the industry,” Schulenburg said.

Attracting And Training New Employees

Another panel discussion at CIC in Las Vegas focused on employee recruitment and retention.

Jim Guthrie, president of Car Crafters, which operates five shops in New Mexico, said his company uses a “recruitment card” as part of its effort to attract new employees. Guthrie said all his employees have the cards, which include a QR code that can be scanned to link to the company’s “career page” where someone can fill out and submit an application.

Guthrie said collision repair businesses can develop an internal promotion to encourage employees to hand out the card to potential hires. If a referred potential employee gets hired and stays for six months,

Within two or three years, he said, students are “advanced to a point where they’re basically a B-tech. It’s a way they can earn while they learn.”

Reasons Why Insurers Receive A Low Grade

Also at CIC, John Yoswick of CRASH Network shared data from that publication’s annual “Insurer

they gave that insurer a “C-” or lower because they view that company’s claims staff as inexperienced or poorly trained, for example, more than one in four shops cited that as the reason they gave one of the other insurers a similarly low grade. Almost 80% shops said one insurer requires more digital images than other insurers, but only 27% of shops felt that was true about one of the other insurers receiving a similar low grade.

These findings, Yoswick said, offer insurers “something of a roadmap for improving their relationship with shops without thinking that the only thing that would make shops happier is paying them more money.”

Change In CIC Leadership

Also at CIC in Las Vegas, Darrell Amberson was recognized at the end of his two years serving as chairman of the conference.

Report Card” survey, showing the reasons shops give some insurance companies’ claims practices a lower grade can be based more on the processes that insurer uses rather than payment-related concerns.

The Insurer Report Card allows collision repair professionals to grade the insurance companies they interact with based on how well each carrier’s policies and practices help ensure quality repairs and customer service. The data shared at CIC, from a prior year’s survey completed by more than 1,100 shops, showed differences exist

“We want to thank you for all you’ve done because you’ve certainly raised the bar,” Jeff Hendler, a past CIC chairman who has been CIC administrator, told Amberson.

“Together with our committees and chair people, we work to elevate our industry to higher levels of performance, professionalism, technical expertise and business acumen,” Amberson said of CIC in his closing comments. “I believe we are making a difference.”

Frank Terlep of Auto Techcelerators will begin his term as CIC chairman at the next meeting, being held Jan. 19 in Palm Springs, CA.

Robb Power of PPG said the consistency in the results SCRS blend study among five different paint manufacturers “add validity” to the findings

“That was the goal from the onset, to capture credible data, to have real conversation, that helps motivate positive change in the industry.”

AARON SCHULENBURG SCRS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Darrell Amberson was recognized at CIC in Las Vegas as he concluded his two years as chairman of the conference

A panel discussion at CIC included representatives of all the paint companies that participated in the SCRS “blend study.”

By Stacey Phillips Auotbody News

One of the biggest challenges for collision repair shops across the country is locating OEM repair procedures quickly and costeffectively. To help technicians find the information they need to fix a car properly, SUN Collision Repair Information software was created in 2019 by SUN®, a brand of Snap-on® Incorporated.

Fast forward to the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where the company shared information about the ease in which its software can help repairers locate OEM repair procedures and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) information to help increase efficiency and profits.

“Some vehicles aren’t repaired properly using OEM procedures,” said Chris Bonneau, business manager for SUN. “That could put somebody’s life at risk. We want to make it easier and simpler for shops to fix cars faster, and according to OEM specifications, so they are safe to drive.”

Since the launch of SUN Collision, Bonneau said the company has

been working to ensure the product is user-friendly for technicians and shops, so they can spend less time with the software program and more time fixing vehicles.

“When they are in our program, they aren’t making money,” said Bonneau. “We want them to get the information they need from the OEM and translate that into the repairs, so they aren’t having to spend so much time searching for the content and the right procedures.”

While talking with shops, Bonneau learned many think information is difficult to find because each website is configured differently and requires a unique login. “They also feel they can’t afford to pay for multiple OEM subscriptions,” said Bonneau. “SUN Collision is a cost-effective way to access information in one place.”

The web-based, mobile-friendly product provides comprehensive OEM repair information and procedures for body and frame, paint and finish, and materials for all makes and models of vehicles. To help users find information quickly, the 1Search Plus search engine presents information in a graphical layout. The product also provides interactive wiring diagrams and a link to ADAS

information.

“As ADAS technology becomes more complex and interconnected, repairing ADAS-equipped vehicles presents a greater challenge for collision repair shops,” explained Bonneau.

He said SUN Collision provides the details needed to make it easy to diagnose, repair and calibrate ADAS components such as sensors, cameras, radar systems and control modules.

The database includes a complete lineup of OEM-licensed procedures for both collision and mechanical repairs for 26 standard makes, and is updated regularly. Collision information covers 2004 through 2022 vehicles, and mechanical information dates back to 1964.

Bonneau also shared information about the Tru-Point™ ADAS calibration system launched in January 2021 by John Bean, part of the Snap-On family. The company recently announced purchasers of the calibration system will receive a complimentary two-month subscription to SUN Collision.

“Together, SUN and TRU-Point products provide an all-in-one solution for OEM collision and repair

procedures to help technicians increase productivity,” said Bonneau.

In September, the company announced its partnership with Collision Automotive Repair Services, Inc. (CARS) to offer its collision repair information to members at a discounted price.

Established in 1992, CARS is a stock-based business cooperative that brings collision repair facilities together with vendors and suppliers to gain discounts, rewards, and training on products and services used in their shops.

“We’re excited to partner with the CARS Cooperative and offer a substantial discount to members throughout the United States,” said Bonneau. “Not only will members greatly benefit from the auto repair software, but they’ll also receive a customized training program and best-in-class support to help improve productivity and grow their bottom line.”

For more information, visit suncollision.com.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is advising consumers who are buying used cars to be wary of vehicles that might have suffered flood damage as a result of Hurricane Ian.

“With flood-damaged vehicles likely entering the marketplace in the wake of Hurricane Ian, consumers should take extra precautions when shopping for a used car,” said Carr. “We encourage Georgians to have a trusted mechanic inspect any used vehicle they are thinking of buying before they sign a contract or pay any money.”

Flood-damaged vehicles are often sold at auction and then wind up on used car lots. Generally, a flood-damaged vehicle is declared a total loss by an auto insurer and titled as a “salvage vehicle.”

However, bad actors may try to conceal the damage by engaging in a practice known as “title washing,” whereby they move the vehicle to another state where branding a title as damaged is not required, and then sell the vehicle back in the original state or elsewhere so that the title looks clean. There may be no official record of the

flooding or water damage if a car was uninsured at the time that the damage occurred.

For these reasons, the car dealer that ends up selling the vehicle may not always be aware that the vehicle suffered flood damage in the first place.

Check the vehicle’s history by going to the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NVMTIS). This is the only publicly available database to which all auto insurers, salvage pools that auction off totaled cars, junkyards and auto recyclers in all 50 states are required by federal law to report total loss vehicles within 30 days. Go to vehiclehistory.gov, enter the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and check to see whether the car has been branded as “junk,” “salvage,” “flood,” “rebuilt” or “reconstructed.”

faded fabrics may be a sign of flood damage. A strong detergent smell inside the car or in the engine may indicate someone is trying to mask a mildew smell. Rust and metal flaking are another red flag. Check the upholstery, dashboard, glove compartment, trunk, inner doors, engine area and under the seats and carpeting for mud or silt. Look for drainage holes beneath the car. Test and retest the ignition, lights, wipers, air conditioner, heater and all accessories.

If a vehicle’s body, engine, transmission or mechanical parts have been submerged in water, it will probably have electrical problems and the brakes, airbags and computer system may be impaired. Unfortunately, this damage may not be readily apparent, especially to the average consumer.

There are several things that you can do to avoid buying a flooddamaged vehicle:

The National Insurance Crime Bureau also maintains on its website a partial database of vehicles affected by hurricanes. You can search without charge by either the VIN or the HIN (Hull Identification Number). Keep in mind that this information has not been verified for completeness or accuracy. When you search this database or review the vehicle history report, remember neither is a substitute for a thorough physical inspection.

Look for signs of flood damage. A musty odor, water marks or

Most importantly, have the car inspected by a trusted mechanic who is not affiliated with the dealership selling the vehicle. Have this inspection done before you sign a contract or pay any money.

For additional tips on buying a used vehicle, visit consumered. georgia.gov/buying-car/carshopping/shopping-used-car.

For questions, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling (404) 651-8600 or visit consumer. georgia.gov.

Source: Georgia Office of the Attorney General

Enterprise released its Length of Rental (LOR) report for the third quarter of 2022, showing the average for collision replacementrelated rentals was 18.2 days, representing a three-day increase from Q3 2021’s 15.2 days.

Last year, when Enterprise compared Q3 2021 to Q3 2020, the results showed a 2.9-day rise. This represents almost six full days in the last 24 months.

As Enterprise previously observed in Q2 2022, signs were pointing toward seasonal norms, albeit with higher overall totals. This trend continued; the half-day increase from Q2 2022 (17.7 days) is in line with historical results. For example, in Q3 2021, results were two full days higher than Q2 2021.

Louisiana recorded the highest overall LOR at 22.2 days, a 3.5-day increase from Q3 2021. Georgia and Oklahoma were both at 21 days, a 3.9- and 3.5-day increase, respectively. Rhode Island, Alaska, Colorado and Texas all had results greater than 20 days. Eleven other states were greater than 19 days.

On the other hand, North Dakota had the lowest LOR for Q3 2022 at 13.0 days, a 1.3-day increase from Q3 2021. It was followed by Hawaii (13.7), Iowa (13.9), Washington, D.C. (14.7) and Vermont (15.1).

John Yoswick, editor of the weekly CRASH Network newsletter, reported a CRASH Network survey in June found the vast majority of shops (85%) are currently looking to fill at least one position in their facility, up from 79% a year ago.

Body technicians, including helpers, remain the most needed positions in shops. Most shops (67%) are currently searching for at least one body technician (up 5 percentage points from three years ago, pre-pandemic), and 38% of shops are looking to hire a body helper (up 7 percentage points from both a year ago and three years ago).

Drivable

For rentals associated with a drivable repair, average LOR was 15.7 days, a 2.6-day increase from Q3 2021.

Louisiana had the highest drivable LOR at 18.6 days, followed by Oklahoma (18.4), Georgia (18.4) and Rhode Island (18.0). Seven other states were greater than 17 days, with another eight above 16 days.

Washington (16.5) had the largest drivable LOR increase, up four days, while Colorado (17.1) and Arkansas (16.7) were both up 3.8 days over

Q3 2021.

North Dakota also had the lowest LOR for drivable claims, coming in at 9.9 days, a 0.4-day increase from Q3 2021. The next lowest result was Hawaii at 11.2 days (up 0.5) and Iowa at 11.5 (up 1.4).

Hawaii did have the highest total loss LOR at 23.2 days, followed by Washington (21.3) and Louisiana (21.0).

North Dakota was lowest at 14.3 days, followed by Iowa (14.8) and Florida (15.2).

Summary

While Q3 2022 suggests the return of historical trending, the results themselves continue to be exacerbated by supply chain disruptions, parts delays, collision repair backlogs, claims process challenges and technician shortages.

And with the complexity of vehicle repairs only increasing, for both internal combustion engine (ICE) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) models, the entire industry must play a part in ensuring all collisionrelated businesses are aligned not just for procedural solutions, but to ensure our mutual customers receive safe and proper repairs, and excellent experience and peace of mind.

Non-Drivable

Non-drivable rental LOR was 27.2 days, a 5.3-day increase from Q3 2021. Twelve states had nondrivable LORs greater than 30 days, led by Louisiana (34.3), Alaska (34.2), Colorado (32.2), and Oklahoma (32.0).

Washington’s results of 31.9 days represented the largest year-overyear increase at 10.3 days higher that Q3 2021.

Including Washington, 34 states plus Washington, D.C., saw increases greater than five full days from Q3 2021.

The District of Columbia had the lowest non-drivable LOR at 22.2 days, which was still an increase of 5.1 days from Q3 2021. New York (23.2 days) and Iowa (23.6) had the next-lowest results.

Yoswick said the repair backlog has an outsized impact on nondrivable repairs.

“Shops continue to struggle with high levels of work-in-progress (WIP): jobs stalled because of parts delays or other issues or nondrivable vehicles waiting in the queue,” Yoswick said.

Total Loss

LOR for rentals associated with a total loss claim was 17.8 days, a modest 1.6-day increase from Q3 2021.

There was a wide variance across the country in relation to Q3 2021; on one end of the table is Hawaii with an increase of 7.3 days, with Washington, D.C. (-2.4) and Alabama (-1.1) on the other end.

With the historic flooding and devastation brought on by Hurricane Ian, Enterprise expects to see impacts to Florida’s results in the months to come.

Source: Enterprise

Spanesi Americas Introduces FLASH Portable Pulling Column

By Stacey Phillips Auotbody News

Built to be portable, powerful and flexible, the FLASH Portable Pulling Column was introduced by Spanesi Americas for the collision repair industry. The company showcased the patent-pending product during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV.

Timothy W. Morgan, COO of Spanesi Americas, Inc., said the FLASH is a vacuum-powered tower that uses the shop’s compressed air system (minimum of 102psi required) to create a vacuum seal to the flooring surface, delivering 550 pounds of pulling force using a heavyduty ratcheting system. The FLASH features an adjustable pulling height setup providing precise pulling for straight or down-pulling applications.

“This is a game-changer for collision repair facilities,” said Morgan. “Technicians no longer need to move the vehicle to a bench, frame rack or floor pot to perform light pulling duties on vehicles.”

With the FLASH, he said technicians have the flexibility to repair vehicles in tight spaces with the exact angles needed to remove vehicle damage. Using built-in rear

wheels allows the FLASH to be relocated within the repair facility so there is no need for anchoring to floor pots or moving the vehicle to a frame rack to perform a dent pull.

“With shop footprints becoming smaller, you need to maximize space,” said Morgan. “The FLASH is easy to use and works anywhere, so it is time efficient and can help shops save costs.”

Motors, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada.

Spanesi Americas also displayed its award-winning TOUCH electronic measuring system, the 106EXT structural straightening bench, the MULTIBENCH single-bay repair solution, the Q5.2 three torch MIG/ MAG welding machine, and the PULL UP! repair systems for glue-based cosmetic and structural pulling.

With a range of equipment built for collision repairers, Morgan shared that in late October, Spanesi America’s received OEM certification approval from Lucid Motors. Approved Spanesi products include the 106 and 106EXT Structural Straightening Benches and the TOUCH electronic measuring system. Each piece of equipment underwent stringent reviews for data accuracy by Lucid Motors before being approved for the program.

The company is working to ensure it is at the forefront of vehicle repairs.

industry. Founding partners include the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), BASF and KTL Restorations.

“Spanesi has helped spread the word about Operative Talent and they are also donating equipment to get shops involved with supporting the raffle,” said Brandon Eckenrode, CREF’s managing director. “In addition to Operative Talent, Tim and Spanesi have been long-standing CREF supporters.”

As a sponsor, Spanesi plans to raffle a measuring system and donate the money to Operative Talent. The team also hopes to bring young people into their Chicago, IL, facility and teach them how to measure vehicles and weld.

During SEMA, Spanesi Americas raffled off four FLASH portable pulling columns. The winners were Gene Lopez, Siedner’s Collision Center, CA; Manuel Lim, Fixit Auto Body, CA; Nicole Craig, Coachworks, AZ; and Daniel Trevisanutto, Half-Way

“We understand the importance of working closely with the auto manufacturers to be able to repair a car properly,” said Morgan.

Another development is Spanesi America’s partnership with Operative Talent. Launched this year, Operative Talent was formed to engage and attract future talent to the automotive

“They need hands-on experience to determine if this is the path they want to take,” said Morgan, who started in the industry when he was 14 years old and wants to encourage young people to learn about the opportunities available in the industry. “We’re really excited about being part of this initiative.

“The industry has been given a bad rap that it’s a dirty job, but it’s not,” he said. “It can be a very fulfilling career.”

For more information, visit www. spanesi-americas.com.

Members of the Spanesi Americas team included, pictured, left to right: Timothy Morgan, Jeramy Holloway, Aaron Sworden, Fred Randazzo, Robert Wells, Constantino Uliano and Karl Kirschenmen

Insurify released its 2022 Auto Insurance Trends Report: Who’s Paying More for Coverage, the first part of a two-part report that comprehensively covers 2022’s unique car insurance landscape.

Insurify’s report leverages more than 40 million car insurance rates from proprietary car insurance applications across the U.S. It details who is paying more for car insurance in 2022, surveys drivers on how they’re managing rising vehicle costs and provides drivers with expert advice on how they can save.

The report showed the average American is spending $1,705 per year on auto insurance in 2022, up 4% from 2021 and a whopping 17% from 2020.

Michigan drivers pay the most for car insurance, spending $2,510 per year on average $805 more than the national average and $1,748 more than the yearly average of $762 in Hawaii, the cheapest state for auto insurance. Across the country, drivers pay 5% less for coverage just for being married, and up to 17% less if they own their home.

“Since 2016, Insurify has provided Americans with the most

comprehensive and accurate selection of auto insurance quotes,” said  Snejina Zacharia, Insurify’s CEO and founder. “Our annual data reflects the state of the nation’s economy through an insurance lens, and our 2022 report illustrates how rising inflation and recent interest rate hikes are affecting the American public and how they are responding.”

Key Findings From The Report Include:

• Luxury, Electric Cars Priciest to Insure

• Tesla Model 3 owners have the second-most expensive car insurance premiums of any vehicle model in 2022, according to Insurify data. Model 3 drivers are spending $3,040 per year for auto insurance $1,335 more than the national average. The Infiniti Q5 is the most expensive vehicle to insure in 2022 with an average premium of $3,149 per year.

• Northeast Drivers Pay Up for Coverage

Northeast drivers are also paying more for car insurance in 2022.

Five Northeast states New York, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut

and New Jersey rank among the 10 most expensive states for auto insurance. The average driver in one of these states is paying $2,220 per year for coverage, $515 more than the national average.

Ways Americans Are Considering Cutting Insurance Costs

In the face of rising vehicle ownership costs, the report also found 65% of Americans are considering driving less and 10% are thinking about dropping their car insurance coverage altogether, despite the serious legal and financial risks of driving without insurance.

Americans Are Additionally Considering The Following Actions To Save On Vehicle Insurance, Fuel And Maintenance Expenses In 2022:

• 30% of drivers are thinking about purchasing a hybrid or electric vehicle

• 30% of drivers are considering switching to a different insurance provider

• 16% of drivers are thinking about moving to a different location with

better public transportation and walkability

For Americans, the insurance market’s current volatility likely won’t stabilize until at least mid-2023, according to  Betsy Stella, Insurify’s vice president of insurance partnerships.

“Based on our comprehensive research and feedback from over 100 carriers, the general consensus is that it will be eight to 12 months [from fall 2022] before the market stabilizes,” Stella said. “Some think it could be several years before a soft market returns.” With prices potentially on the rise for the foreseeable future, Insurify’s experts recommend comparing quotes from at least four to five insurance companies every six months or so to find the best policy for their needs.

Drivers should also explore any discounts for which they might qualify, including bundling home and auto insurance and taking a senior driving training course. According to Insurify data, a single discount can lower car insurance premiums by up to 15%, amounting to yearly savings of $258 for the average driver

Source: Insurify

Federal, state and local law enforcement partners from across the U.S. executed a nationwide, coordinated takedown Nov. 2 of leaders and associates of a national network of thieves, dealers and processors for their roles in conspiracies involving stolen catalytic converters sold to a metal refinery for tens of millions of dollars.

Arrests, searches and seizures took place in California, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina and Virginia. In total, 21 individuals in five states have been arrested and/or charged for their roles in the conspiracy.

The 21 defendants are charged in two separate indictments unsealed Nov. 2 in the Eastern District of California and the Northern District of Oklahoma following extensive law enforcement arrest and search operations.

In addition to the indictments, more than 32 search warrants were executed, and law enforcement seized millions of dollars in assets, including homes, bank accounts, cash and luxury vehicles.

“Amidst a rise in catalytic converter thefts across the country, the Justice Department has today carried out an operation arresting 21 defendants and executing 32 search warrants in a nationwide takedown of a multimillion-dollar catalytic converter theft network,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to work alongside our state and local partners to disrupt criminal conspiracies like this one that target the American people.”

Catalytic converters use precious metals in their core and are regularly targeted for theft due to the high value of these metals, especially palladium, platinum and rhodium.

Some of these precious metals are more valuable per ounce than gold and their value has been increasing in recent years. The black-market price for catalytic converters can be above $1,000 each, depending on the type of vehicle and what state it is from.

They can be stolen in less than a minute. Additionally, catalytic converters often lack unique serial numbers, VIN information or other distinctive identification features, making them difficult to trace to their lawful owner. Thus, the theft of catalytic converters has become increasingly popular because of their value, relative ease to steal and their lack of identifying markings.

Eastern District Of California Case

A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of California returned a

40-count indictment charging nine defendants with conspiracy to transport stolen catalytic converters, conspiracy to commit money laundering and other related charges.

According to court documents, brothers Tou Sue Vang, 31, and Andrew Vang, 27, and Monica Moua, 51, all of Sacramento, CA, allegedly operated an unlicensed business from their personal residence in Sacramento, where they bought stolen catalytic converters from local thieves and shipped them to DG Auto Parts LLC in New Jersey for processing. The Vang family allegedly sold more than $38 million in stolen catalytic converters to DG Auto.

Defendants Navin Khanna, aka Lovin Khanna, 39; Tinu Khanna, aka Gagan Khanna, 35; Daniel Dolan, 44; Chi Mo, aka David Mo, 37; Wright Louis Mosley, 50; and Ishu Lakra, 24, all of New Jersey, operated DG Auto in multiple locations in New Jersey. They knowingly purchased stolen catalytic converters and, through a “de-canning” process, extracted the precious metal powders from the catalytic core. DG Auto sold the precious metal powders it processed from California and elsewhere to a metal refinery for

over $545 million.

Northern District Of Oklahoma Case

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Oklahoma returned a 40-count indictment charging 13 defendants with conspiracy to receive stolen catalytic converters, conspiracy to commit money laundering and other related charges.

According to court documents, together the defendants bought stolen catalytic converters from thieves on the street, then re-sold and shipped them to DG Auto in New Jersey for processing.

Over the course of the conspiracy, defendant Tyler James Curtis received more than $13 million in wired funds from DG Auto for the shipment of catalytic converters and received more than $500,000 from Capital Cores for catalytic converters.

Defendant Adam G. Sharkey received more than $45 million in wired funds from DG Auto. And defendant Martynas Macerauskas received more than $6 million in payments from DG Auto for catalytic converters. In all these incidents, most of the catalytic converters sold to DG Auto were stolen, and DG Auto knew or should have known that

when they paid for them.

The 13 defendants are Navin Khanna, 39, of Holmdel, NJ; Adam Sharkey, 26, of West Islip, NY; Robert Gary Sharkey, 57, of Babylon, NY; Tyler James Curtis, 26, of Wagoner, OK; Benjamin Robert Mansour, 24, of Bixby, OK; Reiss Nicole Biby, 24, of Wagoner, OK; Martynas Macerauskas, 28, of Leila Lake, TX; Kristina McKay Macerauskas, 21, of Leila Lake, TX; Parker Star Weavel, 25, of Tahlequah, OK; Shane Allen Minnick, 26, of Haskell, OK; Ryan David LaRue, 29, of Broken Bow, OK; Brian Pate Thomas, 25, of Choteau, OK; and Michael Anthony Rhoden, 26, of Keifer, OK.

Trial Attorney Danbee C. Kim of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Veronica M.A. Alegría for the Eastern District of California, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger and David Nasar for the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the cases.

The FBI Sacramento, IRS-CI Sacramento, HSI Tulsa and IRS-CI Tulsa are investigating the cases.

— Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Collision Repairers Learn How to Negotiate with Insurers to

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

Negotiating with insurers is just part of the repair process and nothing to dread, according to Mike Anderson of Collision Advice.

Anderson and Danny Gredinberg, of the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG), presented “BulletProof Negotiation Tactics” Nov. 2 at the 2022 SEMA Show, part of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education series.

“I’m seeing more and more friction between shops and insurers,” Anderson said. “The goal is to give you negotiation strategies to reduce that friction and get paid more.”

Anderson and Gredinberg gave tips on how to approach negotiations from a fact-based standpoint—with documentation, and where to find it—and finally discussed a collision repairer’s options when an insurer still won’t pay for work.

Anderson said anyone can get a copy of the full presentation by emailing his assistant, Tiffany Driggers, at tiffany@collisionadvice. com.

“This presentation is in no way anti-

insurance,” Anderson said.

Many people make the mistake of thinking of negotiations as a negative thing, like a fight or an argument, he said, but they’re a discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.

Repairers must negotiate on things like labor times, not-included labor operations, labor rates, alternative parts usage and more, Anderson said.

The negotiation begins the moment you interact with the customer, he said. “The customer is really the boss. Get the customer believing in you before you enter into conversation with the payer.”

Anderson suggested reviewing the vehicle’s owner’s manual with the owner, to show the owner exactly what the automaker says must be done to properly complete the repair.

If your shop is not in a DRP and the insurance company is causing a delay, call the customer every day, Gredinberg said.

“Tell the customer their car is on hold after disassembling, and they may want to call to expedite the claim,” Anderson said. “After you’ve called them two or three days, the customer will call and either get their insurance to pay, or they’ll pay

it themselves. Either way, you get the car out.”

When writing an estimate, it needs to tell a story, with good line notes and quality photos. Attach OEM repair procedures to the estimate, as they can change frequently.

Anderson then went over his “Rules of Negotiation.”

Your Opinion Don’T Mean Jack “It only matters what you can prove, substantiate or justify,” he said.

Don’T Take The Bait

“When insurers say, ‘No one else charges for that, you’re the only one,’ they’re baiting you,” he said. “Say, ‘I don’t care what anyone else charges for, I want to stick to the facts.’”

Present The Facts

Is it required to restore the car to preaccident condition? Is it included in any other labor operation? Is there a pre-determined time in the database? If not, what is it worth?

“These are questions based on fact, not emotions,” Anderson said.

Prove It

Use OEM repair procedures; estimating systems; credible internet

sources like SCRS, I-CAR, ASE and OEM websites; manufacturer bulletins; scan tools; the vehicle manual; DEGweb.org; and Collision Advice’s “Who Pays for What” surveys to find documentation supporting your position.

If the insurer still is not convinced, the options for the repairer are to perform the operation for free, charge the customer, refuse the job, ask for a hold harmless agreement, right to appraisal, involve the agent or have the customer come on-site and meet with the insurer, but prep the customer first.

“At the end of the day, remember: do you want easy, or do you want worth it?” Anderson said. “This is not a magic bullet, but it’ll increase your chances of reimbursement.”

Across the U.S., vehicle theft totals are approaching near record highs and new analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) indicates these trends show no signs of slowing down.

Vehicle theft data, provided by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and analyzed by NICB, indicates more than 745,000 vehicles have been stolen in the first three quarters of 2022, with more than 250,000 having been reported to law enforcement since the end of June. This is a 24% increase compared to this same time period in 2019. If this trend continues, totals could exceed 1 million stolen vehicles nationally by the end of the year and surpass pre-pandemic highs by more than 100,000 stolen vehicles.

“The year may be coming to an end, but criminals are not going on winter break,” said David Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB. “Even as temperatures drop, vehicle owners everywhere need to know that the criminals are still on the hunt.”

Vehicle thefts in the U.S. are

the highest they have been since 2008. According to previous analysis by the NICB, vehicle thefts tend to increase in the last three months of the year during the holiday season. If history repeats itself once again, the U.S. will see thefts trending around yearly highs through the end of the year.

“Remember, practicing good security hygiene is an easy and effective first step all of us can take to protect ourselves and our vehicles,” said Glawe. “Don’t leave your car running and unattended. Always take your keys with you and most importantly, make sure your auto policy is up to date. It is that simple.”

Should your vehicle be stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately. Reporting a vehicle as soon as possible after it is stolen increases the chance of recovery.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, call the NICB at 1-800-TEL-NICB. For additional information, visit NICB’s website, WWW.NICB.org.

Source: NICB

ALABAMA

Benchmark Automotive

Birmingham, AL 35210

Toll-Free: (800) 633-4304 Phone: (205) 823-5237 Fax: (888) 815-5238

GEORGIA

Troncalli Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 818 Atlanta Road Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 889-8951

MISSISSIPPI

Mac Haik Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

5395 I-55 North Jackson, MS 39206 (601) 500-5576

SOUTH CAROLINA

Spartanburg Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 8200 Fairforest Road Spartanburg, SC 29303 (800) 849-3691

Stateline Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram 800 Gold Hill Road Fort Mill, SC 29745 (800) 533-5844

VIRGINIA Safford

Jeep Dodge Ram 10671 Patriot Hwy. Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Phone: (540) 735-1130 Fax: (540) 891-9685

VIRGINIA

Ram 102 Orchard Park Road Hurricane, WV 25526 (800) 888-8264

By John Yoswick Auotbody News

While inflation, supply chain issues and labor shortages have many on edge about the U.S. economy, Christopher Thornberg offered a fairly positive message to collision repairers at the MSO Symposium in Las Vegas on Oct. 31.

pandemic, but even back in 2019.

“Look, take a step back and recognize that these stories you are seeing year after year are a hell of a lot scarier than the world around us,” Thornberg said. “So beware the narrative. We live in odd times, but it’s not a recession, and indeed I don’t expect any kind of recession in the near term. There is so much pent-up consumer demand in our economy right now.”

He acknowledged higher interest rates are cooling off home prices, but “the fundamentals of real estate are actually still very good right now.”

Inflation will burn out on its own, he said. While an inflationary economy is brittle—“If a real shock does pop up, it could cause real problems”— “the scariest thing to me is still the narrative,” he said.

driving. The federal funds rate does not keep people from getting on the road.”

No Quick Drop In Shops’ Backlog Forecast

Also offering mostly good news for body shops moving into 2023 was Bart Mazurek, vice president of consulting services for CCC Intelligent Solutions’ automotive services group. He told MSO Symposium attendees he doesn’t expect the record-high

mid-next year will start to come back down. But I don’t anticipate them going much below four weeks.”

He said claims counts this year are running ahead of 2021 but still aren’t what they were in 2019, in part because downtown traffic and morning commute congestion in major urban markets is still down compared to 2019.

“I don’t anticipate repair volume to come back to pre-pandemic levels maybe ever,” Mazurek said. “A lot of that has to do with vehicles getting smarter, and with ADAS being standard on every new vehicle. Especially in terms of front-end collisions, they’re going to become less frequent and more costly.”

CHRISTOPHER

FOUNDER

Thornberg, who holds a doctorate in business economics from UCLA and is founder of Beacon Economics in California, said those worried

For collision repairers, a slowdown in the construction industry will free up shipping container capacity for other goods, likely easing supply chain issues, Thornberg said. And someone who finds themselves priced out of the housing market may decide to buy a new car instead.

average backlog of work at body shops across the country to decline much before mid-2023 at the earliest. The labor shortage is a key cause, he said, and there’s actually been some decline in enrollment and graduate counts in collision training programs.

“While supply chain issues will alleviate [next year], that’s not going to cut these backlogs in half,” Mazurek said. “Realistically, they will probably get worse in the interim, and then

That said, strong used vehicle values have kept the percentage of those claims resulting in a total loss vehicle declining the past two years. In the fourth quarter of 2020, total losses accounted for 21.7% of the total claims count, according to CCC data; by the third quarter of this year, that was down to 17%.

GEORGIA NO. CAROLINA

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

Troncalli Subaru Cumming

(770) 889-8951 Direct (678) 341-4220 Fax (678) 341-4221 www.troncallisubaru.com

NO. CAROLINA

Flow Subaru Winston-Salem (800) 489-3534 (336) 725-3554 Fax Mon.-Fri. 8-5; Sat. 8-1 subarupartsws@flowauto.com www.flowsubaru.com

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

Economist Christopher Thornberg told collision repairers, “The federal funds rate does not keep people from getting on the road.”

“We live in odd times, but it’s not a recession, and indeed I don’t expect any kind of recession in the near-term.”

THORNBERG

OF BEACON ECONOMICS

Boyd Group Services Inc. Reports 3Q Financial Results

Boyd Group Services Inc. on Nov. 9 announced the results for the three- and nine-month periods ended Sept. 30.

The Boyd Group’s third quarter 2022 financial statements and MD&A have been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). This news release is not in any way a substitute for reading Boyd’s financial statements, including notes to the financial statements, and Boyd’s Management’s Discussion & Analysis.

Results and Highlights for the Third Quarter:

Sales increased by 27.6% to $625.7 million from $490.2 million in the same period of 2021, including same-store sales increases of 21.9%. The third quarter of 2022 recognized the same number of selling and production days when compared to the same period of 2021. Sales were modestly impacted by Hurricane Ian, with an estimated negative impact of $2.1 million during the third quarter.

Gross Profit increased by 30.9% to $282.3 million or 45.1% of sales

sales in the same period in 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 41.8% to $73.0 million, or 11.7% of sales, compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $51.5 million, or 10.5% of sales in the same period of 2021, which included $0.5 million of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Adjusted net earnings increased to $12.1 million, compared with $2.4 million in the same period of 2021 and adjusted net earnings per share increased to $0.56, compared with $0.11 in the same period of 2021.

Net earnings increased to $11.9 million, compared with $0.4 million in the same period of 2021 and net earnings per share increased to $0.55, compared with $0.02 in the same period of 2021.

Debt, net of cash before lease liabilities decreased from $414.4 million at Dec. 31, 2021, to $314.6 million at Sept. 30, 2022.

Declared third quarter dividend in the amount of C$0.144 per share.

Rolled out the expanded Wow Operating Way practices to

Added eight locations, including six through acquisition, one startup location and one intake center.

Subsequent To Quarter End

Added five locations.

All Gerber Collision & Glass locations temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ian, in Florida and South Carolina, have re-opened. The impact of these closures on the fourth quarter results and the ability to recover some of the costs through insurance is being assessed; however, the impact on fourth quarter sales has been lower than that recorded in the third quarter results.

Announced a new executive vice president and COO for the collision business.

Announced a dividend increase of 2.1% to $0.588 per share annualized from $0.576 per share annualized.

Achieved growth in the Technician Development Program, from approximately 200 apprentices at the beginning of 2022 to 400 apprentices.

Source: Boyd Group Services, Inc.

The Auto Care Alliance (ACA) announced a new resource for the aftermarket automotive industry.

The ACA Industry Events Calendar is an available resource for shop owners, technicians, educators and vendors to stay up-to-date with the latest conferences and expos throughout the U.S.

“We found that there wasn’t a comprehensive listing of industry events available. This will provide not only be a valuable resource for industry professionals but will also assist organizations in scheduling future events so as to not conflict with other industry events,” said Sheri Hamilton, executive director for the Auto Care Alliance.

The calendar can be found at www.autocarealliance.org/ industry-events.

Companies and organizations can submit their events to be included by completing the submission form included on the site.

Source: Auto Care Alliance

The National Auto Body Council® made a big splash raindrops and high winds included during its 2022 NABC SEMA Celebration at this year’s SEMA Show on the SEMA Reveal main stage outside the Las Vegas Convention Center.

industry’s Hall of Fame, which honors exceptional individuals whose longterm efforts have reached beyond their jobs and self-interest to make significant contributions towards the betterment of the industry.

The 2021 and 2022 Hall of Eagles inductees are Dan Risley, Petra Schroeder, Doug Webb, Tim Adelmann and Frank Terlep

NABC® Awards Announced NABC® then presented its annual awards the NABC Changing and Saving Lives award and the NABC President’s Award.

Alex Ramirez, U.S. Navy veteran, nominated by Forgotten Not Gone, received a 2017 Nissan Sentra donated by GEICO and repaired by Caliber Collision.

John Bush, U.S. Army veteran, selected by U.S. Vets, received a 2018 Kia Optima donated by GEICO and repaired by Service King/Crash Champions.

Rosemary Smith, U.S. Army veteran, nominated by Welcome Home Troops, received a 2019 Honda HR-V also donated by GEICO and repaired by Service King/Crash Champions.

Ofelia Valencia Chavez, U.S. Army National Guard active duty, selected by Las Vegas Vet Center, received a 2016 Jeep Renegade donated by Farmers and repaired by Classic Collision.

Angelique Corrente, minister and caregiver for her nephew, nominated by Lake Mead Christian Ministries, received a 2015 Hyundai Tucson donated by Nationwide and repaired by Faulkner Collision.

The celebration showcased NABC annual awards, the Hall of Eagles recipients and the NABC Recycled Rides presentation to nine deserving Las Vegas families. The 2022 NABC SEMA Celebration was held Nov. 2 right in front of the world’s largest automotive aftermarket event. More than 300 NABC members, guests and colleagues joined in the celebration. Alan Taylor of “The Drive” radio network was the emcee for the event.

The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Award recognizes the individual in the collision repair industry who has delivered exemplary service in the NABC mission of Changing and Saving Lives Every Day, far beyond their role in the industry.

Michael Quinn was selected as the recipient, and his daughter Emily accepted on his behalf.

Recognition Of NABC F R E E 5,000th First Responder

The event kicked off with the recognition of a special milestone in the NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication program, which recently saw it’s 5,000th first responder participate in an education event.

Kyle Medeiros, chair of the NABC F.R.E.E. committee, and George Avery, NABC F.R.E.E. program manager, joined Faulkner Collision and collision center manager April Lausch, and Nationwide Insurance associate vice presidents Scott Dunfee and Scott Sherry, who donated 10 vehicles, to recognize Jamie Keenhold, an EMT and first responder with the Bath, PA, Firefighters and Ambulance Corp.

Hall Of Eagles For 2021 And 2022 Inducted

The next milestone was the recognition of the industry leaders who comprise the Hall of Eagles, the collision

The NABC President’s Award, which formally recognizes companies for their leadership of and commitment to improving the collision repair industry, is designed to honor the NABC member company that supports the vision of the NABC through donation of their time and resources. Enterprise Rent-a-Car was voted as the recipient, and Scott Sampley, vice president of replacement and leisure division for Enterprise, accepted on behalf of the organization.

NABC Recycled Rides Presented To Nine Recipients

Then, attention turned to the NABC Recycled Rides presentation, featuring vehicle donors GEICO, Farmers Insurance®, Travelers, Allstate, Enterprise, Nationwide and Hertz, and collision repair partners Caliber Collision, Fix Auto USA, Crash Champions/Service King, Chapman Collision, Classic Collision, Faulkner Collision and Gerber Collision.

The Recipients Included:

Porsche Harris, single mother with three children, selected by Family Promise of Las Vegas, received a 2017 Kia Sedona donated by Travelers and repaired by Fix Auto USA.

Victoria Earwin, single mother with two children, selected by Family Promise of Las Vegas, received a 2020 Jeep Cherokee donated by Enterprise and prepared for presentation by Chapman Collision.

Tony Carriedo, single father of one, nominated by Family Promise of Las Vegas, received a 2020 Nissan Altima donated by Hertz and repaired by Chapman Collision.

Katherine Hall, single mother of two, selected by Family Promise of Las Vegas, received a 2019 Nissan Sentra donated by Allstate and repaired by Gerber Collision and Glass.

When each recipient opened their trunk they found a car care kit donated by Meguiar’s, and those with young children received car seats donated by Enterprise partner Longhouse Solutions.

Source: NABC

Pictured, left to right, are Debbie Teter, Scott Sampley, Emily Quinn, Stacy Bartnik and Clint Marlow.

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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

*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.

General Motors announced the finalization of energy sourcing agreements required to secure 100% of the energy needed to power all its U.S. facilities by 2025.

This is in line with the accelerated target announced in September 2021, which is five years ahead of the 2030 target announced in early 2021 and 25 years ahead of the initial target of 2050, set in 2016.

By achieving this accelerated goal, GM expects to avoid the production of an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon emissions that would have been produced between 2025 and 2030, equal to the emissions produced by burning 1 billion pounds of coal.

“We believe it is critical---to ourselves, to our customers and to the future of the planet---to step up our efforts and reach ambitious targets that move us closer to a more sustainable world,” says Kristen Siemen, GM chief sustainability officer. “Securing the renewable energy we need to achieve our goal demonstrates tangible progress in reducing our emissions in all aspects of our business, ultimately moving us closer to our vision of a

future with zero emissions.”

Sourcing renewable energy is a critical component of GM’s plans to decarbonize. The company’s renewable energy strategy is rooted in four pillars:

1. Increasing Energy Efficiency: GM’s energy goals begin with reducing energy consumption by improving energy efficiency. For 11 years, GM has been awarded the EPA Energy Star Sustained Excellence Award for its energy efficiency efforts.

2. Sourcing Renewables: While it works to minimize the amount of energy required to run its facilities, GM also sources renewable energy through direct investment, on-site generation, green tariffs and power purchase agreements. This is the main way through which GM is achieving its renewable energy goal.

3. Addressing Intermittency: GM is creating technology to store renewable energy over the medium and long term, so its power consumption is not disrupted by external fluctuations.

4. Policy Advocacy: Policy efforts are essential to expand transmission, create microgrids that help deploy renewable energy and enable markets to price these solutions to enable a carbonfree resilient power system. GM supports policies that enable a carbon-free, resilient power system.

GM’s renewable energy portfolio now includes sourcing agreements from 16 renewable energy plants across 10 states, continuing to lead all automotive OEMs as the largest offtaker of renewable power in the industry. Since 2017, the portfolio has also produced over $75 million of positive cash flows.

In 2019, GM became a founding member of what is now known as the Clean Energy Buyers Association—the largest group of corporate renewable energy buyers in the U.S. CEBA brings companies together to unlock market access, helping organizations of all sizes find cost-effective pathways to buying renewable energy.

“General Motors has been a trailblazer in corporate clean energy procurement for

manufacturing facilities for over a decade,” said Miranda Ballentine , CEO of the Clean Energy Buyers Association. “Today’s announcement of securing the energy needed to achieve their 2025 goal is another example of their leadership. But even more impressive has been GM’s commitment to sharing their learnings and guiding other corporations who want to follow their lead. In a world of high competition, this communityorientation is truly wonderful.”

In 2021, GM announced its Science Based Targets for emissions reduction, as well as plans to become carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. In addition, the company plans to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new U.S. light-duty vehicles by 2035. GM has committed to invest $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles through 2025, with plans to reach more than 1 million units of annual EV capacity in each of North America and China by the end of 2025.

Source: GM

Equalizer® Gives Back This Holiday Season

Equalizer® is opening up its Tools for Techs program once again this holiday season to go along with its donation to Toys for Tots, to gift a tech with some extra Christmas cheer.

From now until Dec. 14, Equalizer will donate a portion of proceeds from the products included in its Glass Removal Kit (GRK551) to the Toys for Tots Austin, TX, organization.

In addition to Toys for Tots, Equalizer® is asking for nominations for a deserving auto glass installer in its Tools for Techs program. The winning nomination(s) will receive a Glass Removal Kit with their choice of removal tool, such as an Equalizer Ambush™, BlackHawk™, Viper™, Raptor™ or Transformer™ worth up to $2,359 in value.

Submit your nomination for an honorable tech who is deserving of a special start to the new year at equalizer.com/tools-fortechs-2

Source: Equalizer

EV Sales Hit Record, According To Kelley Blue Book

Sales of electrified vehicles hit a record in Q3 2022, as one of the hottest segments in the U.S. automotive market continues to make waves throughout the industry, according to Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company.

compared to a year ago in September 2021. The average new EV price last month was $65,291, according to Kelley Blue Book, which is well above the industry average and aligns more with luxury versus mainstream prices.

Despite the high price tags for EVs, consumer interest is not showing any signs of slowing.

the EV segment slumped lower in Q3, although at 64% share, “lower” is a relative term. Declining share was inevitable for Tesla as more players entered the marketplace, but for now, the brand remains the leader among EVs.

More than 200,000 electrified vehicles were sold in the threemonth span of Q3 a first with the segment far outpacing the rest of the industry in terms of sales volumes and share growth.

The high cost of electrified vehicles does not appear to deter car shoppers. While electrified vehicle prices declined slightly (1.8%) month over month from August to September, EV prices were up 9.7% in September

“Electrified vehicles continue to be the darling of the industry, with the growing marketplace and consumer interest now reflected in record sales numbers,” said Brian Moody, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book. “While EV prices currently align more closely with luxury versus mainstream, the market continues to grow and evolve with more choices hitting the scene all the time. It’s no longer just ‘which Tesla is available,’ but rather an industry-wide boom with more EVs on the horizon from Ford, GM, Hyundai and other manufacturers.”

While Tesla is still the leading EV brand, new entries continue to show strong growth as they gobble up share. Tesla’s share of

More notable than the decline in EV share is the fact Tesla easily held on to the top spot in the luxury market during Q3, outselling No. 2 Mercedes-Benz by a large margin.

Beyond pure EVs, Toyota remains the gold standard for hybrid powertrains. Hybrid sales for Toyota decreased year over year in Q3 mostly due to tight inventory, but the brand still moved more than 100,000 hybrids in the U.S. during those three months. Year to date, nearly half of all hybrids sold in the U.S. wear a Toyota badge.

To view Kelley Blue Book’s Q3 2022 Electrified Vehicle Sales Report, visit https://www. coxautoinc.com/wp-content/ uploads/2022/10/Q3-2022Kelley-Blue-Book-ElectrifiedVehicle-Sales-Report.pdf

Source: Kelley Blue Book

ALABAMA

Audi Birmingham Irondale 205.986.7410 205.986.7438 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 West Palm Beach West Palm Beach 866.441.3309 561.615.4175 561.615.4179 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm parts@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 www.audiknoxville.com brianmaillet@harperdealerships.com

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Kia Recalls 71,000 SUVs For Fire Risk

Kia America issued a new recall for certain 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles due to a continued risk of fire, and strongly urges owners of these vehicles to park their cars outside and away from homes and other structures until their vehicles have been repaired.

potentially affected

These vehicles were previously recalled in 2016, and owners will need to have their vehicles repaired again under this new recall.

The recall repair is under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 22.

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An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while the vehicle is parked or being driven. Kia said 71,704 vehicles are

Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-3334542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC253.

Vehicle owners can visit NHTSA. gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is under recall.

Owners can also download NHTSA’s SaferCar app for Apple or Android. Enter the vehicle, tires, car seat, or other vehicle equipment, and the app will push a notification if a recall is issued.

Source: NHTSA

SCRS Study Concludes Blend Time Is Greater Than Full Refinish

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has published the results of its blend study research project conducted in August with major North American refinish companies.

To download the “Blend Study Report: A comparative analysis between full refinish and blend operations,” visit www.scrs.com/ blendstudy.

and Mitchell each defines its own refinish times, and each establishes the labor for blend on a two-stage refinish by utilizing a formula of 50% of the full refinish value.

Collision repairers have routinely expressed that blending a panel takes more skill and time to facilitate an invisible transition than the existing formulas reflect.

SCRS worked with AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF Automotive Refinish, PPG Industries and Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes to perform the research at the Global Finishing Solutions (GFS) Center for Excellence, at the GFS headquarters in Osseo, WI.

less time allocated in the three IP estimating systems.

donated by 3M and SCRS as well as miscellaneous materials from the research project, were all donated to the Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), in Eau Claire, WI.

Blending a panel adjacent to a panel being replaced or repaired is a necessary process to achieve a proper color match, and is recommended by all the major automotive refinish companies in North America.

The three primary estimating system information providers (IPs) in the U.S Audatex, CCC/MOTOR

The study used 45 new OEM parts, donated by Ford Motor Company, including hoods, fenders and front door shells for the 2018 Ford F-150, and was monitored and audited by DEKRA North America, the world’s largest unlisted expert organization in the TIC (testing, inspection, certification) industry.

The conclusions of this study indicate that blending, on average, took 31.59% more time than a full refinish, rather than the 50%

“The findings suggest that the concerns expressed by our members have not been unfounded,” said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg “These results very clearly establish that performing the processes necessary to blend a panel does not take less labor than the processes to fully refinish a panel.”

The study results conclude the existing 50% formula may not be an accurate representation of the comparison between the two tasks.

At the conclusion of the test, all 45 parts donated by Ford Motor Company and 10 part stands

SCRS extends its gratitude to all the individuals and companies who made this research possible. With specific recognition of the contributions from 3M, AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF Automotive Refinish, DEKRA North America, Ford Motor Company, Global Finishing Solutions, PPG Industries and Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes.

To download the “Blend Study Report: A comparative analysis between full refinish and blend operations,” visit www.scrs.com/ blendstudy.

Support this and other efforts from SCRS through membership, by contacting the SCRS office at info@scrs.com or visit www.scrs. com/join-scrs.

For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, visit www.scrs.com, call 1-877-8410660 or email info@scrs.com.

Source: SCRS

I-CAR Recognized For Skills Training

A panel of international media judges awarded I-CAR a prestigious SEMA Global Media Award in recognition of its new Electric Vehicle (EV) Hands-On Skills Development course.

The five-day EV Hands-On Skills Development course serves as the capstone to eight prerequisite EV courses for collision repair professionals, and is taught by I-CAR’s growing bench of EV experts at I-CAR’s new Chicago Technical Center (CTC) in Vernon Hills, IL.

The SEMA Global Media Awards (GMA) Program recognizes those companies that manufacture specialty equipment products and accessories that would have mass appeal to consumers in countries outside the U.S.

I-CAR was also recognized as a runner-up in the SEMA Best New Products Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) product category for its recently launched Hands-On ADAS Calibration courses.

Source: I-CAR

“These results very clearly establish that performing the processes necessary to blend a panel does not take less labor than the processes to fully refinish a panel.”

AARON SCHULENBURG SCRS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR