March 2023 Southwest Edition

Federal ‘Right To Repair’ Legislation Reintroduced in Congress

The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act has been reintroduced by U.S. Reps. Neal Dunn, R-FL, Brendan Boyle, D-PA, Warren Davidson, R-OH, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-WA.

The legislation will ensure the preservation of consumer choice, a fair marketplace and the continued safe operation of the nation’s 292 million registered passenger and commercial motor vehicles, 70% of which are maintained by independent repair facilities.

• Preserving consumer access to high quality and affordable vehicle repair by ensuring vehicle owners and their repairers of choice have access to necessary repair and maintenance tools and data as vehicles continue to become more advanced.

• Ensuring access to critical repair tools and information—all tools and equipment, wireless transmission of repair and diagnostic data and access to on-board diagnostic and telematic systems needed to repair a vehicle must be made available

REGIONAL NEWS

‘Unexpected’ Donation Helps OK Family Tied Up in Legal Battle After Losing $1000s to Unfinished Repairs

By Kaylee Olivas KFOR

A Yukon, OK, family told KFOR in December they were out thousands of dollars in parts and labor after the auto repair shop they were working with closed before finishing repairs, but after Jan. 31, they have a new sense of relief.

After News 4 aired the Tomko family’s story Dec. 26, Dent Source co-owner Bobbi Caraker said she and her husband immediately knew they needed to help.

“I read through [the News 4 article about the Tomkos] and it’s unfortunate. It’s one of those ‘bad things happen to good people’ type of situation. We know that we can

REGIONAL NEWS

help out and we have the ability to,” explained Caraker.

Dent Source and the Tomkos began working together. Although Caraker said getting parts is difficult for any repair shop right now, the necessary parts for the Tomkos’ truck came in about a week after ordering them. Come Jan. 31, the truck was fully repaired and ready to be driven again.

The Tomkos walked into the shop where their truck was awaiting final inspections with ear-to-ear grins.

Caraker said the parts and labor would’ve cost the family between $3,500 and $4,000, but they provided everything for free.

“It was unexpected. That’s not

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Auto Thefts Will Be Felonies Regardless of Value of Vehicle in New Colorado Bill

By Joe Mueller

The

Center Square

MEMA Aftermarket, Auto Care Association, CAR (Consumer Access to Repair) Coalition and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) all applauded the move.

The REPAIR Act will accomplish this by:

to the independent repair industry.

• Ensuring cybersecurity by allowing vehicle manufacturers to secure vehicle-generated data and requiring the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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A bipartisan bill introduced in the Colorado Senate would make all automobile thefts felonies and eliminate penalties based on the value of a stolen vehicle.

Senate Bill 23-097, sponsored by Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, was introduced Jan. 30. The duo held a press conference at the

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Credit: Shutterstock

Columnist Mike Anderson: The Customer Experience and Overworked Admin Staff

Columnist Ed Attanasio: From Tech to TV Spokesperson/Instructor: The Kevin Tetz Story 32

Columnist Stacey Phillips: I-CAR Vehicle Tech and Trends Course Helps Repairers Prepare for the Future 16

Columnist John Yoswick: SCRS Says Information Providers Taking New

COLUMNISTS

Abby Andrews

Collision Repairers Should Invest Now in ‘People, Capacity and Innovation’ 40 Ed Attanasio

From Tech to TV Spokesperson/ Instructor: The Kevin Tetz Story 32

Go-Parts Thrived During the Pandemic and Kept Rolling 12 Stacey Phillips

Index of Advertisers

Dynabrade Acquires Global Abrasive Products

Dynabrade, Inc. recently completed the asset purchase of one of its strategic suppliers, Global Abrasive Products, Inc., a 50-employee abrasives converter with locations in Lockport, NY, and Alpharetta, GA.

“For Dynabrade, this is a continuation of our strategic initiative to expand the scope of our vertical integration,” said Dynabrade President Michael Buffamonti “This further elevates our value proposition of becoming the leader in surface solutions and innovative process improvements for industries around the world. With over 1,000 abrasive power tool configurations, and now an abrasive offering for most any application, Dynabrade is in the unique position to provide greater value to our manufacturing processes and to continue delivering unprecedented cost savings. Customers of both companies will benefit from the combined industrial tool and abrasive product lines.”

This is Dynabrade’s second acquisition in two years, having acquired high-tech production machine shop Manth Manufacturing in 2021.

Source: Dynabrade

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2023 Sees Big Sales

By Steven Symes Motorious

Over nine days, the 2023 BarrettJackson Scottsdale Auction brought in huge crowds as hundreds of lots crossed the

million dollar mark included a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT at $1.6 million and a 2019 Ford GT at $1.32 million.

Another big ticket item was a 1966 Shelby Group II Mustang built for Ken Miles, which hammered at

particular, the first build slot for the 2024 Ford Mustang GT really grabbed the spotlight, netting $490,000 as it crossed the block on the night of Jan. 28. Additional charitable contributions brought in $565,000 for research into Type 1 diabetes.

As for the first production 2024 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1, that went for a cool $500,000 as several parties bid fast and furious for it. Funds from that sale went to Tread Lightly, a nonprofit dedicated to responsible offroading practices.

auction block. Many highlights made for another memorable year at Arizona’s largest car auction, which brought in more than $184.2 million in vehicle sales.

The top slot in the auction went to a gray Ferrari F40, which hammered at $2.75 million Jan. 28. Other lots that exceeded the

Semiconductor Convention Moving To Phoenix from San Francisco in 2025

By Cole Lauterbach

The Center Square

Recognizing Arizona’s growing semiconductor sector, North America’s “premier microelectronics exhibition and conference” is coming to town. SEMI, an industry association with members across the electronics manufacturing and design supply chain, announced Jan. 24 it would hold SEMICON West 2025 in Phoenix after holding the conference in San Francisco for the last five decades. “SEMI is excited to bring SEMICON West to Phoenix, a booming semiconductor manufacturing hub, in October 2025,” said Joe Stockunas, president of SEMI Americas, host of the exhibition and conference.  The announcement is preceded by a series of investments by some of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers intending to expand operations in Arizona. “Greater Phoenix is home to more than 75 semiconductor companies including SEMI members EMD Electronics, Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor

Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and the sector employs more than 100,000 with more jobs on the way. As recent investments in chip manufacturing in the area have made abundantly clear, Phoenix embodies the drive by SEMI and the industry at large toward greater innovation,” Stockunas said.The event is scheduled to be held in the Phoenix Convention Center. A spokesman for SEMI said 8,000 people attend the event on average. “We’re proud to welcome SEMICON West to Arizona!” said Gov. Katie Hobbs “Arizona has become a global leader in chip manufacturing and innovation, with rapid growth across our entire semiconductor ecosystem. We look forward to joining with local partners and SEMICON West to welcome industry leaders from around the globe and showcase why Arizona has become the world’s leading destination for new chip investments.”  The convention will alternate sites between the Valley and the Bay Area. It will return to San Francisco in 2026 before returning to Arizona in 2027.

$770,000. Two other cars matched that price, a 1967 Chevy Corvette custom convertible and a 1969 Camaro ZL1. Not far behind at a hammer price of $748,000 was a 2012 Lexus LFA, showing the Japanese supercar is aging well.

Plenty of attention was focused on the charitable auctions. In

A 1969 Pontiac Firebird was named Ultimate Best in Show for the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Cup competition. Built by Troy Gudgel of BBT Fabrications, it hits hard with a 482 twin-turbo Butler Performance Pontiac crate engine and T56 6-speed transmission. There are plenty of interesting details about the car, but the most unique is that even though it was made to work as a street car, it can also be used in land-speed racing. Currently, the Firebird is a class record holder for ECTA standing mile at 199.027 mph.

This 1989 Ferrari F40 brought in $2.75 million at the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, Jan. 21-29

The Customer Experience and Overworked Admin Staff

I had the privilege and honor of addressing the hundreds of professionals at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Palm Springs, CA, in January, and I wanted to share some of what I said there.

One of the key messages: the administrative staff at collision repair facilities today are overwhelmed, pulled in so many directions at the same time. They have to do rental car updates, take OEM training and I-CAR classes, they’re receiving OpenShop assignments and getting emails and phone calls. If we don’t fix this, we’re going to lose people.

Why is that? Let’s take a look at estimating or repair planning. We at Collision Advice are fortunate to do factory estimate training for Toyota/ Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti and other automakers. We recently wrote an estimate to replace a quarter panel on a 2022 Toyota Camry. We had 783 pages of OEM documentation we had to review just to write that estimate to replace a quarter panel. That’s why shops find themselves having to add more admin staff. At some point we’ve got to figure out how to reverse that trend. That means we’ve got to start better using technology.

I also said at CIC that part of the solution is being able to offer the competitive wages and benefits those employees can receive at other companies in other industries, something I’ve written about in this column

career path. As I told the attendees at CIC last month—and in The Collision Vision, Autobody News’ new podcast, available at www.autobodynews. com/podcasts—as an industry, we must develop a standard career path.

Taking a New Look at CSI

Lastly, among the messages I delivered at CIC was something else I’ve written about in this column: My view that for all the positive benefits customer satisfaction indexing (CSI) has brought to our industry, I think customers have survey fatigue.

I also think we have been so focused on three CSI questions— were they kept informed, was the delivery on time, and was the vehicle fixed right the first time—that we’ve stifled the creativity of our staff to create an amazing customer service experience. There’s customer service, and then there’s the customer experience. The focus on those CSI questions has handcuffed

the creativity of our staff to create an exceptional customer service experience.

I told CIC I had two simple words about it: Stop it. We need to stop doing things the way we’ve done it. And we need to open up our mind to creating a more modern service experience for our customers. It can start with something simple. When you use Uber, for example, you get a digital receipt. What are we still giving our customers? A paper receipt. Why aren’t we asking: would you like a paper receipt, a digital receipt or both?

Like I did in this column a while back, and in The Collision Vision, I posed this question to those at CIC: are CSI surveys the way we continue, or do we move to focusing on online reviews?

I don’t know the answer to that. It may be both. But I said CIC may be the forum where we as an industry can discuss that and hash it out. Hope to see you at the next CIC, April 12-13 in Richmond, VA.

As my friend Ray Chew Intelligent Solutions says: We need to figure out how to eliminate human disruption. That means, first, that we have to embrace technology as an industry. We’ve got to quit beating up software companies when they roll out something and it’s not quite perfect. Because you sometimes have to start somewhere. You’ve got to crawl before you walk, before you run.

We do the financials, the profit and loss statements, for more than 400 collision repairers that combined do more than $1 billion a year in revenue. In 2017, the average body shop was spending about 10% of sales on administrative wages. Ladies and gentlemen, we are seeing some shops today where it’s as high as 15.3%. That means at many collision repair facilities, average admin wages have gone up 4 percentage points. Four percent on a million dollars is $40,000. That comes from the bottom line.

If a fast food chain like Chipotle can lay out a career path for potential employees right on its website, our industry needs to do the same

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what we wanted, but grateful and thankful that people like Michael [Caraker] exists to help somebody out when other people take advantage of people, so it was an honor and a privilege for them to step up to do our truck, because it’s not what we expected,” said Mary Tomko with tears in her eyes.

The Tomkos said the last several months leading up to the donation had been frustrating.

“You lose sleep over it. You know, your attitude about how you look at things will even change. It affects you in every way,” said Bob Tomko Dent Source has been in business for 22 years, but helping out others never gets old.

“It’s enlightening. I love it, even with them [the Tomkos] especially but with every customer we have coming, we love seeing all the work that we’ve done and how they see how hard we worked and the product. The finished product is amazing always. So we’re very proud in what we do in our name and what we stand for,” said Caraker.

As for what’s next for the Tomkos: they’re currently tied up in a legal battle with Travis Harrison, the

owner of Blockheads Auto Repair in Mustang, OK. They’ve filed a case with small claims court and are expected to face Harrison on March 13.

Bob Tomko was involved in a car accident in December 2021. He and Mary hired Blockheads and wrote a check June 23, 2022, for $2,050. The memo line read the money was for “truck parts and labor.” That check was cashed almost immediately, according to Mary.

The Tomkos said Harrison informed them he’d need to purchase the necessary parts directly from Ford.

Harrison told KFOR he received the parts, but because he knew he was closing down shop soon, he sent the parts back to Ford so he couldn’t be “accused of stealing.”

However, a representative with Ford told KFOR that Blockheads Auto Repair is not affiliated with the company and they don’t sell parts directly to repair shops.

That representative also said to find out if Harrison or Blockheads ever purchased the parts, they’d need the name of the local dealership Harrison was working with.

News 4 was unable to obtain that information, as Harrison made it clear he didn’t want to go on the

record with any further information and claimed the news station was harassing him by asking for his side of the story.

Mary said the communication even before News 4 reached out to Harrison was lacking. The Tomkos showed News 4 several unanswered text messages, and other messages showing Harrison claiming “everything is going good” and on schedule.

December 2022 rolled around and the Tomkos still had no idea what was going on.

Harrison told KFOR he shut down “several months” prior, but a lease showed him working under the name Blockheads Auto Repair until at least Sept. 30. Mary said Harrison didn’t officially leave the space, which he was leasing from her company, until early December.

Harrison claimed he has all necessary paperwork which he will be presenting to the “courts where matters like this should be discussed.”

He said at the time of closing, he tried reaching out to the Tomkos several times, but never got a response.

The Tomkos said that’s not true. They requested Harrison refund their money by Jan. 15 or they would be taking him to small claims court. That date came and went, but there was no refund, according to Mary.

The National Auto Body Council Body® (NABC) is proud to announce Crash Champions has joined the collision repair industry’s premier philanthropic organization as a level one partner.

As a level one partner, Crash Champions and its nationwide network of high-quality repair centers will work alongside an elite consortium of collision repair facilities, rental car companies, parts and materials providers, insurance companies, automotive recyclers, salvage companies, towing companies, industry consultants and more to serve communities across the country with programs that help change and save lives every day.

Operating a rapidly growing coast-to-coast network of highquality collision repair centers, Crash Champions is the largest founder-led MSO in the U.S., serving customers and business partners in 36 states. The company was founded in 1999 by industry veteran and 2022 MSO Executive of the Year Matt Ebert, as a single Chicago repair center.

Source: NABC

(NHTSA) to develop standards for how vehicle-generated data necessary for repair can be accessed securely.

• Providing transparency for consumers by requiring vehicle owners be informed they can choose where and how to get their vehicle repaired.

• Creating a stakeholder advisory committee and providing them with the statutory authority to provide recommendations to the FTC on how to address emerging barriers to vehicle repair and maintenance.

• Providing ongoing enforcement by establishing a process for consumers and independent repair facilities to file complaints with the FTC regarding alleged violations of the requirements in the bill and a requirement that the FTC act within five months of a claim.

As vehicle technology continues to advance, new barriers to a competitive auto repair market are emerging. These barriers limit consumer choice in where to repair their motor vehicles and increase the cost to repair and maintain vehicles. The REPAIR Act will reduce these

barriers, putting consumers’ interests first.

Dunn is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has responsibility for consumer protection matters, among several other topics, and is where the bill has been referred.

“When it comes to repairing their automobiles, consumers deserve options,” said Dunn. “The REPAIR Act would give owners, including the rural communities in my district, secure access to critical data so the service center of their choosing can replace parts and repair their vehicles. I am proud to support competition in the vehicle repair industry and this important legislation.”

“There are hundreds of neighborhood mechanics in Philadelphia,” said Boyle. “The last thing those small business owners need is to be boxed out of making a living. This legislation would not only protect the business relationships between automobile owners and their mechanics, but it also ensures consumers continue to have more options on where to go for repairs.”

“By prohibiting vehicle owners from accessing and sharing data they generate, manufacturers stop consumers from accessing thirdparty repair shops,” said Davidson.

“American vehicle owners have a

right to control their data, and a right to access third-party repair shops, tools and parts.”

“Working families in rural America can’t afford to take a day off to drive their car to the dealership for a costly repair. The REPAIR Act is a bipartisan solution to improve vehicle data access laws to give working families more choices for repair when their car breaks down,” said Gluesenkamp Perez. “I appreciate Reps. Dunn, Boyle and Davidson for their leadership on this issue, and look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion to improve repair laws for families who work for a living.”

The bill is introduced on significant momentum for choice in repair. In November 2020, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly voiced their support for Ballot Question 1, also known as Right to Repair, with 75% of the vote, which preserves their right as vehicle owners to have access to and control of their vehicle’s mechanical data necessary for service and repair at the shops of their choice.

In May 2021, the FTC released its “Nixing the Fix” report, which highlighted barriers vehicle manufacturers have instituted to squash a consumer’s right to repair. The FTC strongly supports expanding consumer repair options and found “scant evidence” for repair

restrictions imposed by original equipment manufacturers.

In July 2021, President Joe Biden issued the “Promoting Competition in the American Economy” executive order, which encouraged the FTC to address anti-competitive repair restrictions.

In December 2022, the Digital Fair Repair Act was signed into law by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, and in January 2023, John Deere signed an MOU with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The REPAIR Act is the only bill that addresses vehicle maintenance and repair restrictions, including heavy duty vehicles the U.S. economy depends on for freight transport.   Automotive aftermarket companies can urge legislators in their district to also co-sponsor the bill by visiting repairact.com.

Source: MEMA Aftermarket

Go-Parts Thrived During the Pandemic and Kept Rolling

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

Go-Parts is taking a cutting-edge approach to the distribution of aftermarket parts and it’s working for all the right reasons, as explained by CEO Sean Kennedy.

Q: While many parts suppliers, both OE and aftermarket, were hit hard by the pandemic, your business model exceled. Please explain.

A:The impact the pandemic had on our industry, and many others, cannot be overstated. We experienced similar challenges to many of our partners and peers. However, in a climate of clogged supply chains and sluggish recovery, there is a high likelihood that the substantial growth we experienced

immediate advantage. Go-Parts had only been servicing this segment of the automotive market for a couple of years when the supply chain issues began, making us largely an unknown quantity.

The second question here is probably a bit more difficult to answer—have those factors disappeared after the pandemic passed? From a supply chain standpoint, largely yes, but we can clearly see that our new collision partners value what we bring to their businesses and the industry as a whole.

Q: What are you doing to leverage that position you created during the pandemic?

A: I believe our strategy is fairly simple—continue doing what we promise we will do. We were given an opportunity to show that this model, built from our experience in ecommerce, can work for the collision repair industry. But, if Go-Parts is to maintain this path, we must continue to deliver value across all facets of the part procurement experience.

In other words, we are going to continue leaning into who we are—a tech-forward organization that relies on automation, decentralization, and soon, the power of AI to streamline the supply chain and deliver value to our role in the process. We make consistency our ultimate goal, and I feel the future is bright if we can continue to deliver on that promise.

collision repair segment.

This isn’t to say that we don’t build relationships in our ecommerce vertical, because we certainly do, and I am very proud of our brand’s reputation in that space. Rather, this segment of the market requires

technology to improve the stockchecking and buying experience. By providing data in real-time, our partners can better map out their internal operations and know exactly where those parts are at any given moment.

Q:What does the future hold at Go-Parts?

A:While we have a particularly good sense of who we are as an organization, the future is a blank canvas. Our primary goal has always been to iterate based on the needs expressed to us by our supply chain, repair and insurance partners. So the future is quite uncertain but, we feel, it is for all the right reasons.

an entirely different approach and we have thoroughly enjoyed the dialogue with our insurance and repair partners.

Those insights have allowed us to continue to iterate and provide tools and conveniences, most notably our Live Inventory and Order Tracking Interface, which save users an immense amount of time and showcases how we seek to leverage

Go-Parts relies on its malleability and iterative culture to keep our organization pointed in the right direction, which is why we have no issues navigating the industry via direct dialogue with clients and partners. I am confident we will maintain our current growth trajectory—but it will be based on external industry needs, not internal organizational desires.

Visit order.go-parts.com for more information.

in that period stemmed from our use of a decentralized supply chain and distribution network. This dynamic allowed us to weave our way through those challenges, providing uninterrupted service to our partners with no compromise on part or service quality.

Q: What were the major factors behind that shift, and did they disappear after the pandemic passed?  A: Well, I think the dynamic outlined in the previous question fueled a desire to seek out new methods of part procurement. Part availability became a topic of conversation throughout the industry, so simply having the product was an

Q: How have you changed to meet the needs of the collision repair industry, in terms of quality, availability, prompt delivery, convenience, etc.?

A: We haven’t changed much, in truth. There are nuances to any new market, and the learning curve we experienced several years ago was certainly steep. I could tell you some stories about learning things the hard way, absolutely! But, like most things, if you’re sincere in your efforts and acknowledge mistakes, experiences like that can become incredible strengths moving forward.

If I were to choose an area where we have modified our approach the most, I would say the shift from a more transactional market like ecommerce DIY to a more relationship-based environment like we see in the

CEO Sean Kennedy at Go-Parts is using the latest technology to help his shop customers get parts fast

“We are going to continue leaning into who we are—a tech-forward organization that relies on automation, decentralization and soon, the power of AI to streamline the supply chain and deliver value to our role in the process.”

SEAN KENNEDY GO-PARTS CEO

Utah Dealership Receives National Sustainability Award

Cox Automotive presented its annual Leader in Sustainability Award to Mark Miller Subaru, a dealership with two locations serving communities along the Wasatch Front in north-central Utah and throughout the state.

The Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award recognizes a dealership for outstanding indealership sustainability programs related to waste reduction, energy or water conservation and focused on innovation, creativity and engagement with its employees and the community.

Cox Automotive President Steve Rowley presented the award during NADA Show 2023 in Dallas.

“I am pleased to present the Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award to Mark Miller Subaru for its extraordinary commitment to the environment and doing business the right way,” said Rowley. “The Cox commitment to building a better future for the next generation is fundamentally tied to protecting the planet through sustainability. As the first dealership in Utah to be certified in the Subaru Eco-Friendly Retailer Program, Mark Miller Subaru continues raising the bar on environmental sustainability

standards.”

In addition to sustainability, Mark Miller Subaru is dedicated to corporate and social responsibility and the family has made these areas a priority since they entered the automotive industry in the 1930s. As a benefit corporation, the Mark Miller Subaru corporate charter states its No. 1 priority is not making money. Instead, the dealership considers society and the environment ahead of profits. Mark Miller Subaru has donated more than $3.2 million to charity since 2010 to help people, pets and the planet.

“We are a fourth-generation business, and corporate responsibility has always been very important to us,” said Jeff Miller, general manager and CEO of Mark Miller Subaru Midtown and South Towne. “The idea of being an important steward of this community, doing the right thing always, taking care of our people and

Jay Leno Breaks Several Bones in Motorcycle Crash

By Thanos Pappas CarScoops

Jay Leno seems to be going through a period of bad luck lately. After suffering seconddegree burns in a garage fire in November, the comedian had a new accident with a vintage motorcycle, leading to a few injuries.

Thankfully, the 72-year-old celebrity is recovering well and still plans on performing this weekend in Las Vegas.

Leno first talked about his motorcycle accident during an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The incident took place Jan. 17, as he was testing a vintage 1940 Indian motorcycle.

During the test drive, he noticed a smell of gasoline, which prompted him to check for leaks.

and South Towne stores are solar, with 60% of the power coming from more than 1,200 solar panels on the two rooftops.

Water conservation is another focus area, with low-flow faucets and toilets in the showrooms and car washes that fully recycle the water used, saving 75 gallons of water per car wash. Additionally, eco-friendly materials are used throughout the facilities.

Regarding facility operations, Mark Miller Subaru proactively saves energy through daylight harvesting and encourages conservation, recycling and waste reduction.

One of the newest initiatives the dealership has implemented is recycling cabin air filters, which previously were thrown away. Now, through a partnership with TerraCycle, cabin air filters can be recycled into new items like park benches.

Another big initiative was going

signing experience, helping to reduce the time it takes to buy a car.

A sustainability goal for Mark Miller Subaru is to adopt digital tools to enable up to 30% of its customers to never have to step foot in one of its stores. This will allow the dealership to keep a smaller, environmentallysound footprint while still servicing customers successfully.

“We are so much more successful when we are feeling good, and doing good in the community makes you feel good,” said Megan Stenquist, culture director for Mark Miller Subaru. “We make sure that staff knows the positive impact their actions can have in addition to the positive impact giving back has on their own lives. Taking part in the bigger mission is a way to really bring your best self to work.”

For leadership in promoting green business practices and making a difference through

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

With the growing number of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) on new vehicle models, it is becoming increasingly important for collision repairers to understand how they are designed and operate.

This includes features on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), especially since EVs are expected to account for nearly 33% of

Q: What prompted the creation of the Vehicle Technology and Trends 2023 course?

A: Launched in 2017, I-CAR’s Vehicle Technology and Trends course is an annual course the I-CAR team develops to highlight new or updated vehicle models, new and evolving technologies, and trends we see that are common to one or more vehicle makers. An updated version of the class has been introduced

technology and the requirements to repair these vehicles properly. This begins with researching and understanding vehicle maker repair procedures and requirements, and keeping up with the latest technology and repair techniques.

There is no wrong way to learn. You can succeed in this industry as long as you engage with the resources available and continue to push yourself to build upon your knowledge and skills.

Q:Can you share information about the collaboration with OEMs? A: I-CAR works with all segments of the industry, including OEMs, to help identify changes in vehicle design, repair techniques and technologies. Then we develop the educational programming to help ensure collision repair professionals have the information and training required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

with OEMs in many ways, including developing custom training courses or specialized training programs, vehicle-specific training, and

new vehicle sales in 2030, according to the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR).

“This helps assure that the system is functioning correctly after repairs are completed and before the vehicle is returned to the customer with a complete, safe and quality repair,” said Bud Center, I-CAR’s director of technical products and curriculum.

Center said I-CAR’s Vehicle Technology and Trends 2023 course helps repairers learn about changes in the industry and to prepare for the future. The one-hour, online class includes information about new vehicle features and technology as well as electrical, mechanical and construction trends. Students can preview new and updated vehicle models for domestic, Asian and European imports, as well as some 2024 vehicle offerings.

The course also highlights resources created for technicians, such as the I-CAR Repairability Technical Support (RTS) webpage and the I-CAR Best Practice HV Disconnect/Initialization Feature document.

Based on OEM procedures, the RTS webpage shares information about the ADAS available on a vehicle, where the inputs are located and what events require calibration.

I-CAR’s best practice document, vetted by the industry, explains how to disable and test a vehicle to ensure it is safe to perform repairs.

Autobody News reached out to Center for insight on the new course.

every year since then to ensure the industry is ready for what’s around the corner.

Q: What makes this course unique and what are some of the highlights?

A: The Vehicle Technology and Trends 2023 course is valuable to all members of the collision repair industry. While many other training options are role- or task-specific, this course provides an overview of new vehicles, trends and technologies relevant to all collision repair professionals. With the Technical Tsunami™ we continue to face, the course offers insight into some developments collision repair professionals need to prepare for in their shops.

It also offers a glimpse of 2024 vehicles, upcoming automotive technology and related repair considerations. Being a onehour online course also makes it convenient and accessible to all learners.

Q: Why is it important for the industry to learn about vehicle technology to repair vehicles correctly?

A: There are no shortcuts when performing complete, safe and quality repairs. Modern vehicles are equipped with a tremendous amount of technology and all segments of the industry need to be aware of this

This collaboration also helps us to understand how we can support their networks and reinforce the importance of seeking and following OEM procedures. We collaborate

participation in I-CAR repairability summits. It’s a collaborative process from beginning to end.

Q:What would you like the industry to know about I-CAR’s Vehicle and Technology Specific Training™ portfolio of courses?

A:I-CAR offers a robust group of Vehicle and Technology Specific Training (VTST) courses. The Vehicle Technology and Trends course remains one of our most popular, with application to truly anyone in the automotive industry—from the front desk to the shop floor. Whether it’s the first I-CAR course you take or the 200th, you’ll find the information within the course valuable and relevant.

Credit: Photo courtesy of I-CAR

“There are no shortcuts when performing complete, safe and quality repairs.”

BUD CENTER I-CAR

New-vehicle sales in January are expected to show a surprising gain when announced, even though market conditions have not appreciably changed. The January 2023 auto sales pace, or seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR), is expected to finish near 15.6 million, a large increase from December’s 13.3 million pace, according to a forecast released Jan. 26 by Cox Automotive. However, some of the gain is due to statistical adjustments that correct for expected fewer sales in January and February. With inventories improving daily, sales in January will benefit, increasing the sales pace. Sales volume for the month is expected to rise nearly 3% over January 2022’s inventoryconstrained market but with the same number of selling days.

January sales are expected to fall almost 20% month over month, largely due to three fewer selling days than December and the usual post-holiday drop in activity.

As we start 2023, high interest rates continue to hold back the new-vehicle market, while some concerns with inventory supply

appear to be falling away.

According to Charlie Chesbrough, Cox Automotive Senior Economist: “After a slow December, a return to ‘normal’ would be welcome. With inventories improving, and more fleet activity likely, we are expecting an increase in January new-vehicle sales activity. Though some dealer lots across the country have ample inventory, some Asian brands continue to have extremely limited availability. One of the key questions for the market this year is whether some brands—particularly American ones—will be forced to increase incentives to keep supply from getting too high.”

January 2023 Sales Forecast Highlights. Light new-vehicle sales are expected to rise 2.7% from January 2022 but fall 19.8% from last month. The SAAR in January 2023 is estimated to be 15.6 million, above last year’s 12.7 million level and up from December’s 13.3 million pace. January 2023 has 24 selling days, equal to 2022 but three fewer than December 2022.

Source: Cox Automotive

New Colorado Bill

capitol and were joined by members of law enforcement, civic leaders and district attorneys in praising the legislation for its support of crime victims.

“Right now, the severity of the penalty for stealing a car depends on the value of the stolen vehicle,” Zenzinger said. “This simply doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t matter if a stolen car is a brand new BMW worth more than most folks make in a year, or a 20-year-old Prius, like mine, worth $700. A car is a car and the crime of stealing one should be treated the same. That’s why a key provision of our bill is to make most motor vehicle thefts in Colorado a felony, regardless of the stolen cars value.”

Colorado leads the nation in auto theft, Colorado Senate Republicans noted in a news release. Approximately 41,225 vehicles were stolen in Colorado last year, a 10% increase from 2021, Denver 7 reported.

“Last year, close to $1 billion worth of vehicles were stolen from Colorado residents,” Gardner said. “That’s a huge number. But it doesn’t begin to describe the hardship and burden of auto theft, particularly on those families that

are economically challenged. That vehicle might be their single means of transportation to take their children to school, to medical appointments and to go to work.”

Current law states vehicle theft is a class 3 felony if it’s worth more than $100,000; class 4 if more than $20,000 but less than $100,000; class 5 if $20,000 or more; class 6 if $2,000 or more but less than $20,000; and a class 1 misdemeanor if the value is less than $2,000.

Prison sentences for class 3 to 5 felonies range from one to 12 years and penalties range from $1,000 to $750,000, according to the 2020 Colorado Crime Classification Guide.

“I support this legislation because we must unwind and disentangle the wealth of the victim from the criminal liability of the offender,” said Alexis King, district attorney for the First Judicial District in Gilpin and Jefferson counties.

King also said addressing staffing levels of law enforcement agencies and harm of the opioid epidemic will curtail auto thefts.

“Addiction is the driver of crime and we have yet to effectively address the impact of opioids in our communities, in our justice system and as a society,” King said. “My point is we have more work to do, but I’m proud to be standing here with these leaders.”

Aims Community College in CO Hosts SkillsUSA Regional Competition in Collision Repair and Refinishing

Aims Community College hosted a SkillsUSA regional competition on Feb. 2 at the Automotive & Technology Center on its Windsor, CO, campus. Nineteen students from Aims and Morgan Community College participated in this competition.

instructor and advisor for the SkillsUSA team at Aims.

In addition to getting feedback from industry pros, networking with potential employers is “probably the biggest thing that the students get out of it,” Hanscome said.

SkillsUSA is also beneficial to instructors to see how students perform under pressure, since participants must complete each task in one hour or less.

the statewide contest move to the national competition that will be held June 19-23 in Atlanta.

The Aims students moving on to state include:

Post-Secondary Refinishing

First place: Kayleigh Kerr

Second place: Danielle Wilson

Secondary Refinishing

Driven Brands Promotes New COO

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. on Jan. 26 announced the appointment of Danny Rivera to the newly-created role of chief operating officer, effective Feb. 20, reporting to CEO Jonathan Fitzpatrick

Driven Brands is also pleased to welcome back Mo Khalid, who will succeed Rivera in the role of executive vice president and group president of maintenance, leading both Take 5 Quick Lube and Meineke.

Professionals from Denver, Cheyenne, WY, and northern Colorado were on hand to judge the students’ work and proficiency in various aspects of automotive refinishing technology.

“The judges are people out in the shops every day,” said Mike Hanscome, an Aims automotive

“Being able to put them in this situation is about the closest that we can do stress level-wise other than putting them in a shop,” Hanscome said. “So it shows us as far as instructors, what they retained as far as information, how well they put that retention to work and how well they critically think their way through a stressful situation.”

The top finishers in each category will compete in the Colorado State Leadership and Skills Conference, April 3-5 in Pueblo, CO. Winners of

First place: Jesus Conejo

Post-Secondary Damage Appraisal

First place: Jesse Manuel

Secondary Damage Appraisal

First place: Mario Saenz

Post-Secondary Collision Repair

First place: Darion Cordova

Source: Aims Community College

Rivera has more than 20 years of experience in the consumer and retail category, most recently serving as EVP and group president, maintenance, and earlier in a number of executive positions, including serving as the company’s chief information officer and president of Meineke.

Prior to joining Driven Brands in 2012, he served in a variety of leadership roles at AutoNation, Burger King, General Electric and Motorola.

Rivera holds two degrees from Florida International University—a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a Juris Doctorate.

Source: Driven Brands

SCRS Says Information Providers Taking New Look At Blend Formulas

By John Yoswick Autobody News

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is having “positive dialogue” with all three estimating system providers regarding refinish blend formulas following an SCRS study last year the association believes demonstrated blending takes more time than a full panel refinish, rather than the 50% less time allocated in the three estimating systems.

At a board meeting earlier this year, Aaron Schulenburg , executive director of SCRS, said CCC Intelligent Solutions and Motor Information Systems, which develops the underlying repair data used by the CCC estimating

research, that was conducted impartially, with a lot of different parties that validated how it occurred, and that it provides enough to get them to do what we’ve asked them to do all along: re-evaluate whether 50% really reflects” what blending requires.

Debate Over Blend Formula Not New

The disagreement over the blend formula stretches back more than a decade; in 2008, for example, the Automotive Service Association issued a position statement arguing blending requires as many procedures as refinishing a new undamaged panel, and calling for the information providers and insurers to acknowledge the additional labor and materials required to facilitate adjacent panel color matching.

Schulenburg said SCRS undertook its blend study because the industry repeatedly asking the information providers to review their formulas—or share details about how they arrived at their formula— over decades didn’t result in any action. The information providers stood by their formulas and said their test results were proprietary, he said at an SCRS open board meeting.

system, have “committed to doing research and replying back to us” by the end of March, and “I think we’re having the same types of positive dialogue with the other two companies.”

He said the companies have said “the amount of pressure they have received since November as a result of this is putting them in a position where they have to look at it, and respond in some way, shape or form,” and the association is “choosing to give them a little latitude to let them go through their processes, because I want to believe that is going to lead to a better outcome.”

“I don’t expect, and I certainly hope that they wouldn’t simply adjust values because any one group said they should,” Schulenburg said. “I would hate to think that any other group might go to them and ask them to lower a value and that they would just do it because they were asked to. What I do think is we provided very meaningful data, very meaningful

“But our members have always said: painting a panel from edge to edge is easier and less time-consuming than it is to create an invisible transition of color to facilitate a color match,” Schulenburg said. “Shops say they can take someone with less skill and teach them how to paint a panel from edge to edge [more easily than] teaching somebody how to create that invisible transition within the panel. That the process takes more time because you’re blending not into a new panel, but an adjacent panel that’s been on the vehicle and collecting road debris and needs to cleaned and masked and prepped in different ways.”

In sharing its blend study findings with the information providers, Schulenburg said, the association also noted changes that have occurred since the information providers’ blend formulas were developed decades ago.

“Colors today are not the same as they were 30 years ago,” he said. “Cars today are not the same as

they were 30 years ago. Consumer expectations today aren’t what they were 30 years ago. It is all so much more complex. The expectations are so much greater. The colors are so much harder, so much richer and

data speaks for itself. They can make their own informed business decisions. Just share the information.”

He said shops can also ask their sales representatives for the estimating systems they use “what their company is doing to address this.”

He said SCRS sees opportunities to address other issues, beyond the blend formula, using a similar process to its blend study.

deeper. Matching them is difficult, and consumers expect more because they spend a whole lot more on their car today than they did 30 years ago. That’s just the reality that we live in.”

Share the Study Findings

He encouraged shops to share the blend study with their colleagues in the industry.

“Don’t encourage them what to do,” Schulenburg cautioned. “The

“There are a lot of issues in the industry where the numbers don’t make sense, where they don’t reflect what our technicians go through, where they don’t reflect the technology changes that have occurred in the equipment or the vehicles,” he said. “I believe we have other studies we can conduct in a similar manner to advance the industry and provide good research and educational material that will inform people.”

Also at the meeting, SCRS said its Blueprint Optimization Tool (BOT), which audits estimates looking for potentially missed operations or line items, now has prompted users within shops to add more than 66,000 operations they are performing to their estimates since the product’s launch in 2020.

SCRS’ Aaron Schulenburg said the association is having “positive dialogue” with all three estimating system providers regarding the association’s blend formula study

“Colors today are not the same as they were 30 years ago. Cars today are not the same as they were 30 years ago. Consumer expectations today aren’t what they were 30 years ago.”

AARON SCHULENBURG SCRS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Fatal 2021 TX Tesla Crash Tied To Excessive Speed, Not Autopilot

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed Feb. 8 its investigation into an April 2021 fatal crash involving a Tesla Model S in Texas found no indications the vehicle was operating on Autopilot at the time of the incident.

Instead, the probable cause of the crash was determined to be the driver’s excessive speed, alcohol impairment and inability to maintain control of the vehicle.

Two men died in the accident, which caused the Model S to burst into flame. The victims were 69-year-old engineer Everett Talbot and 59-year-old Dr. William Varner. One man was found in the front passenger seat, while the other was found in the back seat.

Following the crash, Harris County Pct. 4 Constable Mark Herman told reporters investigators were “100% certain” there was no one in the Model S’ driver’s seat when it crashed. This prompted widespread coverage from numerous media outlets, with several immediately declaring the

fatal incident a “driverless” crash.

“They are 100% certain that no one was in the driver seat driving that vehicle at the time of impact. They are positive… Several of our folks are reconstructionists, but

Tesla Autopilot crash. For one, the absence of lane markings in the area’s streets meant Autopilot could not have been engaged. TrafficAware Cruise Control could only go up to 30 mph in the area as well;

revealed the fatal accident did not involve Autopilot at all. The agency noted a review of the data from the crash showed “no use of the Autopilot system at any time during this ownership period of the vehicle, including the time frame up to the last transmitted timestamp on April 17, 2021.”

The agency also said the probable cause of the crash was the “driver’s excessive speed and failure to control his car, due to impairment from alcohol intoxication in combination with the effects of two sedating antihistamines, resulting in a roadway departure, tree impact and post-crash fire.”

they feel very confident just with the positioning of the bodies after the impact that there was no one driving that vehicle,” Herman told journalists. He later noted a search warrant had been executed on Tesla to secure data about the incident.

There were immediate issues with the idea of a fatal

Mitchell Publishes EV Collision Insights Report

Mitchell, an Enlyte company, on Feb. 15 announced the availability of its latest trends publication: Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights. The new quarterly report provides auto insurance and collision repair executives with up-to-date information on electric vehicle claims and market data.

In 2022, EV sales hit a tipping point, representing 5.6% of all new vehicles sold, according to Kelley Blue Book. As consumer adoption increases, vehicle manufacturers including Audi, GM and Volvo are pledging to go all-electric in the future—putting more of these automobiles on the road and, potentially, in a collision repair shop. “EVs introduce some unique challenges to both insurers and repairers,” said Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance at Mitchell. “Their more complex, interconnected electronic systems and reliance on lightweight materials can complicate the repair process and increase claims costs. With the release of our new report, we hope to provide the industry with the information it needs to prepare for this growing segment

of the car parc and the impact it will have on auto insurance claims.”

Based on data from Q4 2022, the inaugural issue of Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights documents an increase in the:

• Number of EV repairable claims of 1.1% in the U.S. and 2.26% in Canada

• Average percentage of EV parts repaired, suggesting collision facilities may be improving their ability to repair the lighter weight substrates common in these automobiles

• Average number of mechanical hours on EV estimates of 1.7 as compared to labor time listed on collision damage appraisals for vehicles with internal combustion engines

• The report also features current claims data on EV average repairable severity, repairable claims frequency by market, and frequency by vehicle manufacturer and model.

To access the report, visit www. mitchell.com/plugged-in. You can also subscribe to future issues by completing the web form.

Source: Mitchell

the Model S accelerated to 67 mph before it crashed.

Other details, such as allegations firefighters had to call Tesla for help with an uncontrollable fire, were debunked by the the Woodlands Township fire chief a few days after the incident made international news.

The findings of the NTSB have

The NTSB further noted “the available evidence suggests that the driver was seated in the driver’s seat at the time of the crash and moved into the rear seat” and “it was not possible to determine whether the doors were manually operational following the power loss.”

These conclusions are in line with footage retrieved from the owner’s home, which showed the driver entering the front seat before driving away.

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TEXAS

Hunter Engineering Focuses on Developing Strategic Solutions For Collision Repairers

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

In the 1930s, Lee Hunter Jr., a 23-year-old architectural student in St. Louis, MO, often had a dead car battery in his Packard convertible. He set out to create a device that would reduce battery charge time. In 1936, he introduced the Kwikurent, a battery charger that reduced charging time from 24 hours or more to less than an hour.

After serving in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ordnance Corps during World War II, Hunter founded Hunter Engineering Company in 1946 and introduced the Tune-In wheel balancer.

“Unlike most other manufacturers, all printed circuit design and assembly is performed in-house and produces over a million boards and cable assemblies every year,” said Settle. “This allows the company to create new products faster and maintain superior quality control.”

Throughout its history, the company has been focused on the automotive repair side of the business.

With the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), Steve Dawson, Hunter’s regional manager in the Washington, D.C. area, said the biggest growth over the next nine years will be in ADAS calibrations. As a result, the company has developed products to meet these needs, such as the ADASLink® diagnostics scan tool powered by Bosch. The equipment allows for dynamic (driving) ADAS calibrations as well as static (fixture) ADAS calibration with the Bosch DAS 3000. The DAS 3000 uses built-in cameras and rear wheel-mounted targets to position the fixture.

“We see tires, electrification and ADAS being critical [in the future],” said Dawson. “ADAS is expected to grow 400% from 2021 to 2030.”

about the Hunter Road Force® Elite wheel balancer. He said the balancer can perform a Road Force® test and balance faster than a traditional balancer and diagnoses vibration issues traditional balancers often can’t identify. It also automatically measures wheels dimensions with its patented vision system.

these critical safety systems,” said Ryan Gerber, Hunter ADAS product specialist.

With ADASLink®, shops can connect the vehicle communication interface (VCI) to the vehicle’s OBD-II port to diagnose and interact with the car. A live camera-guided interface allows technicians to position the fixture properly and an on-screen walkthrough explains how to place the calibration targets. The equipment can calibrate forward-facing radar and camera sensors as well as side and rear sensors, including blind spot and surround view calibrations.

Technicians can also perform dynamic, driving calibrations with ADASLink® plugged into the vehicle.

As the company grew, Hunter developed other innovative equipment. Hunter’s team of engineers has received more than 350 patents and set many industry precedents, including a simplified lightbeam alignment system, a computerized dynamic wheel alignment and the thrust line principle, which many say is the foundation of modern four-wheel alignment.

For his impact on the automotive industry, Hunter was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1992. Today, the company is known for designing, manufacturing and selling a wide range of equipment, including computerized wheel balancers, tire changers, alignment racks, on- and off-car brake lathes, vehicle lifts, autonomous alignment and tire inspection equipment and ADAS calibration tools.

Tom Settle, director of field development and training, said Hunter’s award-winning patented alignment systems are used by independent shops, regional and national chains, dealerships and OEM manufacturing facilities worldwide.

The equipment is manufactured in four plants—three in Mississippi and one in Bridgeton, MO, where a research and training center is located. Also in Bridgeton is Hunter’s 26-acre global headquarters. The company has international offices in Canada, Germany and China.

With these changes, Dawson predicts automotive service will ultimately focus on the undercar.

“Shops that are not prepared for undercar in the EV world are going to be missing the boat,” he said. “Gone are the days of basic services, such as oil changes, that used to be the bread and butter of a repair shop.”

Hunter Products Showcased at SEMA

During the November SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, Hunter showcased its products and equipment.

Hunter’s latest innovation, unveiled during the show, is the Hunter Maverick™ tire changer, which uses some of the same technology as the Revolution™ fully automatic tire changer.

Settle said the machine allows technicians to control the tire-changing process using variable controls.

“What we find in the body shop world is that fully automatic balancers and tire changers make life easier, especially for those who don’t have the knowledge or ability,” he said.

Another tire changer on display was the Hunter Revolution . Using the semi-autonomous WalkAway™ mode, Settle said, the machine does all the heavy lifting. “If I’m in a body shop environment and I’m not a seasoned tire technician, I can go out to this particular tire changer and all I have to know is the diameter of that wheel and tire and then let the machine do the work,” he said.

Settle also shared information

Hunter sales representative Will Cronin said proper alignment is extremely important, especially with ADAS on vehicles today. Visiting shops within his designated territory, Cronin finds repairers aren’t always familiar with how to do a calibration.

“Today, many body shops have generalists who do a little of everything,” said Cronin. “Hunter’s equipment is easy to use and cuts down time dramatically.”

The Hunter HawkEye Elite® is the company’s fully integrated alignment system, which can capture alignment measurements in 70 seconds. Using WinAlign® software, Settle said four precision cameras provide alignment measurements with a high degree of accuracy, providing fast and efficient readings. The equipment can be integrated with other shop systems, providing flexibility.

The equipment includes step-bystep guidance that walks technicians through the entire process. “If you are new to the industry as far as doing alignments, you can follow along, while also utilizing the onboard training information,” he said.

Sales representative Steve Booz said shops often ask how to incorporate the equipment into their business due to space limitations. “The equipment is designed with portability in mind, so it can be moved around the shop as needed.”

By partnering with Bosch, Booz said customers can be assured they have support from both companies.

Hunter exhibited the ADASLink® diagnostic scan tool as part of the SEMA ADAS Showcase.

“With the interest ADAS is generating now and will be in the future, we’re eager to help inform and educate the industry about servicing

The solution integrates with Hunter’s WinAlign® software, providing technicians with access to specific calibration procedures for more than 25 million vehicles.

Jesse Mincer, another Hunter sales representative, said a common concern from shops is not having a level floor. To address this challenge, Mincer said the portable system can change the level of the framing system where the targets are.

By doing calibrations in-house, he said it saves shops time and allows them to control the work. The work done on the vehicle is then documented, archived and saved in the cloud using HunterNet® 2. This online customer portal was developed for undercar service operators with single or multiple rooftops, featuring online service guides, equipment manuals, IoT capabilities and more.

“None of the technology is fruitful without having some training involved,” said Settle. More than 450 representatives across the country are tasked with installing Hunter equipment and conducting operational training.

In addition, Hunter offers a variety of educational opportunities for the industry focused on efficiency and profitability. These include online video tutorials on the YouTube Hunter Learning Channel, free selfdriven e-learning classes through the Hunter University program, tuitionbased onsite training at 47 centers across North America, as well as custom training at the corporate headquarters.

Since its inception, Settle said, Hunter Engineering has focused on creating efficiency and productivity for customers.

“One of our goals in 2023 is developing strategic solutions for collision repairers so shops can get vehicles repaired efficiently and be profitable at doing it,” he said.

The Hunter Engineering team at the 2022 SEMA Show.

Miles Dierker demonstrates Hunter’s ADASLINK and the Bosch DAS 3000 at Hunter’s training facility in Bridgeton, MO.

Hyundai, Colorado Dealers Donate $150,000 To Support Children’s Hospital Colorado

Hyundai Motor America and local Hyundai Colorado dealers donated $150,000 to Children’s Hospital Colorado as part of Alice 105.9’s (KALC-FM) annual Alice Cares for Kids Radiothon™.

Showing The Love: Drivers Find Lower Gas

to end pediatric cancer. Their championship of this cause and the Hyundai Hope On Wheels 25th anniversary is unmatched,” said John Angevine, general manager, mountain states region, Hyundai Motor America.

Alice 105.9 Cares for Kids Radiothon shared stories of hope and healing, live from patients and their families Feb. 8 and 9, to raise money for Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Every donation to the Radiothon goes to Children’s Colorado to support patient care and research, including pediatric cancer research—a major area of funding for the Hyundai Hope On Wheels nonprofit organization, and a top priority for Hyundai dealers across the nation.

“We are proud to partner with our Colorado Hyundai Dealers in supporting their mission

More than 20 years of miracles and counting, the Radiothon has generously raised more than $24 million for Children’s Colorado. Proceeds from Alice Cares for Kids support the Children’s Fund, which fuels life-saving innovations and discoveries for kids, and helps ensure access to world-class pediatric expertise for every family who needs them.

Source: Hyundai Motor America

By Andrew Gross AAA

The national average for a gallon of gas dropped another week, falling six cents to $3.43 as of Feb. 9.

Pump prices have fallen every day since Jan. 28. Fewer people fueling up, and lower costs for oil, are behind the price dip.

“Drivers may have a little more in their wallets as we head toward Valentine’s Day,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, “and if gas demand and oil costs remain low, drivers will likely see pump prices drop through next week.”

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand dipped slightly from 8.49 million to 8.43 million b/d in the week before Feb. 9. The current gas demand rate is approximately 700,000 b/d lower than the rate during the first week of February 2022, helping to explain why gas prices are declining.

Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks increased significantly by 5 million bbl to 239.6 million bbl over the same week. If gas demand remains low amid growing total domestic stocks, pump prices will drop further. The Feb. 9 national average of $3.43 is 15 cents more than a month ago, but 3 cents less than a year ago.

Since Feb. 2, these 10 states have seen the largest decreases in their averages: Delaware (-15 cents), Ohio (-11 cents), Maryland (-11 cents), Tennessee (-11 cents), Alabama (-10 cents), South Carolina (-10 cents), Wisconsin (-10 cents), Florida (-10 cents), Virginia (-9 cents) and Texas (-9 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Texas ($3.03), Mississippi ($3.09), Missouri ($3.10), Kentucky ($3.11), Arkansas ($3.11), Oklahoma ($3.12), South Carolina ($3.13), Tennessee ($3.14), Louisiana ($3.16) and Kansas ($3.16).

Source: AAA

Tesla Recalls 362K Full Self Driving Vehicles, Fault To Be Fixed Through OTA Update

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

Tesla has initiated a recall for 362,758 vehicles equipped with the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta system. The recall was posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) official website.

The FSD Beta recall covers certain 2016-2023 Model S, Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with the automaker’s Autosteer on City Streets feature, better known as Full Self-Driving Beta or FSD Beta.

As per the NHTSA, the FSD Beta fault may result in a vehicle exceeding the speed limits of inner city roads. It may also result in vehicles traveling through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner. Such tendencies may increase the cause of crashes.

“The FSD Beta system may allow the vehicle to act unsafe around intersections, such as traveling

straight through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, entering a stop sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceeding into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution.

and the NHTSA then met several times to discuss the agency’s concerns, as well as the electric vehicle maker’s proposed overthe-air software improvements to address the issue.

On Feb. 7, despite not concurring with the agency’s analysis, Tesla administered a voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution. The NHTSA said as of Feb. 14, Tesla had identified 18 warranty claims received between May 8, 2019, and Sept. 12, 2022, that may be related to the FSD Beta fault. No injuries or deaths have been related to the potential issue.

“In addition, the system may respond insufficiently to changes in posted speed limits or not adequately account for the driver’s adjustment of the vehicle’s speed to exceed posted speed limits,” the NHSTA wrote.

Per the NHTSA’s Safety Recall Report, Tesla contacted the agency about a potential issue related to FSD Beta in late January. The company was advised by the NHTSA to file a recall notice. Tesla

BETAG Adds To Senior Leadership Team in North America

BETAG North America is excited to announce Landon Thompson has joined its senior leadership team.

Thompson brings a wealth of experience from insurance

operations for more than 180 collision repair shops, including staff management, operational standards, network performance, franchise compliance, vendor management and insurance performance.

Thompson is a California native, and currently resides in San Diego, CA, with his 9-year-old daughter, Madison. He is an avid sports fan and spends his free time enjoying the beautiful San Diego outdoors and community.

For further information, contact art@betagnothamerica.com.

Source: BETAG North America

Similar to most Tesla recalls, the FSD Beta fault would be fixed through an over-the-air software update.

“Tesla will release an over-theair (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 1-877798-3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-00-001,” the agency said.

CIECA Announces 2023 Board Officers

During the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce (CIECA) Board of Trustees meeting in Palm Springs, CA, on Jan. 18, the organization’s Board of Trustees elected the following officers for 2023: Chair Greg Best, senior business analyst, California Casualty; Vice Chair Ashley Denison, chief information officer, Caliber Collision; Treasurer Brady Bonner, vice president of client sales and support, Safelite Solutions; Secretary Kim DeVallance Caron, global product portfolio director, Enterprise Holdings; and Past Chair Phil Martinez, senior technical consultant, Mitchell International, an Enlyte company.

The officers will serve on CIECA’s executive committee, which oversees business matters throughout the year and plans the agenda for CIECA board meetings.

Best encourages all industry partners to engage with CIECA as the organization continues to evolve the standards to meet the changing technology needs of the industry.

Source: CIECA

and collision repair operations, which will offer additional value to BETAG’s customers and industry partners across North America.

Most recently, Thompson was the vice president of operations for Fix Auto USA, responsible for the day-to-day franchise

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Lifting Systems Service Any EV

BendPak has improved, expanded and branded its EV battery scissor lift table lineup to make servicing both electric and internal combustion vehicles more efficient than ever. The new MobiEVSTM EV battery and powertrain lifting system family includes an upgraded model EV2400SL and new, higher-capacity model EV4000SL.

Mobi-EVS full-rise, battery-powered, mobile scissor lift tables have a patentpending design that makes them perfectly suited for removing and installing high-voltage battery packs or internal combustion powertrain components. With a press of the button on the pendant controller, the 40-inch by 60-inch lift platform rises more than 6 feet in less than 20 seconds. Multiple recessed anchoring locations accommodate a variety of modular fixtures, adapters and accessories for maximum versatility.

The new Mobi-EVS model EV4000SL delivers rated load capacity of 4,000 pounds—enough to safely support the high-voltage battery packs of most EVs on the road, as well as traditional powertrain components. The EV2400SL retains its 2,400 pounds capacity.

LG Energy Solution in ‘Active Discussions’ With EV Makers For

Battery Supply from AZ Plant

By Maria Merano Teslarati

LG Energy Solution (LGES) said in a conference call Jan. 27 it is currently engaged in “active discussions” with EV companies to provide batteries from its planned factory in Arizona.

battery maker posted $20.7 billion in consolidated revenue and $974 million in operating profit. The company is also aiming to see a 25% to 30% increase in annual revenue and more than 50% increase in capital expenditure in 2023.

economies of scale and other cost optimizations.

“A record-high annual revenue was made possible, as battery shipment has increased across all product lineups in our proactive response to the increased demands for EVs and power grid energy storage systems (ESS)… Thanks to economies of scale led by sales growth, cost saving achieved through improving productivity, and expanding pricecompetitive metal sourcing, annual operating profit has also shown a significant growth compared to the previous year,” Lee said.

While the company did not provide further details about its discussions with EV manufacturers, LGES said it is reviewing investments in building the new Arizona battery plant, as noted in a Reuters report.

LGES, which supplies batteries to EV makers like Tesla and Lucid, had a successful 2022. The

LG Energy Solution CFO Chang

Sil Lee cited the rising demand for electric vehicles as a significant driver for the battery sector. Lee said LGES’ performance in 2022 was due in no small part to

LG Energy Solution is steadily becoming one of the key players in the growing EV sector. LGES has been expanding its relationships with car manufacturers throughout the year by beginning production at the GM Ultium Cells facility in Ohio and announcing new partnerships with Stellantis and Honda. The company now intends to increase its worldwide production capacity to 300 GWh by the end of the year.

Credit: Shutterstock

“A record-high annual revenue was made possible, as battery shipment has increased across all product lineups in our proactive response to the increased demands for EVs and power grid energy storage systems (ESS)…”

CHANG SIL LEE LG ENERGY SOLUTION CFO

Source: BendPak

Phoenix Auto Body Shop Raises Money For St. Jude’s

By Foothills Focus Staff

Local body shop owners Jake Morrow, Jake Brown and Gene Boiseau, who own Maaco Tempe Auto Body, Maaco Phoenix Auto Body Deer Valley and Maaco Phoenix Auto Body East Van Buren Street, recently held their first charity car show.

The event raised more than $650 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and welcomed members of the community to check out multiple classic cars, participate in an auction and watch the show awards.

“This is our first time organizing something like this for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital,” said Morrow, owner of Maaco Tempe Auto Body. “We chose to

give back to this organization as it has directly helped families and close relatives of our employees.”

The event was attended by multiple local business owners and members of the community. A volunteer DJ presided over the event, along with local vendors who supplied merchandise and gift cards for a raffle, with all proceeds donated to St. Jude.

The main event consisted of a top 12 car competition complete with awards.

“It was incredible to see members of our community and team gather together to raise money for this great cause,” said Morrow. “My team and I look forward to continuing our fundraising efforts next year to raise even more for St. Jude’s.”

Subaru Recalling Certain 2023 Solterra SUVs For Hub Bolt Repairs

Subaru of America, Inc. on Feb. 13 announced a safety recall on select 2023 Subaru Solterra vehicles.

The issue affects 1,182 model year 2023 Subaru Solterras. These vehicles were the subject of an earlier recall requiring the replacement of original hub bolts. Subaru identified an issue with vehicles repaired at two port locations by one particular team of contractors. The teams did not properly complete the repair procedure, resulting in the potential for significantly under-torqued bolts.

Out of an abundance of caution, Subaru is recalling all vehicles repaired at all port locations supported by the third-party contractor.

Vehicles without the original hub bolt concern and vehicles repaired at other facilities are not affected.

For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru retailers

will inspect the hub bolts and, if necessary, retorque to the specification at no cost to the customer. Until the inspection/remedy is completed, do not drive the vehicle. Customers will be instructed not to drive their vehicle and to contact their retailer to have the vehicle towed for inspection. Towing will be offered at no cost to the customer.

Vehicle owners will be contacted by mail. To find out if a vehicle is affected, go to subaru.com/recalls. Vehicle owners can also visit NHTSA. gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number for more information on this recall. Alternatively, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline 888-327-4236, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET; Hearing Impaired (TTY): 800424-9153.

Source: Subaru

From Tech To TV Spokesperson/Instructor: The Kevin Tetz Story

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

Kevin Tetz, 59, is a TV host, internet star and creator of Paintucation University, a video training company that has sold nearly 200,000 instructional DVDs worldwide.

Autobody News sat down recently with Tetz and was inspired by his amazing story from painter to trainer/ mentor and TV personality.

Q: How did you get into the collision repair industry?

A: I grew up in Canada around cars in the automotive restoration and collision repair industries. My dad was a career auto body mechanic and painter, so I kind of grew into it through osmosis. We didn’t have much, and when I needed or wanted a car, I had to build one. So out of necessity, I learned how to hone my own skills and create what I needed.

And then I took a detour from collision and decided to become a rock star. I put about 10 years of my life into that, and when it came crashing down, I went back to what I knew, which was auto body repair. My father was also a musician, and he told me that this trade would probably not make me rich, but collision repair always pay the bills. Of course, he was right.

Q: While you were trying to be a rock star, did you take jobs working at shops along the way?

A: When I was touring with the bands, I tried to make side money, or if the band broke up, I would go to work at a local body shop. So that got me cross-trained while I still had my eye on a different career. I got to work at an exclusive restoration shop in in Venice, CA, and at another high production splash shop in Florida. I learned valuable things such as how to block sand, how to do surface correction, by sanding and polishing on really exclusive cars.

Q: Did you progress quickly by embracing certifications and education during that period?

A: Yes. After music didn’t work out, I went from being a “sander gopher” to working my way up to being a body tech. Then I wanted to open my own shop and I did, and I nearly starved because I didn’t have any business savvy. I was a really good technician, but I did not know how to run a business.

So, I did that and then I was recruited by a local auto body shop in southern Tennessee that wanted me to, ironically, manage their body shop under their leadership. I

seasons and over 200 episodes. I have authored two books, and have been an automotive tech writer for different magazines, using that as a subliminal advertising tool

becoming involved as a training consultant for several different public and private companies, which made me so much better as an instructor.

I love helping people solve problems with paint technologies; it keeps me on my toes! I’m currently working with Axalta Coating Systems creating new training tutorials. I host “Hands On Cars TV” on Amazon Prime and co-hosted “CarCraft TV” last year on MotorTrend Plus. I’m also creating new training courses for people who just want to get better at the trade. I am also creating what I call “internal training,” for body shops that need in-house courses or pre-certification training.

took that job and they sent me to a management training school and to estimating school, where I worked in conjunction with all the claims adjusters in my area who worked for all the big different insurance companies.

Q:

How did you enter the world of broadcast?

A: I never lost that passion for a performance career. I knew I was strong enough in the fundamentals to where I could try and make a video, so I ended up doing a barter deal with a videographer, and I created a video on how to paint a car.

for my instructional videos. So, during that I ended up forming my own production company during my tenure in television, as well as

I’m continually developing new products that fit into the automotive industry, and will continue to expand my product line to include more training guides, tutorials, as well as hand tools. I’m also available for other companies to utilize as a spokesperson, voice over talent or public representative, and hope to expand my experience by offering my services.

For more information about Tetz and Paintucation University, visit www.paintucation.com.

I started out on the DIY Network as a walk-on guest-expert and it grew from there. This was in 2003, so I went to the studios in Knoxville, TN, and I was a good guest, since I was already trained on camera; the music industry helped me with that as well. My first series on DIY was called “Classic Rides,” and I parlayed that into another show on Spike TV called “Trucks!,” where I did 10

“I love helping people solve problems with paint technologies, it keeps me on my toes!”

KEVIN TETZ FOUNDER OF PAINTUCATION UNIVERSITY

Kevin Tetz is the founder of Paintucation University and has sold nearly 200,000 paint training videos in the last two decades.

Average Length of Rental Still Increasing, But At Slower Pace

Enterprise on Jan. 31 reported the average Length of Rental (LOR) in the fourth quarter of 2022 was 18.7 days, a one-half day increase over the quarter before it—a typical annual pattern, brought about by winter weather, animal accidents and holiday travel.

When compared to the same quarter the year before it, LOR was up 1.7 days in Q4 2022. That is an increase, but not as high as Q3 2022’s results, which showed a three-day increase year over year, and less than the 3.9-day increase observed in Q4 2021 compared to Q4 2020. Louisiana recorded the highest overall LOR of any state at 22.3 days, a one-day increase over its Q4 2021 results, followed by Oklahoma (21.4), Rhode Island (21.1), and Georgia (21.0). Ten additional states saw LOR above 20 days. The lowest LOR in the country was Hawaii at 13.7 days, still an increase of 0.8 over Q4 2021. Alaska (20.3) saw the highest year-over-year increase—4.5 days. Colorado, Montana, South Dakota and Washington also saw increases of three days or more.

Every state saw an increase year over year, but New Jersey, Vermont, Wyoming, Hawaii, California and New York were less than one full day. Parts issues, technician staffing and more complex repairs continue to be referenced by industry experts as factors in longer repair times.

“The overall trends in LOR match up with what we saw happen with the backlog of work that repairers reported in our Q4 survey,” said John Yoswick, editor of the weekly CRASH Network newsletter. “While the national average backlog remained at 4.8 weeks, unchanged from the record high in Q3, there was another jump in the percentage of shops with the largest backlogs. A record 25% of shops were reporting eight weeks or more of work scheduled. For comparison, in prepandemic Q4 2019, just 6.4% of shops had backlogs of even just four weeks or more, and the national average was under two weeks.

“Some of the state changes in LOR sync up with what we saw in terms of shops’ backlog of work in Q4,” Yoswick continued. “Colorado, Montana, South Dakota and Washington, where Q4 LOR was up by three days or more, are all in regions where we saw Q4 backlogs increase by a halfweek or more. These regions were also among those with the highest average Q4 backlog—5.5 weeks or more—compared to the three Sunbelt regions where average backlogs were between 3.5 and 4.9 weeks.”

Greg Horn, PartsTrader’s chief innovation officer, who oversees the data analytics department, also commented on Q4 data trends.

“At PartsTrader, we processed close to $2 billion in parts transactions in 2022 and track delivery days quoted in our platform,” Horn said. “We measure parts delivery days by measuring the median plus two standard deviations to capture the parts that are driving collision repair delays. While delays in parts is only one factor in longer repair

by Louisiana (18.9), Georgia (18.7), Oklahoma (18.7), Tennessee (18.2) and Oregon (18.1).

The highest year-over-year increase was in Alaska, where LOR jumped 5.1 days higher than Q4 2021—almost two times greater than the next highest year-over-year increase seen in Washington (+2.8).

The lowest drivable LOR was North Dakota at 11.3 days, followed by Hawaii (11.8), Vermont (12.6), Iowa (12.7) and DC (12.9). Wyoming saw only a 0.2-day increase; California, Louisiana, Michigan, Vermont and Washington, D.C., all had increases under one day.

Non-Drivable

For rentals associated with nondrivable claims, LOR was 27.1 days in Q4 2022, a 2.8-day increase from Q4 2021 (24.3), but almost static compared to Q3 2022 (up 0.1 day).

Louisiana had the highest nondrivable LOR at 33.2 days, a 3.7-day increase from Q4 2021. An additional nine states all had non-drivable LOR higher than 30 days, followed by eight more states with LOR above 29 days.

South Dakota (30.6) saw the highest increase, with LOR jumping eight days higher than Q4 2021 (22.6). Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Montana and Washington saw non-drive increases greater than five days.

On the other end, Iowa and New York had the lowest non-drivable LOR at 23.0 days each, followed by Washington, D.C., at 23.4. California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia had LORs under 25 days.

Hawaii recorded the only decrease

times, it is a major one.

“Our data shows that Q4 2022 median delivery days for parts were up by 0.4 days over Q3 2022, which tracks with Enterprise’s LOR reporting,” Horn continued. “Similarly, when we compared the Q4 2022 delivery days for parts to Q4 2021, we measured a nearly identical increase of 1.5 days. This would indicate a strong correlation between parts fulfillment and length of rental increases.”

Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance for Mitchell International, shared some relevant data.

“The average vehicle age in Q4 2022 was older than in Q4 2021---7.34 years old compared to 7.01 years old. Average severity is already nearing Q4 2021 numbers at $4,015, compared to $4,068, with approximately 40% of supplements still outstanding,” Mandell said. “Average total labor cost has already eclipsed the Q4 2021 number, increasing from $1,586 to $1,593. Again, important to keep in mind that as supplements are taken into account, the Q4 2022 number will continue to rise.”

Drivable

LOR associated with drivable claims was 16.2 days in Q4 2022, also a 1.7 day increase from Q4 2021, and only 0.6 days higher than Q3 2022.

Rhode Island recorded the highest drivable LOR at 19.3 days, followed

from the previous year’s quarter with results down 0.7 days.

Yoswick offered additional insights into the repair backlog.

“Parts issues, workforce challenges and more harder-hit vehicles are also showing up in another increase in late 2022 in how many jobs shops say they have in process relative to their typical workload,” he said. “The 300+ shops responding to a CRASH Network survey in December had an average car count of 79 jobs per month and reported currently having 61 jobs in process, or the equivalent of 77% of their typical monthly volume. That level of work-in-progress (WIP) is up from 64% three months earlier.

“It may not be surprising to see WIP rising even further in the fourth quarter, typically the busiest in many regions of the country, but most shops are still citing a lack of technicians and parts delays as the chief causes for the backlog of work,” added Yoswick. “Some shops also noted a higher than usual number of non-drivable repairs gumming up the works.”

“Non-drives are preventing regular scheduling, delaying repairs,” said the manager of a smaller independent shop in Pennsylvania responding to CRASH Network’s survey. “The last three out were each between $9,000 and $20,000 in damage.”

Regarding increases in non-drivable

repairs, Mandell added: “Air bag deployments have reached the highest number ever recorded at 1.26%, up from 1.11% in Q4 2021.”

Total Loss

LOR with totals was 18.2 days, a comparatively modest increase of 0.6 days from Q4 2021, and up 0.4 days from Q3 2022.

Hawaii, which saw some good results in other channels, had the highest total loss LOR at 24.6 days, an increase of 4.3 days—also the highest. The next highest were Oregon (21.4) and North Carolina (21.0). Minnesota saw a large increase as well, jumping 3.4 days, followed by Ohio with a 3.0-day increase. On the other end, North Dakota saw a LOR of 14.9 days, followed by Vermont and Wisconsin at 15.9 days each. Seven additional states saw total loss LOR below 17 days.

Twelve states, plus Washington, D.C., had decreases in total loss LOR compared to Q4 2021, led by Vermont (-2.4), Delaware (-1.4) and Rhode Island (-1.0). “Total Loss frequency rose sharply in Q4 2022 to 18.2%---up from 17.9% in Q4 2021 and 16% in Q3 2022,” Mandell said. “A portion of this increase can be attributed to Hurricane Ian, which resulted in Total Loss frequency in Florida in Q4 2022 reaching 27.2%, up from 16.4% in Q4 2021 and 15.9% in Q3 2022.”

Summary

While Q4 2022 continued with the return of historical trending, the results themselves continue to be exacerbated by supply chain disruptions, parts delays, collision repair backlogs, and technician shortages.

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 collision-related businesses are aligned---not just for procedural solutions, but to ensure our mutual customers receive safe and proper repairs, an excellent experience and peace of mind.

Enterprise is committed to partnering with insurers, repairers, and suppliers on each one of these issues. Through foundational support provided by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Enterprise is spearheading the Collision Engineering Program, designed to attract and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the collision repair industry. Enterprise is thrilled to expand its longtime partnership with Ford Motor Company, through its philanthropic arm, the Ford Fund, to expand the program and help address this ongoing industry challenge.

For more information, visit www. beacollisionengineer.com.

Source: Enterprise

Axalta Wins 3 2023 Edison Awards™

Axalta Coating Systems on Feb. 9 announced it has won three prestigious 2023 Edison Awards™

Axalta’s Abcite® 2060 Flame Spray Powder Coating, AquaEC® Flex and Self Priming Kitchen Cabinet Coating have won for the Sustainability, Smart Transportation and Material Science categories, respectively.

Named after Thomas Edison , the Edison Awards have recognized and honored some of the most innovative new products, services and business leaders in the world since 1987.

“We are thrilled to be an Edison Awards recipient for a fifth consecutive year,” said Robert Roop, Axalta’s chief technology officer. “Our recognition is testament to how Axalta continues to innovate smarter surface solutions for better living and a sustainable future. We are committed to providing the quality, innovative products and services our customers have come to expect.”

Source: Axalta

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Critical Nature of ADAS Functionality Could Result in More Vehicle Safety Inspection Programs

By John Yoswick Autobody News

About 15 states currently have some sort of periodic safety inspection for vehicles, but with drivers increasingly reliant on ADAS features, those existing state programs likely need to evolve—and more states are likely to want to find ways to ensure driver assistance features are functioning properly.

That was the consensus among panelists at a discussion during a recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC).

“With the advent of more semiautonomous vehicles, automatic driving features, in my opinion this is going to come to pass at some point,” said Chuck Olsen of AirPro Diagnostics. “This is going to have to be addressed for the safety of the motoring public. In my opinion, we need to be involved as an industry so that we make sure it is done right, not just have legislation coming at us that isn’t correct.”

Olsen said having spent much of his career on the mechanical side of the industry, he thinks “collision shops are better equipped to perform a periodic type of inspection than the classical mechanical shop.”

rate of vehicle fatalities.

“That may not sound like very much, but there’s 30,000 fatal crashes every year in the United States, so that means 1,400 passenger lives per year could be saved,” Dell said. “That’s the equivalent of a few airplane crashes. We’re using this information to try to educate policymakers and legislators around the country. And we’re having some success. I think we’re seeing movement in states taking a new interest for the first time in decades.”

Rather than a patchwork of programs that vary widely by state, Dell said he’d prefer the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration develop national standards or guidelines for the programs, and there are efforts under way to get federal funding and a mandate for NHTSA to at least study the issue.

“Barring that, I think what you will see is leadership from a few states that will help others come along,” Dell said.

hated the program at first because almost every vehicle was failing the safety test.

“But they have gotten smarter about what to look for in the vehicles they are buying to sell,” he said of the dealers. “Fast forward to today, and we don’t see as many safety issues as we did when we first started this. The dealers are now excited about the law. They like what it does for their product and for the consumer. Consumers like it because they know exactly what they’re buying.”

Inspections Could Improve Repairs

Another panelist, Mark Olson of VECO Experts, agreed with others that, given the importance of maintaining the functionality of ADAS, he foresees more states conducting periodic vehicle safety inspections in the future.

“In the next 10 years, annual inspection of safety systems on cars is going to become very real,” Olson said. “In my opinion, we’re not going to escape it.”

Regulators will start to recognize, he said, that less safe vehicles are being brought into states without such programs by those who know

those vehicles will fail the inspection required in their current state.

“If they know it’s not going to pass in New Mexico, they’re going to kick it off to Idaho or Montana where there isn’t an inspection,” Olson said, saying he sees a similar shift in vehicles that can’t pass an emission test into states without such tests. “That’s why having a nationwide scenario might be a really good idea. I’m not saying I’m in favor of the government doing anything. But it may take that.”

Regular safety inspections could also help ferret out incomplete or poor quality collision repair work, Olson said.

“If you can’t get the vehicle tags renewed without passing, that would actually bring the level up in our industry,” he said.

New Study Fuels Interest

Bill Dell of Opus Inspections said required vehicle inspections— whether for safety or emissions— can be a challenge to get enacted because they can be viewed as a new tax or a politically unpopular mandate. But a new study released this past fall by Carnegie Mellon University may help change that.

Dell—who disclosed that his company was one of the sponsors of the three-year, peer-reviewed study— said the study looked at 44 years of accident data, comparing states with vehicle safety inspections to those without. It found the states with such programs experienced a 5.5% lower

Shop Owner Conducts Inspections

Another panelist at CIC, New Mexico shop owner Scott Benavidez, has some experience conducting a state-mandated vehicle safety inspection. Since 2016, New Mexico has required anyone selling a used vehicle to disclose if that vehicle has sustained damage exceeding 6% of its value. Benavidez said he has about a half dozen inspectors looking at more than 7,000 used vehicles a year, primarily for used car dealers.

“We rewrite an estimate based on how much damage we think it had, and if there’s any safety-related issues to it,” Benavidez said. “Then they can disclose that, so the consumer knows what they’re buying, or about 90% of the time, the [dealer] gets [safety issues] fixed. It’s interesting what we find. It could be something as simple as someone [who repaired a vehicle] not putting a [bumper] absorber back in. We see that a lot.”

Benavidez said used car dealers

Bill Dell of Opus Inspections said a new study released this past fall by Carnegie Mellon University found the states with vehicle safety inspections programs had a lower rate of vehicle fatalities.

New Mexico shop owner Scott Benavidez said consumers like his state’s inspection program for used vehicles prior to a purchase because they know exactly what they’re buying.

“In the next 10 years, annual inspection of safety systems on cars is going to become very real. In my opinion, we’re not going to escape it.”

MARK OLSON VECO EXPERTS

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Luxury Share of New-Vehicle Market Sets Record in January

The average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle in the U.S. declined slightly in January to $49,388, a decrease of 0.6% ($310) from December’s record high and up 5.9% ($2,768) from levels one year earlier.

New-vehicle inventory levels are increasing from historic lows in early 2022, but prices remain elevated, according to data released Feb. 13 by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company.

overall average price elevated.”

Incentives remain low compared to pre-pandemic years, but they are trending upwards as inventory improves. The most affordable vehicles—compact cars, compact SUVs and subcompact cars—had incentives between 3% to 4%, which is above industry average. High loan rates and continued inflationary pressures appear to be hurting the lower part of the market, so automakers are more focused on

though luxury ATP declined.

In January, the average luxury buyer paid $65,953 for a new vehicle, down $1,560 from December. Buyers continue to pay over MSRP for new luxury vehicles, but not by much.

Luxury vehicle ATPs were a mixed bag in January, with luxury cars, luxury compact SUVs and luxury mid-size SUVs showing price declines between 0.4% and 1.4%. Entry-level luxury cars, high-end luxury cars and luxury full-size SUVs all saw price increases between 1.3% and 4.8%.

Mercedes-Benz and Lexus showed the most price strength in the luxury market, transacting between 1.4% to 4.8% over sticker price last month.

Luxury brands Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lexus, Lincoln and Volvo showed the least price strength, selling 1% or more below MSRP in January.

Led by Tesla, EV Prices Decreased Notably in January, Continuing a Downward Trend

According to Kelley Blue Book calculations, new-vehicle ATPs have been above the average manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), also known as the sticker price, for more than a year. In January, the average price paid was $310 more than the average sticker, as prices continue to trend downward relative to sticker price. A year ago, in January 2022, the average ATP was more than $900 above the average MSRP.

Sales volumes in January were up year over year by more than 6% but down from December, thanks in part to improved supply and added fleet sales. Elevated retail prices and high loan rates are putting downward pressure on retail sales.

“The transaction data from January indicates that overall prices are no longer increasing like they were a year ago,” said  Rebecca Rydzewski, research manager of economic and industry insights for Cox Automotive. “Both luxury and non-luxury prices were down month over month, but the mix of luxury vehicle sales last month—at a record high near 20%—helped keep the

luxury and higher-end models. Average Prices for

Non-Luxury

Cars Decline from the Record High in December

The average price paid for a new non-luxury vehicle in January was $45,344—a decline of $271 compared to December. The majority of non-luxury brands— including Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Kia, Mazda and Subaru—all saw ATP declines between 0.3% to 4.9% month over month in January. This correlates with higher incentives helping to push prices down.

Toyota and Ram showed the most price strength in the non-luxury market, transacting between 2% and 5% over sticker price in January.

Luxury Share Hits Record High, While Average Prices Fall in January.

Strong luxury vehicle sales have been a primary reason for overall elevated new-vehicle prices. This remained the case in January when luxury vehicle share jumped to a record 19.6% of total sales, up from 18.6% in December. The high share of luxury sales helps to push the overall industry ATP higher, even

The average price paid for a new EV decreased in January by $3,363 (down 5.4%) compared to December. The average new EV sold for $58,725, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates,

and is still well above the industry average.

The drop in pricing was driven by significant price cuts from Tesla, which commands roughly two-thirds of the EV market. Tesla’s average transaction prices decreased $5,440, down 8.4% month over month and down 5.5% year over year.

Lower prices likely helped Tesla deliver higher sales volumes. According to Kelley Blue Book estimates, Tesla sales in January increased year over year by more than 30%.

Auto Incentives Offered by Manufacturers Remain at Historically Low Level but Are Increasing

Incentives increased in January 2023 to 2.8% of the average transaction price, compared to 2.7% in December. In January 2021, before the new-vehicle inventory decline, incentives averaged 8.6% of ATP, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates.

Luxury cars had the highest incentives in January at 6.2% of ATP. Meanwhile, vans and minivans had

Exploding Airbag Warning: Stop Driving 2001-2003 Honda Vehicles

By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

Honda is warning owners of recalled 2001-2003 Acura and Honda vehicles to park the vehicles and stop driving them if the Takata airbags have not been replaced during previous recalls.

these models that need new airbag inflators:

2001-2002 Honda Accord

2001-2002 Honda Civic

2002 Honda CR-V

2002 Honda Odyssey

2003 Honda Pilot

2002-2003 Acura 3.2 TL

2003 Acura 3.2 CL

However, a customer can verify if their Acura or Honda vehicle is included by using the vehicle identification number (VIN) at www. recalls.acura. com or www. recalls.honda. com.

After at least

Years of warning owners to get the free repairs completed by dealers caused Honda to issue this latest warning to stop driving

17 deaths and more than 200 injuries blamed on exploding airbags in Honda vehicles, the

Owners can arrange free towing and have access to free loaner or rental vehicles.

Known as Takata “Alpha” airbags, Honda said the airbag inflators suffer a 50% failure rate in the older vehicles. The metal inflators explode and become grenades that shoot metal fragments into vehicle occupants.

According to Honda, its “relentless recall efforts” to owners of vehicles equipped with Alpha inflators include:

• 8.9 million mailed notifications to registered owners

• 5.4 million live and automated phone calls

• 2.3 million emails

• 916,000 text and online messages

• 794,000 in-person visits seeking to locate owners

Honda said even after years of Takata recalls, more than 8,200 owners of the older models still have not responded. Owners of these vehicles should immediately contact a Honda dealer or call the automaker at 888-234-2138.

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CREF Benchmark Grants Applications

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) seeks to alleviate some of the financial burdens on behalf of the instructors educating the industry’s future workforce by filling those gaps through its 2023 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants. Completing CREF’s online application will qualify collision schools to receive up to $25,000 in funding.

In 2022, the industry’s generous support enabled CREF to award $436,000 in Benchmark Grants to nearly 70 collision schools, impacting more than 35,000 students. Additionally, CREF distributed more than $10 million worth of in-kind donations, including parts, products, quarter panels, subscriptions, safety equipment and more.

Applications opened Feb. 7 with a deadline of June 28. Visit www. collisioneducationfoundation. org/collision-repair-educationfoundation-benchmark-grant/

Source: CREF

Baldwin Subaru Covington

(888) 310-9605

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(877) 308-9055

Direct (817) 438-1732

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Collision Repairers Should Invest Now in ‘People, Capacity and Innovation’

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

Auto body shop owners and managers must be aware of and ready to face the long-term effects of the COVID pandemic, said Sean Carey, president of SCG Management Consultants, in his Jan. 26 presentation, “The New, New Normal and the Impact to the Claims & Collision Industry,” part of CIECA’s webinar series.

“We are now in the ‘COVID tail,’ starting to see issues cropping up,” Carey said.

The full presentation is available on www.cieca.com.

Macro Market Forces

Carey said he thinks the industry is getting to a point where OEM certification programs are becoming “equally important” as the insurance companies’ DRPs. While he thinks both will have a place in the industry, “we’re witnessing the slow death of the DRP.”

“[OEM certification programs] will become the true North Star for our industry, as repairers want to do the right thing,” Carey added.

Carey said OEM repair information is currently not “terribly usable,” but he predicts new entrants in the market will find better ways to consolidate it, which the automakers will support.

Carey predicted the “big will get bigger,” as MSOs, OEMs and insurers consolidate.

Consequences of COVID 20202022

During the lockdown and subsequent recovery period, 2.3 million vehicles weren’t repaired, representing $7.8 billion revenue that didn’t enter the supply chain. Carey said parts suppliers took the biggest hit—$4.4 billion in lost sales.

Carey predicted about 3,500 shops will close in the next 12 to 24 months.

“The No. 1 reason: not enough people to repair cars,” he said. “Many organizations are trying to recruit, but we’re not going to fill that gap. We’ll simply run out of folks.”

Small shops will lose existing employees to larger ones, Carey said. Within three years, he predicted, the average repair cost will be $6,500, and more than half of a repair order will be parts, as they become more expensive than labor.

Micro Challenges

The biggest near-term challenge is people, Carey said. “We have reached

the point of no return; the aging tech base is far outstripping the number of young people coming in,” he said.

He advised listeners to “focus on the people you have, nurture them; they will be much harder to replace.”

waiting time for parts.

“This is about repair planning based on capacity, where insurers and shops, vendors and shops are talking to each other,” Carey said.

Far Horizon Timeline

Carey said 2022 was “a very different year for most of us; let’s not think for one moment that we’re going back to 2019, because that ship has sailed.”

2023 will bring a new set of challenges, as OEMs double down on safe and proper repairs, insurers introduce new claims solutions, MSOs continue to grow and costs continue to pick up, meaning shops will need to pick vendor partners carefully.

payers. If certified repairs are not yet required by 2026, the industry will be solidly on the path to that, Carey said.

After the presentation, an attendee asked Carey what he would do today if he were a shop owner.

First, Carey said, he’d develop an agreement with current staff making it beneficial for them to stay and challenging to leave.

Another near-term challenge continues to be parts and the supply chain. Production bottlenecks are easing, but shops are still dealing with delays. Carey suggested shops balance their vehicle intake— otherwise cycle time, work in progress (WIP) and costs will soar.

Carey said OEMs will solve the problem in the next few years of how to make seamless claims more capable, thanks to the telematic data resulting from the “onslaught of technology” OEMs are introducing in their vehicles. “Insurers’ AI and mobile models can’t compete,” he said.

Finally, shops will reach an economic breaking point. “There is no longer room for shops to absorb large expenses, repair safely and properly and stay profitable,” he said.

2023 Market Sizing

Looking ahead to 2023, Carey predicted a lower repair count, but more parts and a higher average cost, as the total market will crest $40 billion for the first time.

The average repair cost will increase to $4,750 this year, Carey said, and insurance premium increases may not be enough to cover the cost of losses.

There will be $9.5 billion of work in progress, as shops don’t have the people, parts or space to finish jobs.

Future Market Prevailing Conditions

The industry is at a capacity crunch, Carey said. “We used to try to capture every single job,” he said. “We are entering a market where you’re trying to get the right job.”

Workflow efficiency will become king and intake will be critical, as Carey predicted repairers will have to validate everything to receive fair compensation, from storage time to

Looking ahead to the next three years, Carey said 2024 will be when “the fallout begins,” as staffing reaches critical levels, shops begin closing and new technology speeds up first notice of loss and intake.

In 2025, a “new market emerges,” Carey said, riding a wave of new vehicles with new technologies, and finally, in 2026, vehicle data will dictate repairs and OEM-embedded insurance will lead to a change in bill

Next, he would look at how he brings in vehicles for repairs, and any “key triggers” for not accepting one. And finally, he would be “watching like a hawk for opportunities to work closer with insurers, suppliers and OEMs.”

“Take a good step back every now and then and identify: ‘What should I be doing differently to be more efficient?’” Carey advised. “Without a question, people, capacity and

“We used to try to capture every single job. We are entering a market where you’re trying to get the right job.”

SEAN CAREY SCG MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Credit: Shutterstock.

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Emich Chevrolet LAKEWOOD

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Toyota CEO Steps Down, Opening Up Possibility of New EV Strategy

By William Johnson Teslarati

Akio Toyoda, long-time Toyota CEO and grandson of the company’s founder, announced he will leave his position later this year. Lexus head Koji Sato will replace him.

the Year by AutoCar, following the Japanese brand’s rise to dominance in the early 20-teens. Now, as he departs, the company may again have the opportunity to turn a new leaf and head in a new direction.

The announcement is surrounded by significant fanfare but very few details. Many executives celebrated Toyoda’s dedication to his work and wished him the best as he plans to depart in April, but the brand’s future remains cloudy.

Sato has already hinted at a change in direction. While clearly interested in hydrogen engine and fuel cell technology, Sato has also guided Lexus through the development of its first EV, based on Toyota’s recently relaunched BZ4X.

Another indication of Sato’s potentially different strategy moving forward is his age. At 53, Sato is a spring chick compared to his fellow executives, suggesting he may be here to stay. However, the same was said of Toyoda, now departing at only 66.

Caliber President and CEO Retiring

The Caliber family of brands announced Feb. 9 that after 26 years with the organization, President and CEO Mark Sanders will retire and move into a special advisory role for the next 18 months, effective March 6.

Sanders grew up in the collision repair industry working alongside his father, also an industry veteran. In 1997, Caliber acquired their two collision repair shops, and since then, Sanders has held a variety of operational roles, including Caliber COO and later president and CEO.

Toyoda is known not only for his relation to the founder of the largest automotive company in the world, but also for taking the helm as CEO at Toyota after the market collapse of 2008 and guiding the company to where it is today. In 2012, Toyoda was named Man of

Jim Savas Joins Spanesi Americas

Spanesi Americas announced the addition of Savas Communications LLC Principal Jim Savas as a marketing consultant to the Spanesi Americas team. Savas will develop and execute Spanesi-Americas 2023 marketing strategy.

Savas is a seasoned automotive media professional championing Iconic consumer brands including Hot Rod, Motor Trend and National Speed Sports News. On the trade side he led ABRN, Motor Age and Aftermarket Business for 14 years. In Savas’s 40-plus years in the media, he’s successfully lead content teams, driven sale performance and executed marketing objectives.

“I’m very excited to join the Spanesi team, as a global company we’ve made the decision to be digitally focused on our marketing in 2023 and beyond,” Savas said. “I’m looking forward to working with our media partners and executing our strategy.”

Source: Spanesi Americas

Toyoda’s goals within the auto industry were clear. First, due to his passion for driving and motorsports, he pushed the conservative Japanese brand to reignite its performance offerings. Second, Toyoda was known for his slower approach to electrification, instead opting to sell alternative vehicles before rolling out more serious EV offerings.

The road ahead of Toyota is a difficult one. As more and more consumers move to electric offerings, the clock is certainly ticking for Toyota’s upcoming CEO. The potential change in strategy and leadership could be good for the company, perhaps resulting in a faster EV transition than many would expect.

“I believe that over the past 13 years, I have built a solid foundation for passing the baton forward,” Toyoda said.

Sanders will support David Simmons in his new role as president and CEO of Caliber. Simmons has a diverse background leading large, multinational organizations in the pharmaceutical industry and brings a wealth of experience to Caliber’s next phase of growth. He previously served as CEO of PPD, where he led the company’s global workforce of more than 30,000 employees across 46 countries. Prior to PPD, Simmons spent 15 years at Pfizer as the president of emerging markets and established product business units.

Caption: Akio Toyoda.

Source: Caliber

©2023 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

Save the Date For CONNEX Conference

Join CIECA and the collision industry at the 15th annual CIECA conference—CONNEX 2023.

The event is being held Sept. 12-13 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Bloomington, IL, and will include insightful and high-profile business and technical speakers, networking opportunities with all industry segments, an NABC Recycled Rides® vehicle gifting, a private factory tour of CIECA member Rivian’s EV plant and CIECA’s Open Annual Meeting and Board Meeting.

The theme of the conference this year is “Connected Car, Connected Industry.” All industry stakeholders, including CIECA members and non-members, are invited to attend. Registration information, hotel details and sponsorship opportunities will be announced soon.

CIECA is looking for thought leaders and industry professionals to present. We invite you to share your knowledge and expertise as we work together to explore emerging issues, forecast for the future, and discuss ways to prepare for the road ahead.

Source: CIECA

Nationwide Catalytic Converter VIN Etching Events Planned To Thwart Theft

Since the start of the pandemic, data trends analyzed by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) have indicated a drastic increase in vehicle crime across the U.S. Vehicle thefts, carjackings and catalytic converter thefts are all nearing record highs.

To help reduce current catalytic converter theft trends and protect consumers, NICB is partnering with businesses across the U.S. to hold VIN etching events.

“From supply chain disruptions to the exploding market value of precious metals, catalytic converters have become a prime target for thieves across the country,” said David J. Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB. “By attending a local VIN etching event, drivers can add another layer of protection for their vehicles and proactively help deter these crimes from occurring in the first place. ”

NICB, along with partners at Midas in Richmond, VA, and Shaheen Chevrolet in Lansing, MI, recently held VIN etching events in their respective communities.

“I had zero anticipation of a response like this,” said Mark Smith,

owner of Midas of Richmond. “The events are blowing up at our stores, and I mean that in the best of ways. We’re getting multiple, multiple calls a day.”

Catalytic converter thefts increased 1,215% between 2019 and 2022. The converters contain high value precious metals, specifically rhodium, palladium and platinum. The values of these metals have skyrocketed and currently, according to KITCO.com, are approximately:

Rhodium: $12,300

Palladium: $1,784

Platinum: $940

Hours after Smith and local law enforcement held a press conference to announce the new initiative, which involves spraypainting catalytic converters to deter would-be thieves, the appointmentonly time slots scheduled by Midas were booked.

“The more we can make our customers aware of the problem and offer them a solution, the better we can fight this crime,” said Ralph Shaheen, president of Shaheen Automotive Group. “Etching the converter is a start to prevention. It’s inexpensive, only takes a few minutes and is a great service to our customers.”

ARIZONA

Audi Gilbert Gilbert

877.412.2925

480.855.8101

480.346.9201 Fax

M-F 7am-6pm Sat 7am-1pm audiparts@audigilbert.com www.audigilbert.com

Audi Peoria

Peoria

877.358.8165

623.561.4750

623.561.4703 Fax

M-F 7am-6pm Sat 7am-5pm mendozaa4@autonation.com

TEXAS

Audi Dallas Dallas

866.327.2318

214.438.0894 Fax

M-F 7am-7pm Sat 9am-5pm

larry.elliott@audidallas.com www.audidallas.com

Though the value of the metals contained in catalytic converters is high, thieves will often receive $50 to $250 per catalytic converter they turn in to recycling facilities.

If you are interested in a local Catalytic Converter Etching event, visit www.nicb.org/news/regionalnews. If no events are currently scheduled in your area, contact a muffler shop that can etch your vehicle’s VIN  on the converter, and spray it with a highly visible highheat paint. Doing so enables the NICB and law enforcement to track the converters.

Should your catalytic converter be stolen, call law enforcement and your insurer immediately.

Source: NICB

Audi Fort Worth

Dallas/Fort Worth

817.632.6709

817.632.6747 Fax

M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 8am-3pm

sstallcup@audifortworth.com

oreyna@audifortworth.com www.audifortworth.com

Audi Grapevine

Dallas/Fort Worth

877.424.AUDI (2834) 817.553.2252/2258

M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm

sstallcup@audigrapevine.com

cmartinez@audigrapevine.com www.audigrapevine.com

Audi Plano

Dallas/Fort Worth

214.452.3830

214.452.3855 Fax

M-F 7am-7pm Sat 8am-5pm

gualotunao@autonation.com www.audiplano.com

Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers.

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

Ford Announces Major Changes To Improve Profitability, EVs

By William Johnson Teslarati

Ford on Feb. 15 announced a series of changes and design goals it will be implementing to increase profitability and improve its EV offerings.

Ford’s Q4 earnings report highlighted two major weak points for the company: profitability and quality control. Despite a strong demand for many of its vehicles, particularly its electric offerings, the company saw declines in those two key areas.

To battle these shortcomings, Ford CEO Jim Farley and his team of executives announced a series of changes they hope will revitalize the brand.

According to Reuters, the vast majority of efforts will be aimed at achieving an 8% profit margin on Ford’s next generation of electric vehicles. Compared to rivals, Ford believes it is down by roughly $8 billion in costs, easy to imagine considering the company’s massive $50 billion in planned spending towards electrification.

Planned cost-taming measures

include improving the management of production scheduling, which Ford said could reduce expenses by $2.5 billion alone. Further, thanks to the commodities market finally beginning to cool, Ford is poised to see a decrease in vehicle production costs.

to garner from the company’s new F1 team.

“Why do you think we are doing Formula 1? Because they have the best aero people in the world,” Farley said.

distribution operations.

Ford’s plan of slimming down offerings and improving manufacturing sounds similar to Volkswagen’s initial electrification

More specifically, regarding electric vehicles, Ford aims to produce its new LFP batteries for less than $70 per kWh, a massive leap compared to the NMC batteries Ford currently relies on. The Blue Oval will also be working to reduce battery sizes while maintaining range, thanks to aerodynamics technology it hopes

Hyundai, Kia Launch Anti-Theft Service Campaign

Hyundai and Kia have developed theft deterrent software for millions of their vehicles that lack an immobilizer and will provide it free of charge to vehicle owners.

The software updates the theft alarm software logic to extend the length of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to one minute and requires the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the vehicle on.

333-4542) for information on the free update.

Hyundai will also provide its customers with a window sticker alerting would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with anti-theft protection. Hyundai will send the stickers and roll out software updates in a phased approach beginning later in February, with subsequent phases over the next several months.

Kia is also rolling out its free software updates in a phased approach. The company will begin to update vehicles later this month, with ensuing phases throughout the next several months.

Ford will also be adopting a technology that has aided Tesla in its efforts to lower costs: large underbody castings. While the company was not specific regarding which vehicles would be receiving these new castings, they could likely be implemented within the next generation of many of its models, and the upcoming SUVs and trucks that Ford said have finalized designs.

Ford executives maintained changes are still coming to its dealership model. Reduced inventories and an increased reliance on online ordering will cut down on costs, further improving profitability. Ford will also be able to implement more changes to manufacturing, supply chain and

strategy put in place by the now departed Herbert Diess. However, unlike Diess, Farley has the backing of his executives and board members, including Bill Ford, who said Farley’s new plan will be “a full court press,” something he believes the company desperately needs.

Ford is at a pivotal point in its history, but unlike the other two Detroit-based brands that constitute “the Big Three,” GM and Stellantis, it has proven time and again it can endure and succeed. Hopefully, that will be the case with electrification, and perhaps, it will lead to faster electrification of the industry overall.

The effort is in response to a TikTok social media challenge that has spread nationwide and has resulted in at least 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities. NHTSA urges owners of these vehicles to contact Hyundai (toll-free at 800-6335151) or Kia (toll-free at 800-

Concurrently, the companies have been working with law enforcement agencies to provide more than 26,000 steering wheel locks since November 2022 to 77 law enforcement agencies in 12 states. NHTSA encourages interested vehicle owners to contact local law enforcement to see if a wheel lock is available.

Source: NHTSA

“Why do you think we are doing Formula 1? Because they have the best aero people in the world,”

JIM FARLEY FORD CEO

TRUST FORD PARTS

CERTIFIED PARTS WHOLESALING DEALERS

CHANDLER

480-763-6233

480-783-4655 Fax www.earnhardtford.com

MESA

480-530-9720

480-530-9708 Fax

Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-4 butch.lemen@lhmauto.com

Lakewood

LAKEWOOD

800-332-3722

720-481-2460

303-991-4134 Fax

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800-895-7827

817-577-2781

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Helfman Ford STAFFORD

281-240-7628

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Mac Haik Ford, Lincoln

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877-969-3055

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Earnhardt Ford

Larry H. Miller Ford Mesa

Larry H. Miller Ford

Ford

United Ford PDC

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The only parts that perform as great as they look. Give your customers the power to drive a vehicle you’re both proud of. These trusted Ford dealers below have the OEM parts you need. Place your order today.

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Ford Uncovers F-150 Lightning Battery Problem, Production To Resume in Weeks

By Steven Loveday InsideEVs

Ford has reportedly figured out what caused a battery issue in the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck that has temporarily halted production and shipping to dealers.

end of the week of Feb. 20, and use what it learns in the battery production process going forward, which could take a few weeks. The automaker doesn’t anticipate any related recalls.

When the production shutdown was first announced Feb. 14, Ford spokesperson Emma Bergg said Ford became aware of the potential issue during a pre-delivery quality inspection and issued the stop shipment order early in the week of Feb. 6. The carmaker hadn’t been apprised of any real-world incidents or problems related to the possible battery concern.

The company doesn’t believe the problem impacts trucks already delivered to dealers, and it says production should resume in a few weeks.

Ford reached out to Electrek and said it hopes to be done with its root-cause investigation by the

The F-150 Lightning is one of only three fully electric trucks currently available on our shores. Available competitors include the Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV. The Ford full-size electric truck carries a starting price of around $56,000.

Rivian Celebrates Production Milestones But Will Cut 6% of Workforce As Price War Looms

By Mark Kane, Joey Klender InsideEVs, Teslarati

There is no doubt 2022 was a challenging but fruitful year for Rivian, which, according to a video posted to YouTube, produced 25,051 electric vehicles, 20,332 of which were delivered to customers.

The company’s manufacturing plant in Normal, IL, runs two shifts and achieved a record 200 vehicles produced in a single day, which would equal roughly 70,000+ vehicles annually. The next step is the addition of a night shift to further increase the production of the R1T pickup, R1S SUV and EDV van.

However, Rivian will reportedly layoff 6% of its workforce, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, following pressure from EV rivals, which have cut prices significantly already in 2023, putting pressure on EV makers attempting to reach profitability.

The cuts are expected to affect 840 employees, but none related

CCC® ONE To Integrate With CDK System

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc., announced Jan. 31 its CCC® ONE Repair Workflow shop management solution is now available to dealerowned collision repairers via an integration with CDK Global’s dealer management system (DMS).

The integration will connect two systems mission-critical to dealer and repair center operations, streamlining repair management and creating visibility from the inception of the repair to billing. CDK Global is a leading automotive retail software provider. The new integration between CCC ONE and CDK’s DMS will allow the synchronizing of information like repair order numbers, customer and vehicle details, repair history and accounting data, creating a smoother process for dealerships and minimizing manual steps to reconcile ledger entries.

“We’re very pleased to create an integration with CCC Intelligent Solutions, giving our dealers the option to seamlessly access their repair management solutions,” said Sandy Orlando, senior vice president, CDK Data Services and Fortellis.

Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

to manufacturing operations at the plant in Normal.

“We must focus our resources on ramp and our path to profitability,” CEO RJ Scaringe said in the memo, before apologizing to the affected employees.

the best risk-adjusted returns on our capital investments.”

“At this point in time, we believe focusing on our consumer business, as well as our existing commercial business, represent the most attractive near-term opportunities to maximize value for Rivian,” Scaringe said at the time.

Rivian had lost $18 billion in cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q3 2022 compared to the same quarter a year earlier.

ABRA VP Announces Retirement

Mark Wahlin, a former ABRA franchisee and current ABRA vice president of franchise services and operations, announced his retirement.

Wahlin has been working in the collision repair industry for almost 50 years, where he has grown into an incredible leader and mentor. In December 1987, Wahlin signed to be the first ABRA franchisee. He sold his locations to ABRA corporate in October 1998. Recognizing Wahlin’s value, ABRA offered him a position with its corporate team, where he has spent the last 25 years.

Rivian has made several strategy moves over the past six months to conserve cash and work toward profitability within its operations. Just three months after signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Mercedes-Benz to develop electric vans, Rivian scrapped the deal as it needed to “evaluate growth opportunities” and “pursue

Rivian is also implementing improvements based on what it learned from initial production, as well as in response to some parts supply constraints. The increased production volume should help reduce the order backlog—which in the case of R1T/R1S pre-orders exceeds 100,000—and bring the company a step closer to financial profitability.

Through his tenure with ABRA, he has enhanced the operational processes within the ABRA network, aided in the overall growth and success of this brand, built amazing relationships with owners and much more.

Wayne Kelly, most recently VP of eastern operations for CARSTAR, will assume Wahlin’s role to serve as the VP of operations for ABRA. Kelly has a longstanding history with the ABRA franchise family, starting his career in the automotive industry working as a tech in one of Wahlin’s ABRA facilities.

Source: ABRA

Encourage Your Representatives To Join the Vehicle Data Access Caucus

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is asking auto repair shops to send a letter to their U.S. House of Representatives members encouraging them to join the newly established Vehicle Data Access Caucus.

The U.S. House of Representatives Vehicle Data Caucus is a bipartisan group formed by U.S. Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter, R-GA, and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-FL, to address the issue of vehicle data access.

Carter and Soto are members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, which will have jurisdiction for the vehicle data access issue. However, caucus membership is open to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Vehicle data access is an important issue for independent repair shops that rely on accessing vehicle data to repair their customers’ vehicles safely and effectively. The Vehicle Data Access Caucus will be essential in addressing critical dataaccess concerns.

In their “Dear Colleague” letter, Carter and Soto stated, “With tremendous advancements in technology over the last several years, vehicles are generating increasing amounts of data that can be accessed by a variety of

who can expand or limit services offered, and who will ensure privacy and cybersecurity.”

“The Vehicle Data Access Caucus represents an opportunity to establish national policy on an issue impacting the daily lives of shops across the U.S.,” said Scott Benavidez, ASA board chairman. “Independent repair shops conduct 70% of post-warranty repairs, and it is critical that independent repair shops continue to have access to the vehicle data they need to service these cars.”

sources ranging from in-vehicle ports to wireless transmission. As this vehicle data ecosystem evolves, there are growing questions about what data is accessible, to whom and under what circumstances. Policy and practical issues that must be addressed include who ‘owns’ or controls the vehicle data,

ASA is encouraging shops to send a letter to their representatives urging them to join the Vehicle Data Access Caucus. A national, bipartisan solution for this issue is essential to ensure independent repair shops have the vehicle data necessary for the repair of their customers’ vehicles.

Send a letter to your representative at www. votervoice.net/ASASHOP/ Campaigns/97966/Respond

Source: ASA

Credit: Rivian/Twitter

“The Vehicle Data Access Caucus represents an opportunity to establish national policy on an issue impacting the daily lives of shops across the U.S.,”

SCOTT BENAVIDEZ ASA BOARD CHAIRMAN

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