April 2023 Southwest Edition

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IIHS Research Scientist: ‘It Seems Calibration is the Weakest Link’

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

A first-of-its-kind consumer survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) showed the majority of people who own a vehicle with increasingly popular ADAS features are reporting issues with those features after a repair for any reason—but especially when the repair was the result of crash damage, or a windshield replacement.

While the self-reported survey of a sample of about 500 owners in the U.S. cannot say exactly how widespread the problem really is in the entire registered fleet, it’s a clear sign repairers need to invest in the tools and training to perform calibrations, and automakers need to make that information more accessible, said Alexandra Mueller, senior research scientist at IIHS and the study’s designer.

“Changes need to be made, and

there are definitely solutions that can be implemented,” Mueller said.

The survey, conducted in 2021, sought out owners of vehicles model year 2011 and newer, that had certain popular ADAS features: front crash prevention, which includes automatic emergency braking and front collision warning; blind spot monitoring; and cameras, including those providing rear and 360-degree views.

Of the 3,000 owners contacted, about 500 had taken in their vehicles for repairs and participated in the survey; 40% of those said their vehicles were a model year 2019 or newer.

Post-repair problems with ADAS were substantially more common among people who had features repaired because of crash damage or in connection with a windshield replacement. About two-thirds of owners whose ADAS feature repairs involved windshield replacement and

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TX Student Named Grand Prize Winner in Annual FutureTechs Rock Awards

Taeler Coverdale, a collision repair student at Universal Technical Institute in Houston, TX, has been named the grand prize winner in TechForce Foundation®’s 2023 FutureTechs Rock Awards.

TechForce created this prestigious award to honor aspiring technicians and recognize students with a promising future in the transportation industry. Learn more about the 2023 grand prize and category winners at TechForce.org/ FTR23Winners

“This is amazing! I’m in utter shock right now,” said Coverdale upon learning she is this year’s grand prize winner. “Thank you for the opportunity… being an example for other women… that’s what I

REGIONAL NEWS

want, that’s why I’m in this. I want to make a difference for women in this industry. If a girl sees that she might think she’s able to do this as a career.”

More than 4,000 TechForce followers voted in this year’s awards. The student with the most votes was Coverdale, earning her the grand prize among 10 contenders who were all category winners. Coverdale was previously named as the collision repair category winner.

“Role models like Taeler show students that there is a place for them in technician careers,” said TechForce Executive Director Jennifer Maher. “As we all know, young people are so much more

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Auto Theft Bill Advances in Colorado Senate

By Joe Mueller

The Center Square

A bill making all auto thefts felonies was praised by law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, mayors and victims before it was voted out of Colorado’s Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 27.

Senate Bill 23-097 also would eliminate penalties based on the value of the stolen vehicle. It now heads to the Senate Appropriations

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Columnist Mike Anderson: My ‘Wish List’ of Changes to Improve the Collision Repair Industry

Columnist Ed Attanasio: Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros.

Columnist Stacey Phillips: Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV Vehicle

Market Data

Columnist John Yoswick: Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair

COLUMNISTS

Hertz, Mayor Launch ‘Hertz Electrifies Houston’

Hertz Chair and CEO Stephen Scherr and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner launched Hertz Electrifies Houston and announced intentions to expand the availability of EVs, charging infrastructure and EV education and training opportunities in Houston.

The initiative aligns with Turner’s Houston Climate Action Plan, a strategy that sets out to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve regional air quality and build climate resilience.

“We are excited to partner with Mayor Turner and Evolve Houston to bring Hertz Electrifies to the Energy Capital of the World, and to expand charging capacity for our customers and the broader community,” said Scherr. “As Hertz creates the largest EV rental fleet in North America, we look forward to working with the city, Lone Star College-North Harris and other organizations to expand the benefits of electrification in the Houston community.”

Hertz aims to bring more than 2,100 rental EVs to Houston, nearly tripling its existing EV fleet in the city---including models from Tesla, Polestar and GM---for availability

to leisure and business customers as well as rideshare drivers. In partnership with bp pulse, Hertz will support the installation of a large, EV fast-charging hub designed to serve ride-hail, taxi fleets, and the general public at the Hertz location at Houston Hobby airport.

“Our goal is to convert all nonemergency, light-duty municipal vehicles to electric by 2030. This partnership with Hertz will provide an invaluable boost to achieve this goal and the goal of our Climate Action Plan for Houston to be a net-zero city by 2050,” said Turner. “Electrification can benefit every community in Houston. We’re proud to work with Hertz and bp pulse to build up electric fleets and charging infrastructure and bring education and training that will provide new opportunities to all Houstonians.”

“Reliable, fast-charging options are critical to scale EV adoption in America and we are thrilled to work with Hertz to bring fast charging to the Houston community. Along with our partnership with Hertz to develop a Gigahub site at their Houston Hobby Airport location, we are also developing a charging

Ford Confirms F-150 Lightning Production Resumes Following Battery Fire

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Ford confirmed March 13 that production of the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup restarted that morning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) following a shutdown due to a battery fire.

inspection. Ford said the root cause of the fire was identified soon after.

Ford worked with battery supplier SK On to refine the engineering of battery cells, where the fire’s cause was pinpointed. SK On recommended a series of changes to its battery cells, and Ford agreed, which then allowed the supplier to restart production at its plant in Commerce, GA.

Ford F-150 Lightning units already at dealerships were unaffected and were allowed to be sold to consumers, the company confirmed.

hub at bp’s corporate HQ campus in Houston that will be open to the public,” said Vic Shao, president of bp pulse fleet. “We look forward to bringing more fast-charging options to more Americans, and closing the infrastructure gap that is hindering wide scale EV adoption.”

To help inform the buildout of charging infrastructure across all neighborhoods of Houston, Hertz is sharing with the city anonymous, aggregated telematic insights from its fleet of connected cars through the “Hertz Charging Opportunity Index.”

“The Greater Houston area has made significant progress in meeting electrification goals,” said Casey Brown, president and executive director of Evolve Houston. “We think that the Hertz Electrifies partnership with the city will help grow the electric vehicle sector in Houston and look forward to leveraging shared insights to continue to expand charging infrastructure across all Houston communities.”

Hertz is donating an electric vehicle and providing EV educational and training materials

to Lone Star College-North Harris to enable the school to incorporate EV technology into its auto servicing curriculum. Hertz is also making summer jobs available to young people in Houston, including through the Hire Houston Youth Summer Jobs program.

“Lone Star College-North Harris houses one of top automotive programs in Texas,” said Lone Star College-North Harris President Dr. Archie L. Blanson. “To make our students competitive and meet industry demand, we must ensure we are bringing the latest technologies, including a diversified fleet of EVs into the classroom. We are glad to fulfill students’ academic needs through our partnership with Hertz and Houston. Together we will continue working to ensure that our students are prepared for the jobs and technologies of the future.”

Houston is the second city to partner with Hertz in this new initiative that will soon expand to other cities across the country to create economic opportunity and environmental benefits for communities.

Source: The Hertz Corporation

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared images of F-150 Lightning production lines, stating, “This is the engineering standard we aim to deliver consistently.”

In February, Ford shut down production and shipment of the F-150 Lightning after a battery fire occurred in one unit during a quality

In early March, the company recalled 18 units of the pickup, which stemmed from the battery cell issue. Ford said it recalled the units due to “a battery cell manufacturing defect” that occurred over a four-week period at the end of 2022.

No injuries or accidents occurred that Ford was aware of, and the automaker said it had “a clean stock of battery packs” for the March 13 restart of production.

Ford CEO Jim Farley shared on Twitter images of Ford F-150 Lightning production lines up and running again March 13.

My ‘Wish List’ of Changes to Improve the Collision Repair Industry

Once a year or so, I compile my “wish list” for the industry, the changes—in some cases, long-awaited changes— I’d like to see happen to help our industry. As always, I challenge you— whether you represent a collision repair business, an insurance company, an automaker, an association or an industry vendor—to find a way to contribute to making these 10 wishes become reality.

Wish No. 1: Automakers should change the antiquated way they require dealership collision centers to report their financials.

Most independent body shops actually have a competitive advantage over dealership body shops when it

Wish No. 2: Some entity in the industry needs to take the lead in developing a clear technician career path and apprenticeship training.

The technician shortage isn’t going to get solved until there’s an easier and better way for every shop to grow its own new technicians. We need some organization—I-CAR or an automaker, for example—to put together a program that does that.

Wish No. 3: All collision repair shops should inspect the seat belts in every vehicle they repair, every single time.

OK, body shops, so far on this list, I’ve left you off in terms of

in the mirror and start holding people accountable for doing the right thing. Automakers need to make this part of their auditing of certified body shops.

Wish No. 5: Insurers and the automakers need to stop leaving shops in the middle of the friction related to vehicle safety inspections.

Most automakers have clear requirements for the safety inspections, in addition to checking seat belts, that must be performed on their vehicles after a crash. These requirements—which can include measuring the steering column, checking SRS connectors, etc.—are the single biggest friction point in the collision repair industry today.

Insurers say they don’t want to pay for this work. Uneducated dealerships and even some certified shops are saying it doesn’t need to be done. That leaves the shops trying to do the right thing stuck in the middle.

My wish is that insurers and the automakers would sit down and get this figured out, and take shops out of the middle. It’s wrong on all accounts.

Wish No. 6: All automakers need to make one-time-use parts more easily identified.

and I can tell you the No. 1 issue we see is that parts don’t get coded properly. There has to be a better way.

Wish No. 8: Dealership wholesale parts departments need to “play nice in the sandbox” with one another.

I can’t tell you the number of times I hear about a body shop needing a part being told it’s on backorder— only for the shop to find out a dealership in another market has it, but won’t sell it to a customer outside their market. I recently heard about

comes to examining and analyzing their financials to determine where there are areas for profitability improvement. That’s because independent body shops generally use QuickBooks or BusinessWorks or a shop management system from which they can get very detailed accounting with sub-accounts.

Unfortunately, a lot of dealership shops have to rely on the more limited financial data they get from the dealership’s management system, or are required by the auto manufacturer to report their financials in a certain way. That can make it harder for shop managers to compare their financial performance against collision repair industry benchmarks. I’d like to see this change.

I also believe dealership body shops also should get credit for the parts sales they contribute to the dealership’s overall business. When they don’t, it negatively skews the true financial performance of the shop.

responsibility for making this stuff happen. But this one is totally on you. I don’t see the post-crash seat belt inspections that are called for in the OEM procedures—and even in most vehicle owner’s manuals—being done consistently enough.

Don’t tell me the insurers won’t pay for it. Our “Who Pays for What?” surveys prove that’s not true. But even if you’re not paid for it, it’s your moral obligation to do the right thing and perform those seat belt inspections every time. You owe it to your customers.

Wish No. 4: Every technician should perform weld destructive testing prior to welding on any vehicle.

Again, I’ve seen first-hand the improper welds that can be made when this mandatory step is skipped. It disheartens me when I travel 300 days a year and see how many technicians and shops aren’t doing this every time. Shops needs to look

Some OEMs have symbols in their documentation—which then gets into the estimating systems—identifying which parts must be replaced as part of the collision repair process. Toyota uses a black dot, for example, and Nissan a black dot with a white X. My wish is that every automaker would use a symbol for one-time-use parts in order to be make them easily identifiable.

Wish No. 7: All shop management systems need to make it easy to ensure proper coding from an accounting perspective for parts that are price-matched.

This one has been on my list for a number of years. If a shop uses an OEM part instead of a non-OEM part, it doesn’t always get coded properly, sometimes because of an insurer requirement as part of a direct repair program. This creates an accounting nightmare, with OEM parts gross profit being understated, and aftermarket part gross profit being overstated.

Our team works with the financials for more than 400 collision repairers,

a shop’s customer actually locating a part at another dealership, and finding it unfathomable the shop, dealerships and automaker couldn’t keep this problem from happening. It makes all of us look stupid. Parts departments need to work better with one another.

Wish No. 9: The industry as a whole needs to understand inprocess scans are also needed on every vehicle.

I think the industry has pretty much caught up on the need for preand post-repair scans, but less so on the importance of in-process scans. Many diagnostic trouble codes need to be cleared after reassembly but before you test drive the vehicle or perform calibrations. More of the industry need to get better educated about this.

Wish No. 10: Insurers need to stop hiding behind remote claims handling and get back to negotiating fairly.

Shops say insurance companies are increasingly sending back supplements saying it’s all they will pay and hiding behind the computer. They never call the shop and have a discussion. It’s frustrating and not fair to the shops. Insurance companies need to get back to having dialogue with shops in regards to items they don’t want to pay for, versus just saying they’re not paying for it.

That’s my list for this year. Will any of these things happen before next year’s list?

“But even if you’re not paid for it, it’s your moral obligation to do the right thing and perform those seat belt inspections every time.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

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Mon-Fri: 7:30 - 6:30 • Sat: 8:30 - 12:30

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Grand Prize Winner

likely to pursue a career if they see people like them succeeding in it. Women account for less than 3% of transportation techs, and so welcoming women into the trade is critical to addressing the ongoing technician shortage. TechForce is proud to celebrate Taeler and the new generation of women joining the industry.”

As the grand prize winner, Coverdale will receive a $1,000 TechForce scholarship and $4,000 in prizes from TechForce and sponsors including Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, Cengage Learning, CRC Industries, Mighty Auto Parts, New Ford Tech, Nissan, Snapon Industrial, Volvo and WD-40 Company.

Through the FutureTechs Rock Awards, TechForce and its partners have awarded 50 transportation technician students with more than $67,000 in prizes and scholarships since 2019. The awards are made possible because of generous donations from people and companies that believe everyone should have a chance to succeed.

Each of the 10 category winners has been awarded $1,500 in

prizes. Category winners were selected by industry-expert judges from hundreds of high school and post-secondary nominations, representing 182 campuses across 38 states. 30% of the category winners were women, a significant proportion considering only 3% of professional technicians are women. The 10 category winners represent seven states and 10 schools, with each being recognized in a distinct technical education discipline:

* Automotive—Abbie Vetse, Hennepin Technical College, Maple Grove, MN

* Aviation—Teresa Sacca, Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, CA

* Collision Repair—Taeler Coverdale, Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX

* Diesel Off-Road—Nicholas Isaly, Lenawee ISD TECH Center, Adrian, MI

* Diesel On-Road—Andrew Younkin, Western Technical College, El Paso, TX

* Marine and Watercraft— Benjamin Pooler, Portland Arts & Technology High School, Buxton, ME

* Motorcycle and ATV—Everrett Novak, Motorcycle Mechanics

Institute, Phoenix, AZ

* Motorsports—Benjamin Delauter, NASCAR Technical Institute, Mooresville, NC

* Restoration—Tyler Renken, Central Carolina Community College, Bunnlevel, NC

* Welding and CNC—Connor Essary, St. Clair TEC, St. Clair, MI

The FutureTechs Rock Awards are part of TechForce’s workforce development campaign to inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. TechForce also created the first and only social network designed and gamified for professional technicians and tech students to connect with each other, employers and schools (TechForce. org). The transportation community is supporting it with content and using it to learn, connect, find events and explore job opportunities while competing for prizes and leaderboard status.

Source: TechForce Foundation

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK : Autobody News

The 2023 ASE Instructor Training Conference is scheduled for July 17-20 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Concord, NC, just outside of Charlotte.

Hosted by the ASE Education Foundation, the conference will host hundreds of high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs nationwide at the premier national training event of the year.

Offering more than 20 hours of technical update training, the in-person conference will provide separate tracks for auto, medium/heavy truck and collision repair instructors. The cost for instructors from ASEaccredited programs is $600 per person while the cost for instructors from non-accredited programs is $700 each.

For more information or to register, visit aseeducationfoundation.org/ events/ase-instructor-trainingconference.

Source: ASE

Phoenix Woman Presented With NABC Recycled Ride At I-CAR Western Regional Meeting

A deserving Phoenix recipient experienced a life-changing event—the presentation of a vehicle to provide her independence and the ability to work and take care of her family—thanks to car donor Allstate, Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting, Meineke Car Care and the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.

The presentation was held at the Marriott Phoenix Airport as part of the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) western regional meeting. The deserving recipient was selected by Family Promise of Greater Phoenix.

“It was a real pleasure for me and my partners to participate in the NABC Recycled Rides program and see the reaction of the recipient when the vehicle was unveiled,” said Jake Brown, co-president of Freedom Brands, owners of Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting and Meineke Car Care in Deer Valley, AZ. “We are committed to give back to the community and

support those in need, so we plan to refurbish three more vehicles for the NABC program this year.”

The recipient of the 2019 Nissan Maxima is a divorced, single mother of a 6-year-old loving daughter, who with the help of Family Promise, has been successfully working through a difficult time in her life.

of a lack of transportation and the long distance involved. We are so grateful to all the people involved in making this possible.”

Many members of the NABC and their vendors contributed to this event, including Allstate, which donated the vehicle, I-CAR, which sponsored the event, Maaco and Meineke, which made the repairs, and other partners that contributed to the repairs, including Advance Auto Parts, Arizona Auto Parts, Discount Tires, Dirty Dog’s Detailing, Interstate Battery, LKQ, Service Champ and 1-800 Charity Cars.

The winter registration deadline for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) testing and recertification is March 31.

Those service professionals registering by the deadline will have 90 days to schedule an appointment to take their selected ASE tests.

ASE now offers three options for taking certification or recertification tests.

“This vehicle is truly a blessing to our client, who is determined to create a safe and secure life for herself and her child,” said Kathy Kaplan, program director for Family Promise of Greater Phoenix. “She is hard working, reliable and committed to her success. This wonderful gift will be the next step toward her financial freedom and security. She will be able to accept the job offer that she couldn’t take before because

NABC Recycled Rides is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides program in 2007, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,000 vehicles valued at some $42 million.

Source: NABC

In-person testing is available throughout the year and is conducted days, nights and weekends at more than 450 secured, proctored Prometric test centers. Those with unexpired automobile certifications (A1-A9) can use the ASE renewal app for recertification. ASE also offers ProProctor remote testing as an online recertification solution for all ASE recertifications tests, excluding L1 and L2 tests.

To register and select an available option to take selected ASE certification tests, visit ASE. com by March 31.

Source: ASE

Opus IVS Gives Auto Body Shops Confidence To Diagnose the Most Complex Vehicles

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

When diagnostics became a daily part of every collision repairer’s life less than a decade ago, many owners were hoping calibrations would be an option. Those days are long gone, and with cars getting more complex every day, auto body shops are turning techs into diagnosticians and creating full-fledged departments to do calibrations, with training, accuracy and knowledge at the forefront.

Opus IVS (Intelligent Vehicle Services) has established itself as a leader in its solution offerings, and has grown considerably, signing up MSOs and small independent shops at a consistent and rapid rate. It is also experiencing overwhelming interest and inquiries for new business with fleets, car rental and vehicle auction companies.

CEO Brian Herron and Global Sales Leader Bill O’Brien sat down recently with Autobody News to talk about the company’s capabilities and why it is expanding its footprint in the collision repair industry.

Autologic, Farsight, BlueLink and AutoEnginuity. It focuses on addressing the evolving needs of auto body repair shops, giving them the confidence to get the most complex vehicles back on the road safely and quickly without having to sublet work out to the local dealership—an overwhelming occurrence still adversely impacting the repair industry.

The journey began in 2005, focusing solely on mechanical repair. In 2020, Opus IVS entered the collision repair industry, and today it performs approximately 9,000 services every day, including scans and calibrations. With locations throughout the U.S., UK and Australia, Opus IVS is growing quickly and becoming the go-to diagnostics company for many of the country’s largest MSOs. Its DriveSafe with IVSTrio is backed by IVS 360™ Live Expert Support and fully integrated with CCC ONE® software.

Herron and his company started out serving the mechanical side of the industry by helping to create legislation that set the table for where we are today with ADAS and diagnostics.

“Back in 2013, the company played an integral role in the Right to Repair movement,” Herron said.

“Some of the language in there came from our direct work with the OEMs and Right to Repair Coalition to find a solution. We helped support both sides during the Massachusetts Right to Repair battles, both the 2013 battle and most recently in 2020.

factors,” Herron said. “So that’s where the remote service business picked up the slack.

path instead of searching via Google or other third party providers. This knowledge is more important than ever, especially with the shortage of technicians that we are experiencing right now,” Herron concluded. “A shop may be adept at working on Fords or Chevys, but what do they know when they have a complex issue with a Tesla, Mercedes or BMW?”

Opus IVS is filling the gaps and stepping up with the especially tricky and complex issues associated with many of the luxury brands, O’Brien said.

Opus IVS helps shops repair complex vehicles quickly with its diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance. The company is committed to helping mechanical and collision shops to complete repairs with intelligent vehicle support, and an emphasis on accountability and safety. Opus IVS uses its extensive expertise in vehicle communications combined with a world-class cloudbased architecture and hundreds of ASE-certified technicians and OEM Dealer Master Technicians to deliver solutions for its customers.

The company is the Intelligent Vehicle Support division of Opus Group, formed through the industryleading acquisitions of DrewTech,

“This legislation really was a bridge between the OEM diagnostics and the ability for third parties to be able to use it for items like OEM scanning and calibration,” Herron said. “So that was one of the building blocks that we helped to pull together. We supported the OEs, but then Right to Repair was the bridge to get that technology into the aftermarket delivering OE software and tools.”

The Right to Repair laws helped shops to access valuable OE information, but it wasn’t the complete recipe for success, Herron said.

“Eventually what we all found is that just providing the repair industry the aftermarket OEM tools wasn’t enough because of the need for training, lack of experience in shops, other priorities and many other

“It’s all about accessibility, because let’s say that you are a tech at your local repair shop and regularly repair General Motors, Ford and Toyota vehicles, and you’re confident with understanding the technology on those repairs, but now, BMW or Mercedes rolls into your shop,” Herron continued. “You want to help that customer, repair the vehicle according to procedures, but you don’t have the experience with that brand. That’s why we currently have experienced certified

“Our ability to go from the UK, Canada, Australia and perform a review of the mechanical and collision repair-related programming in Dexter, MI, is a huge plus for the industry,” O’Brien said. “Our strong support network coupled with our industry awarded solutions can guide our customers through every aspect of that repair and ensure the programming and calibration is done right the first time.”

Part of the company’s success is from providing options.

“Our shop clients can use our tools all day long without contacting us, because we allow them to do their own scanning in-house,” Herron said. “They can perform a quick scan for a pre- and post-scan, but if they want to do an OEM scan, they can reach out to us for assistance with that or reach out for help with a complex problem. We try to give them the ability to do things without needing to reach out to us but at the same time, we’re there to be able to support them with maybe additional functionality or extra brand support.

“We have support groups at five locations worldwide, partially based on time zones,” Herron said. “Plus, every region has a predominance of particular brands. You see different cars in Detroit than you do in California, for example. So, it’s important for us to pull technicians from different markets to accommodate our shops in those areas. You can take care of it locally and do an OEM diagnostic without help if you choose.”

technicians at our call centers, that are accessible and ready to assist you and your shop with explanations of the codes presented and the requirements needed to address the repair and what’s going to need to be calibrated.

“We help guide them down a

ADAS isn’t slowing down any time soon and OPUS IVS plans to be there every step of the way. MSOs and independents all over the world are embracing this company’s way of diagnosing today’s vehicles and as a result, Opus IVS will undoubtedly continue to grow.

CEO Brian Herron, left, and Global Sales Leader Bill O’Brien, right, at Opus IVS help shops repair complex vehicles fast with their diagnostics, programming and live repair guidance from OEM brand-specific master technicians

Opus IVS is performing 9,000 scans every day

“Our ability to go from the UK, Canada, Australia and perform a review of the mechanical and collision repair-related programming in Dexter, MI, is a huge plus for the industry. Our strong support network coupled with our industry awarded solutions can guide our customers through every aspect of that repair and ensure the programming and calibration is done right the first time.”

BILL O’BRIEN OPUS IVS GLOBAL SALES LEADER

Aging TX State Vehicle Fleet Fuels 10s of Millions in New Money Requests by Agencies

By Karen Brooks Harper The Texas Tribune

The first thing Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson noticed when she peered into the tiny cab of her office’s only state vehicle was the manual window crank.

“I haven’t used these in years,” she exclaimed, rotating the squeaking handle of the 1998 Ford Ranger and chuckling as the window scudded open.

The pristine white 25-year-old pickup, owned by the agency since George W. Bush was governor, is way overdue for a replacement, according to the state’s vehicle maintenance plan---which recommends new stateowned passenger vehicles after nine years or 100,000 miles.

With fewer than 35,000 miles, the truck is well under the mileage limit. But it’s more than double the age limit for trucks in its class—not to mention that of the average American’s personal automobile.

“She’s a grand ol’ dame,” Nelson said, with an affectionate look at the pickup. “But it’s time for her to retire. Honestly, it’s a safety factor with the older vehicles. And the new ones are more efficient on safety and technology.”

To that end, Nelson is asking state budget writers for $30,000 to purchase a replacement vehicle and put the old Ranger out to pasture (or, more likely, up for auction or resale).

It is but a drop in the bucket for a state with a $32.7 billion cash surplus this budget cycle---an amount of money that could gas up Texans’ cars for a year. But it’s also one of many agencies asking to replace old, tired vehicles at some point before the Legislature meets again in 2025. Those requests total $237.6 million, including $60 million in new requests over the current budget cycle.

And although it’s hard to predict how much they will ultimately get, it’s easy to understand why lawmakers appear to be supportive of fully funding those requests in early budget drafts, agency officials say.

The average age of the nearly 34,000 vehicles in the state-owned fleet belonging to 100 agencies, colleges and universities is about 10 years, according to a recent report by the Texas comptroller’s office.

Some vehicles, like semitrailers owned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, date to the 1970s and have nearly 1 million miles on them, spokesperson Jason Clark said. Others, like those used by Attorney General  Ken Paxton’s office, are mostly late-model vehicles purchased

in the last five years.

If all of the requests are approved with no changes, the state would be spending nearly 30% more on vehicle replacement this year than in the past two years.

The money for fleet management and replacement comes from general revenue tax dollars. Sometimes it’s allocated for that purpose by lawmakers in the budget bill, but other times it’s paid to agencies out of dedicated revenue streams that require no specific action by lawmakers.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, for example, used the Sporting Goods Sales Tax last cycle to purchase 562 vehicles after voters approved a constitutional amendment that allowed the agency to use it for that reason, a spokesperson said.

Many of those new vehicles were replacing trucks that were 20 years old.

Urgent Needs

With more than 260,000 square miles of ground to cover in Texas, agencies say using state vehicles is typically cheaper, safer and more reliable than rentals or mileage reimbursements for employees—particularly those whose jobs include on-site inspections, working in remote places and conducting statewide investigations.

When that safety and reliability start to falter, that creates some urgent needs for the agencies, officials told lawmakers.

The Texas Historical Commission is asking for nearly $2 million to replace 69 vehicles in its fleet of 99, after being denied any funding to replace 57 of them in 2021. Employees use those vehicles to maintain some 35 historical sites throughout Texas, many of them in extremely remote areas.

If another cycle goes by with no new vehicles, according to the agency’s appropriations request, 70% of the fleet will average 12 years of age by 2025, with a handful clocking double the amount of miles recommended by the state for replacement, commission chair John L. Nau III told the Senate Finance Committee in January.

“I run a very, very large fleet, and we have some vehicles that have some mileage levels that are probably not good to be out on the street,” Nau said.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission wants $1.3 million to replace 28 vehicles, some as old as 16 years, after budget cuts in 2021 resulted in office closures and staff reductions. That forced employees to drive more miles to conduct investigations, including inspections

of the more than 59,000 liquorlicensed locations the TABC monitors throughout the state, the agency said in its request.

Large Fleets, High Costs

Overall operational costs of the state’s fleet, including fuel, maintenance and repair, jumped from $0.53 per mile in 2016 to $0.72 per mile in 2021. Then it almost doubled to $1.40 per mile in 2022.

A state-owned passenger bus— such as those used by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to transport inmates between facilities— should be replaced when it’s 10 years old or has 300,000 miles on it, Clark said.

But two dozen of the prison system’s vehicles are 20 years old with more than 600,000 miles on them, Clark said. In 2021, the fuel cost alone for the agency’s fleet of about 2,600 was roughly $9.7 million. Last year, that cost jumped to $14.8 million— enough to fund the Texas Commission on the Arts for two years or the Texas Ethics Commission for four.

Many of those vehicles are used to transport food and supplies to prison facilities, making their reliability “literally a meat-and-potatoes issue for

us,” Clark said.

But they’re also used to transport inmates, sometimes with 30 passengers or more—and when one of those vehicles breaks down, local law enforcement has to be called to the scene to maintain security, along with other logistical issues, Clark said.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking for $12 million to replace vehicles next biennium, and agency officials say that rising costs are decreasing the amount of vehicles the agency can purchase each year.

The fuel bill for 7.7 million gallons of gas consumed by the DPS fleet in 2021 was $18.6 million. Last year, it was nearly twice that for 8.6 million gallons.

Others asking for money for new vehicles include the juvenile prison system, the state Department of Agriculture, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Many aren’t asking for anything new this cycle.

The Texas attorney general’s office, for one, isn’t asking to bump up the funding for new cars this time. Its budget request instead focuses on new money for salary increases, tech updates and additional staff and

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 Professionally

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Mercedes-Benz Executive Shares EV Considerations with Collision Repairers

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

With the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), collision repair facilities need to prepare for the changes now and in the future, according to Benito Cid, collision business development manager for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA).

“In different parts of the world, different markets are going to react differently,” said Cid. “You have some countries where they’ve adopted EVs and they have a very high percentage of vehicles sold already, and then you have others that EVs still have some ramping up to do. EVs are coming and we have to be ready.”

During a recent Guild 21 webinar, sponsored by OEC and hosted by George Avery, Holly SwitzerPitts and Micki Woods, Cid shared information about EVs and some of the differences in handling and repairing them. With more than 30 years of experience in the collision industry, Cid has worked for MBUSA for more than a decade, and previously focused on the insurance claims side of the business for 17 years.

Mercedes-Benz Path to Electric Cid said Mercedes-Benz has aggressive EV development goals in the U.S. and plans to go fully electric by 2030 where market conditions allow. In preparation, all vehicle lines moving forward will have an electric option.

“Historically, our EVs have been based off internal combustion engines (ICE) and both vehicle types use similar platforms,” he explained. “Going forward, new vehicles will be designed as EVs with the ability to add an internal combustion engine if needed, depending on the market.”

The EQ brand was the auto manufacturer’s entry into the EV market, launched in Europe in 2018. The EQS sedan was first offered in the U.S. in 2021. Since then, MBUSA has introduced the EQB and EQS SUVs and the EQE sedan. By yearend, the company plans to have six EVs on the market.

Unlike other OEMs, MBUSA offers shops different levels of its Certified Collision Program. With base certification, Cid said repairers can perform collision repair work on all passenger cars except those requiring aluminum welding. With Elite, repairers can also work on aluminum structural repairs. Mercedes EQ authorizes work on EVs, and Mercedes Vans authorizes

facilities to perform structural and cosmetic repairs on Sprinter and Metris vehicles.

“Once you’re Elite, there is no additional fee to become EQ certified,” explained Cid. “The goal was to make sure that facilities across the country have the right training.”

This includes hands-on education at one of the MBUSA centers across the country, as well as online and virtual training options. For information, visit www. mbcollisioncenters.com/becomecollision-center

appraisers writing estimates and body shops doing the repairs.

“These are all touchpoints and potential hazards when dealing with an EV, not because they are more dangerous but because they are different than ICE vehicles,” Cid noted.

Typically, EVs require less maintenance than ICE vehicles due to fewer moving parts, but Cid said there are potential issues that need to be addressed due to the batteries and motors. He used the example of dragging a vehicle onto a wrecker rather than finding the best way to move it safely.

An EV tends to be heavy due to the weight of its battery, which can play into concerns about lifting, moving and working on it. As a result, Cid recommends shops learn how to handle EVs safely.

Cid stressed the importance of always checking the OEM repair procedures on the auto manufacturer’s website. OEM procedures can also be accessed on OEM1Stop.com.

“I don’t think I can stress that enough on every single vehicle you’re touching,” said Cid. “The excuse of ‘I didn’t know’ isn’t going to save you from what happens when the car goes out on the road with the customer if it has been improperly repaired.”

He said the safety aspect is not just about the liability after the repair; it’s also the liability of everyone involved.

To power its vehicles, MercedesBenz is opening battery production locations worldwide. This includes the Mercedes-Benz eCampus in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and facilities in Hungary, Poland, Thailand and Alabama in the U.S.

Mercedes-Benz is also establishing an open charger network with ChargePoint Holdings, an EV charging provider, and MN8 Energy, a solar, stationary power and renewable energy provider. More than 400 hubs across North America are expected to be set up with more than 2,500 ChargePoint DC fast charging ports.

Another development announced in March is a new battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Germany, to recycle battery raw materials.

EV Repair Considerations

Although the repair process is similar with ICE vehicles and EVs—minus the drivetrain and battery—Cid said there are unique considerations to keep in mind with EVs.

He said repairers are already familiar with the potential dangers with ICE vehicles; however, there will be a learning curve when hearing some of the precautions that need to be taken with EVs.

One of the biggest concerns is the safety aspect of the battery and ensuring repairers and others know what to do and what not to do. This includes tow truck companies transporting vehicles, insurance

Mercedes-Benz is addressing safety considerations through its free Rescue Assist app, accessed using a QR code inside the vehicle. It contains details with safety-relevant components such as airbags, batteries, power and high-current fuel lines, plus the tanks for fuel, oil and gas. It also includes information about the high-voltage components in electric and hybrid vehicles and where to locate the emergency power down.

Another change Cid pointed out with EVs is the amount of charge the battery has when it leaves the shop. Previously, there wasn’t a major concern with ICE vehicles having a low fuel tank; however, this isn’t the case if an EV has a low battery and might not make it to the next charging station.

One of the standard requirements for Mercedes-Benz EV certification is having at least an 80% charge when delivered to the customer.

The EV Customer

During the company’s EV journey, Cid said the car manufacturer is finding customers have very different expectations with EVs and the reason for buying them.

“Customers tend to be more techsavvy,” he said. “A lot of them weren’t really interested in cars beforehand but now they’re buying EVs for all of the technology available in these cars.”

Cid said this is helpful for first responders who need this information quickly following an accident and for insurance appraisers and body shops who may have never seen these vehicles before.

Many of Mercedes-Benz’s patents regarding occupant safety are open and available for other auto manufacturers.

“It has always been impressive to me to have a company to be able to provide that, especially when it comes to the safety of the occupants in the vehicle,” said Cid.

In addition to the safety aspects of an EV, another consideration is the process of painting an EV after a repair. “Sometimes, there are limitations on how hot the vehicle can get,” he said.

Talking to collision centers nationwide, Cid said many people who have adopted EVs early on tend to be very in tune with their cars. This may result in them calling the shop after noticing the battery is below a certain percentage or asking why their car was moved during the repair. In response, he recommends shops always put EVs in service mode.

“This is something that collision centers probably aren’t used to,” said Cid.

Looking ahead, Cid recommends shop owners and managers begin thinking about the types of vehicles they want to specialize in and invest in the tooling, equipment and training required to be successful.

To access Mercedes-Benz service and technical repair subscription information, visit www.startekinfo. com/home

Learn more about Guild 21 at go.oeconnection.com/guild21

By year-end, Mercedes-Benz plans to have six EVs on the market

“One of the biggest concerns is the safety aspect of the battery and ensuring repairers and others know what to do and what not to do.”

BENITO CID COLLISION BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR MERCEDES-BENZ USA

Director of Digital Products

The Auto Care Association on Feb. 22 announced the addition of David Logan as its new director of digital products.

Logan will lead Auto Care’s ongoing development and maintenance of the product suite. In addition, he will collaborate with stakeholders to develop product roadmaps and determine which technology is needed to achieve the vision.

Logan is a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions in product management and catalog direction. He has a proven track record of success working with top brands in the industry, including FEL-PRO, Sealed Power, Raybestos, TRICO, Carter, FRAM and Victor-Reinz.

Logan has worked for renowned organizations such as DANA Corp., Federal-Mogul and First Brands Group, serving automotive retailers, wholesalers and independent customers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Source: Auto Care Association

l CONTINUED FROM COVER Auto

Theft Bill

Committee.

“A colleague said to me earlier today this was a message bill,” said Sen. Bob Gardner , R-Colorado Springs, who co-sponsored the legislation. “We do message bills. In some sense, every bill we pass has a message. It’s a message about what we believe. … This bill is a message to criminals.”

Current law states theft of a vehicle worth $2,000 or less is a misdemeanor. The proposed bill would eliminate penalties based on the value of the vehicle or vehicles stolen.

“It’s a provision of our state law that just doesn’t make sense,” said co-sponsor Sen. Rachel Zenzinger , D-Arvada.

Several others testified in agreement with Zenzinger.

“So if a motor vehicle thief steals the 2022 BMW, he or she can be charged with a high level felony,” Brian Mason , district attorney in Colorado’s 17th Judicial Circuit, testified. “But if have they steal a 2003 Honda Accord, they can only be charged with a misdemeanor. This law discriminates against the poor, and it’s a terrible inequity.”

Arvada Police Chief Ed Brady testified all Coloradans are affected by auto theft.

“Even if you personally have not had your car stolen, everyone’s car insurance rates will increase to deal with the financial impacts of car thefts,” Brady testified. “This hurts us all.”

Mitch Morrissey of the Common Sense Institute testified Colorado started to “go soft on auto theft” in 2014 and again in 2019, resulting in increases in stolen vehicles.

“I believe that this bill will have the opposite impact,” Morrissey said. “And the reason it will have the opposite impact is that we’re basically making auto theft a crime in the state of Colorado again. It is a serious crime. It is a crime that occurs at a very high volume by a very few number of people. And I think that if you address those people in a way that prevents them from stealing cars, then it will have an impact.”

The bill’s fiscal note said prison operating costs will increase by $12 million during a five-year period if the bill becomes law.

“I don’t believe you’re going to see the prison filled with auto thieves,” Morrissey said. “I believe judges will take these offenses, those arrested and charged,

more seriously. As the district attorney would say, they’ll work out something that prevents them from stealing cars as opposed to having to fill those limited cells that we have with auto thieves.”

Only one person testified against the bill, stating it wouldn’t be effective without the judicial system carrying out the law.

“We have had decades of watching what happens when we increase penalties and increase offense classifications,” said Tristan Gorman of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. “Incarceration does go up, but it is not a general deterrent effect on the offense itself. What would be a general deterrent effect on this offense is if people thought they were going to be arrested and prosecuted for it.”

Battery Developer To Build New Factory in Colorado

By Iulian Dnistran InsideEVs

Fremont, CA-based Amprius Technologies will build a new battery-making facility at an existing site in Brighton, CO, in a push to expand production of its proprietary silicon anode lithium-

ARA Updates Strategic Plan

the facility will have a footprint of 775,000 square feet and a potential output of 5 gigawatt-hours per year.

The location already has a 1.3 million-square foot factory, chosen for the pre-existing electric power and structural layout needed for a new factory, while keeping costs down. After finishing the new facility, the site’s combined output will be 10 gigawatt-hours per year.

funding thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

ion battery cells, which offer greater energy density than conventional graphite cells.

The new factory will be built in phases and is expected to become operational in 2025 with an initial output capacity of 500 megawatthours. Later, when the final stage of construction has been completed,

At the event where the letter of intent was signed, signaling Amprius’ plans to expand to Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said, “We need more batteries to power the future, and now we will be manufacturing more of them right here in Colorado. We are excited to welcome Amprius to Colorado, bringing over 300 new goodpaying jobs and joining Colorado’s innovative and collaborative business community.”

According to the press release, the initial phase of 500 MWh will be funded in part by a $50 million cost-sharing grant awarded by the Department of Energy, with Amprius being one of the first companies in the U.S. to receive

“The selection of Colorado for our gigawatt-scale factory marks an important milestone for Amprius,” said Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius Technologies. “We worked closely with the state of Colorado, the Colorado Economic Development Commission, Adams County and the City of Brighton to align on terms that are mutually beneficial and include a comprehensive incentive proposal. Increasing production to meet the substantial market demand for our breakthrough silicon anode lithiumion technology remains a priority, and we are confident this factory will allow us to scale and effectively serve the electric mobility market.”

The battery company prides itself on making the most energydense lithium-ion units today, courtesy of its silicon anode technology, which allows the cells to be smaller in size compared to the graphite anode cells widely available on the market. According to Amprius, its currently available batteries deliver up to 450 Wh/kg and 1,150 Wh/L.

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) on March 13 announced an update to its strategic plan, representing a direction that will guide current and future work. The plan was adopted by the ARA Board of Directors on March 8.

ARA’s strategic plan is grounded in the association’s mission to advance the automotive recycling industry and promote its beneficial effects on society. The plan identifies four strategic initiatives that are the means through which ARA plans to translate its vision into practice. The initiatives focus on partnerships and branding, data, advocacy and education/ certification/compliance. Each of the four initiatives outlines a series of objectives which describe how ARA plans to commit its resources and how future success will be measured.

“This plan is a representation of ARA as the eyes, ears and voice of the professional automotive recycling industry,” said ARA Executive Director Sandy Blalock

Source:

ARA

Amprius Technologies silicon anode Li-ion battery cells

Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros.

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

On Feb. 19, Bistagne Bros. Body Shop in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so Tesla owners could witness a certified shop in action.

is one of 80-plus chapters in the Tesla Owners Club Program. As friends and fans, the LA chapter members drive their EVs to unique Southern California locations, share Tesla tips and tricks, and support green and community outreach events. They participate in an annual statewide

membership of his chapter will expand based on Tesla’s growing popularity, especially in the Los Angeles area. “We are no longer early adopters, but we are still as

passionate about these cars as we’ve ever been. EVs are here to stay and we are getting more fans all the time. There is a real synergy here with Tesla owners and their cars.”

Members came to Glendale for two hours on a Sunday morning for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a shop. They were able to mix and mingle with other club members, grab snacks and drinks, and find out what it takes to bring a damaged Tesla back to its pre-accident condition.

Bistagen Bros. Body Shop coowner Robert Bistagne was delighted to sponsor the event.

“This is a great group, and they were very enthusiastic, which was nice,” he said. “They were able to see a quarter panel of a Model 3 painted, and an installation of paint protection film on several panels. Tesla engineers were here to show the inner structure of a Tesla Model 3, and we also set up a table illustrating the rivet bonding process and riveting tools, where people were able to get hands-on.”

Bistagne tried to create some fun activities for the club members, and based on their reactions, he succeeded.

“We wanted to keep them engaged,” he said. “At first I thought, how are we going to occupy these Tesla owners for two hours, and the time just flew by! They know a lot about their cars and are willing to learn more about them, which is great.”

The Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles is a community of more than 500 owners who enjoy sharing the exciting world of Tesla. The LA club

conference and are made up of volunteers who just love their vehicles and the lifestyle surrounding them.

LA Chapter President Jason Fudenberg, an IT director who lives in Sherman Oaks, CA, has two Teslas. Six years ago, the chapter became an official club after communicating with other owners via social media.

“We are a not-for profit group and we just love talking Tesla,” Fudenberg said. “We have monthly events, and anyone with a Tesla is welcome to join via teslaclubla.com. The annual membership fees are $40 and once you’re on the organization’s mailing list, you are invited to a wide range of events held throughout Southern California.”

The organization’s members are from all segments of the population, Fudenberg said. “We have drag racers, moms and techies who love these amazing vehicles. We have at least one event scheduled every month, and we often add flash events to our calendar all the time.”

Fudenberg is hopeful the

“We are no longer early adopters, but we are still as passionate about these cars as we’ve ever been.”

JASON FUDENBERG LA CHAPTER PRESIDENT

Tesla engineers were on hand to show the inner structure of a Model 3. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Pictured, left to right, is Jason Fudenberg, president of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles; Robert Bistagne, co-owner of Bistagne Bros. Body Shop; and Nancy Knupfer, Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles event organizer. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Bistagne Bros. enjoyed seeing LA Tesla owners in their shop and learning about the collision repair process. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

Bistagne Bros. Auto Body in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so members could learn more about the repair process. Photo credit: Barbara Davies

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nearly three-quarters of those whose repairs were required due to crash damage said they had issues with the technology after repair.

In contrast, fewer than half of owners who had repairs done for other reasons—like a recall or service bulletin from the automaker—faced problems afterward.

Mueller said since the survey is self-reported, the results only point to where issues might be.

“We don’t really know how big this problem is in the registered fleet as a whole,” she said.

Dealership vs. Independent Repairer

People who had taken their vehicle to an independent repairer reported more problems than those who had gone to a dealership service center. For example, among people whose vehicles had front crash prevention features repaired, 46% who went to a dealership reported issues, compared to 70% of people who had gone to an independent repairer.

Those whose vehicles had blind spot monitoring and cameras reported similar rates of problems

after going to a dealership or an independent repairer.

Mueller said this result was not surprising.

“A dealership service center specializes in their automaker; they have specific training and tools and the space required to do calibrations properly,” Mueller said. “A lot of independent repair shops are just not that large.”

Even people who went to dealerships for repairs still had issues, Mueller said.

“It’s a concern that many said recalibration was performed, if they had the repair done for damage,” she said. “It seems calibration is the weakest link here. We are seeing repairers having difficulty implementing the instructions and specifications set by automaker to calibrate these systems.”

Some people reported the original ADAS issue was resolved, but a new one started. However, the survey didn’t go into detail about what those issues are, Mueller said. The survey also did not ask what issues exactly people were experiencing postrepair—they may be safety related, or they may just be an annoyance, like false alarms.

“We just know people are reporting the systems are not working the way they should be,” Mueller said. “This

study was to highlight if there are areas of concern that we need to start paying attention to, and the study results show that yes, there are.”

One reassuring finding, Mueller said, was that survey respondents said despite the post-repair issues, the overwhelming majority said they would still buy another car with the same ADAS features.

“These features have safety benefits,” Mueller said. “The data are unequivocal, and show these systems help prevent crashes and reduce the severity if they do get in one. Even though many were complaining about issues after repairs, they still want the technology, they still see the value of the technology.

“This is so important—we need to see this technology rolled out to reduce a very serious public health issue with respect to traffic safety,” she said.

Takeaways

Mueller said the survey’s main conclusion is the general repair process is becoming more complicated, and it is affecting consumers and their vehicles once they return to the road.

If repair issues become more common and the industry

inconvenience that could undermine consumer confidence in the technology.

“We have to get the repair process more refined to start resolving these issues, again because of the safety potential of these technologies,” Mueller said.

The IIHS is planning future studies to fully understand the scale and severity of the issues reported in this first study.

Meanwhile, Mueller said, automakers can help by making vehicles easier to repair, and by simplifying and establishing centralized databases that contain repair and calibration information so technicians can access it, whether they are in a dealership service center or an independent shop.

Self-diagnostic communication strategies—like those used by the tire pressure monitoring systems common in vehicles— could be used for ADAS features, to tell a repairer or driver something is not right.

“We need to help facilitate the repair process and support consumer confidence in these technologies, because most people get a vehicle repaired at some point in their life, and we want to make sure consumer confidence remains high in these very important technologies,” Mueller

Mitchell Report Provides Insight into EV Vehicle Claims, Market Data

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

As vehicle manufacturers announce plans to go all-electric by 2030, repairers and insurers are keeping a close eye on the changes taking place and adapting as necessary.

Mitchell International, Inc., an Enlyte company, recently released its inaugural quarterly trends report: “Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights,” which provides insight into the

Q:What prompted the development of the quarterly EV report?

A:Mitchell’s previous trends report transitioned into an annual report when Enlyte, our parent brand, was formed in October 2021. We looked at opportunities to share insightful data that would be helpful for the greatest number of stakeholders— information different than they could find anywhere else.

important to get prepared.

Our goal is to get information to carriers and shops, explain the market differences with EVs, and what to expect. The data shared is based on repairable estimates uploaded to Mitchell and we’ll continue to evolve the report.

Q:Who is your main target audience?

A:It’s both insurers and repairers. Repairers are more on the front lines understanding some of the differences with these vehicles because they’re living it firsthand. However, that’s only in certain markets.

I work with many insurance carriers and the goal is to get them thinking about the EV business and how they will need to adapt their claims organization. An EV is a very different vehicle. They will need to think about the safety of appraisers in the field. They must understand how shops manage high-voltage batteries to ensure the safety of their teams

Q:What highlights can you share?

A: It’s important for insurers to look at the original estimate and forecast what the likely reserves will be for that claim and understand that it’s probably going to be greater. When it comes to estimate writing, carriers and shops must be able to produce a collision damage appraisal that accounts for the differences between EVs and ICE vehicles. Once the estimate is written, there has to be a way for repairers to prioritize these vehicles and identify the damage quickly because there will be a more significant amount associated with them. The longer the claims process gets drawn out, the worse the customer experience is, which means CSI scores go down for the shop, the insurer and other stakeholders.

If there is a way to pre-scan during the initial estimate and focus on writing the most accurate estimate possible, it is a great way to add additional value to the process and get a better understanding of the systems that have been impacted.

Q: The report states that 90.11% of U.S. and Canadian shops are using OEM parts. What do you attribute this to?

electric vehicle (EV) claims and market data and analyzes industry trends. EV sales in 2022 represented 5.6% of the market, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance at Mitchell, said the report will help carriers and collision repairers prepare as EV market growth continues and more EVs enter auto body shops.

“For the repair industry, additional training, tooling and equipment will be necessary considerations to meet the needs of these complex and interconnected vehicles,” the report said. “Automotive insurers, on the other hand, should be ready to examine underwriting practices so that they can meet the demands of a growing segment of the car parc with higher average repair costs and more complex repair procedures that must be performed to successfully deliver a proper and safe repair.”

As of Q4 2022, EV repairable claims frequency was 1.1% in the U.S. and 2.26% in Canada, according to the report. The top North American EV markets based on repairable claims frequency were British Columbia (4.47%), California (3.37%) and Quebec (2.75%).

Autobody News reached out to Mandell to learn about the quarterly trends report, the data it includes and what it means for the industry moving forward.

The transition to EVs is a big disruptor, probably more so than anything we’ve seen in some time. We are seeing EV adoption numbers increasing and more coming into repair facilities.

It made sense to put out focused information about electrification and what it means for the industry. Insurers are asking how this transition will likely impact severity. That was something we knew we had to include.

A:It was interesting to see how big of an impact Tesla has on the overall EV industry, with a 76.21% market share in the U.S. and 70.21% in Canada. When you look at that delta in terms of repair cost, it can be startling at first. But when you take Tesla out of that mix, it normalizes it a little more.

Teslas are complex and more expensive to repair. However, it’s not just the Tesla effect. Even without Tesla, you still have a significant delta in the repair cost for EVs because there’s more involved.

The number of mechanical labor hours on EV estimates still outpaces ICE vehicles with 1.7 additional mechanical labor hours, which was also interesting. That speaks to how you manage the high-voltage battery during the process. You have to isolate it in many instances, which often requires additional mechanical labor hours.

A: It’s the lack of availability of alternative EV parts. With ICE vehicles, OEM utilization is roughly 68% to 70%. That’s a big difference. There is a lack of cars in the salvage pool that are making it to auto recyclers and I think many are going overseas.

I believe the percentage of OEM parts utilization will change as the salvage pool increases and aftermarket manufacturers produce parts.

Q: Can you share information about the percentage of parts repaired?

We also wanted to demystify EVs and provide insights into what it means when these vehicles come into repair facilities. If you live in Southern California, you probably see EVs all the time, but if you are in another area of the country, you might not. A large section of the industry isn’t sure when they need to prepare for electrification, if they even need to, and if there is anything different with EVs. Whether or not people agree with the EV trend, people are buying them and it’s

The other piece that stood out to me in the report was looking at the 27.45% average supplement delta for EVs and how much of a role that plays in the final cost of the repair compared to the original estimate. When you look at internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, that number is around 17%, so you’re talking about 10 percentage points higher for an EV. That speaks to how critical OEM repair procedures are with these cars.

Q: What is the main takeaway for repairers and insurers?

A: We found that the average percentage of parts repaired on EVs increased from 11.05% in Q3 2022 to 12.16% in Q4 2022. This suggests that repair facilities may be improving their capabilities to repair lighter-weight substrates. However, some of this increase may also have to do with ongoing supply chain disruptions and the lack of availability of replacement parts.

Shops are investing in technology, tools and equipment to repair some of these materials more effectively. Some of this is being driven by necessity because of the supply chain issue we’re facing and the lack of availability of parts. Some shops are simply just repairing parts because they can’t get a replacement.

To read a copy of the report, visit www.mitchell.com/plugged-in.

Source: Mitchell International, Inc.

Credit: Shutterstock

Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs.

COLORADO NEW MEXICO TEXAS

Mike Maroone Honda

Colorado Springs

888-431-0294

719-785-5045

Dept� Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 rick williams@mikemarooneauto com

Mile High Honda Denver

800-548-4730

303-369-7800

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6 crehburg@autotree net

Honda of Harvey Harvey

800-943-4227

504-368-5687

Dept Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 7:30-12 tmaywalt@millsautogroup com

Walker Honda Alexandria

318-448-8255

318-445-6677

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 hondaparts@walkerautomotive com

Garcia Honda Albuquerque

800-677-6632

505-260-5003

Dept� Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8:30-5 Parts206959@garciacars com

AutoNation Honda Lewisville

800-344-8611

972-219-0021

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5

Honda Cars of McKinney McKinney

972-569-4276

972-569-4222

Dept� Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 Gene chenault@hendrickauto com

Honda of Frisco Frisco

866-442-2711

972-731-3176

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-5:30 cedgar@mcdavid com

Honda of San Marcos San Marcos

866-392-1313

512-392-1313

Dept� Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 9-5 csmith@hondasanmarcos com

McDavid Honda Irving Irving

800-492-4464

972-790-6003

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6 srichardson@mcdavid com

Northside Honda San Antonio

800-727-8705

210-340-0831

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-5 hondaparts@mynshonda com

Rusty Wallis Honda Dallas

877-466-3272

214-328-3891

Dept� Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 darryldotsy@rustywallis com

COLORADO LOUISIANA

Mile High Acura Denver

800-548-4730

303-369-7800

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6 crehburg@autotree net

Pikes Peak Acura

Colorado Springs

800-456-9568

719-955-1715

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 joe_benson@pikespeakacura com

LOUISIANA

Acura of Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

866-733-2861

225-756-6166

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 dlavigne@acurabr com

Walker Acura

Metairie

800-359-8555

504-465-8555

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2 parts@walkeracura com

Autonation Acura League City

800-749-6227

713-371-4700

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 CarranzaB1@autonation com

David McDavid Acura

Austin

800-575-3553

512-401-5976

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 mkratky@mcdavid com

Hiley Acura Fort Worth

888-454-0947

817-809-7762

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 parts@hileyacura com

Sterling McCall Acura Houston

713-596-2337

713-596-2338

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 7:30-4 jlambert@sterlingmccallacura com

Team Gillman Acura Houston

833-738-3637

281-209-4200

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 anoptsdpt@teamgillman com

Jody Wilkinson Acura

Salt Lake City

800-234-0875

801-323-0492

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 rick@jodywilkinson com

Mike Hale Acura Murray

800-292-4595

801-263-0202

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 pgoold@mikehale com

TEXAS

resources for the agency’s 150-person criminal investigation division.

Since Paxton was elected in 2015, the attorney general increased his office’s fleet from 66 in 2016 to 354 in 2022. Those vehicles were purchased mainly for criminal investigators and peace officers employed by the attorney general’s office, who as recently as 2016 were using their own cars or rentals during investigations that ranged from election fraud and cold cases to child exploitation, human trafficking and catching fugitives, said Kristen House, the office’s communications director, in a statement emailed to The Texas Tribune.

“OAG Investigators showing up to a home to serve a search warrant in rental cars or personal vehicles may seem unthinkable, but that is exactly why the attorney general began an effort to assign law enforcement vehicles to agency peace officers,” House said.

How to Prioritize

With a record-breaking state surplus up for grabs—and so many bigticket items steering the budget

discussions—some lawmakers wondered if there is even the time or the ability to fully investigate the fleet requests before they are approved later this session.

For example, can a handful of trucks at one agency hang on for a few more years and save $100,000 in the budget, or will they put safety at risk if they go another thousand miles?

“We have so many unmet needs, everything from infrastructure to education and health care, the criminal justice system, foster care, I mean the list goes on and on,” said state Rep.  Donna Howard , D-Austin, a veteran member of the House Appropriations Committee. “So where do the vehicles fall on that? I don’t know, because I haven’t seen what the issue is with replacing them. Is it just because they have X number of miles on them? Is it because they’re breaking down, and it’s going to start costing us more to maintain them? I don’t have that information yet.”

The issue begs the question of whether lawmakers should spend time nickel-and-diming every corner of the 1,033-page budget draft in the 140 days they have available to them to sift through a proposed $288.7 billion budget---or if they should stay focused on bigger proposals, like a $15 billion property tax cut, even if

that means smaller requests may go by unexplored.

“I don’t know that we have a process in place that’s really inclusive, with multiple voices, looking at what those assumptions are and how we’re going to set those priorities,” Howard said of the fleet requests. “But that’s what I would want to do.”

With her $30,000 request, Nelson, the former chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said she has a solid case for replacing the vehicle that dates back to the 1998 Furby craze.

Nelson doesn’t actually drive the pickup with manual window cranks and a radio with no tape deck. That pleasure is reserved for the administrative employees who use it to take paperwork to and from the post office, to the state Capitol, and to other state offices in the area from the secretary’s building on the corner of

11th and Brazos in Austin.

The four-cylinder automatic transmission base-model Ranger still has the engine, paint, interior and radio it had when it was purchased new, shortly after Mother Theresa died and right before the search engine “BackRub” was renamed “Google.”

The pickup, its condition a rolling testament to a flawless statesponsored maintenance schedule, has never even been in a fenderbender.

But it’s going into repair more and more often—most recently for an alternator—and the sheer age of the vehicle has Nelson worried about its safety and reliability.

“I’m proud of our agency for taking such good care of our vehicle,” Nelson said. “But after 25 years, it’s time for a replacement.”

Louisiana Men Sentenced For Staging Auto Accidents

To Defraud Insurance, Trucking Companies

John Diggs, 62, of Thibodaux, LA, and  James Williams, 68, of Gibson, LA, were both sentenced Feb. 14 to 10 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lance

M. Africk after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, arising out of staged automobile accidents with tractor-trailers occurring in New Orleans.

The announcement was made Feb. 16 by U.S. Attorney Duane

A. Evans

According to court records, Diggs and Williams conspired with passengers Lois Russell and Tanya Givens to stage an accident with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Chef Menteur Highway and Downman Road. Damien Labeaud and Roderick Hickman, who have already pleaded guilty to staging other accidents, also participated in this accident.

Hickman, while driving Russell’s car, intentionally struck the 18-wheeler and then fled the scene with Labeaud.

Russell told NOPD she was the driver and she, along with Givens, Diggs and Williams, made claims for personal injuries. In total, the victim trucking and insurance companies paid out $272,500 for these fraudulent claims.

In addition to prison, Diggs and Williams were both sentenced to three years of supervised release and a restitution hearing was set for April 5. Africk also imposed upon each a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the FBI, Louisiana State Police and the Metropolitan Crime Commission with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Long and Unit Chief Brian M. Klebba, all of the Financial Crimes Unit.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana

NABC Hosting Lone Star Pars For Cars Golf Fundraiser Presented by Enterprise, April 4 in Dallas

The members, partners and colleagues of the National Auto Body Council will saddle up soon for the NABC® Pars for Cars Golf Fundraiser, presented by Enterprise, and an NABC Recycled Rides® presentation, all held April 4 at Lone Star Golf Course in Euless, TX.

Each year, the NABC and its member partners raise funds to support hundreds of NABC Recycled Rides car presentations to those in need, NABC F.R.E.E.™ education programs for first responders, and NABC Drive Out Distraction programs that keeps thousands of drivers safe on the road.

The NABC Lone Star Pars for Cars Golf Fundraiser presented by Enterprise will feature fourperson teams in a best-ball format. Players will have an opportunity to participate in special on-course incentives and great raffle prizes. Registration is available at www.nabcgolfevent. org/dallasparsforcars.html

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the tournament including hole sponsorships, contest sponsorships including longest drive and closest to the pin, on-course beverages and breakfast, apparel and tee packs.

Following the golf tournament, NABC and its partners will host a NABC Recycled Rides presentation of six vehicles to local families in need.

To register to play or sponsor the event, visit www.nabcgolfevent. org/dallasparsforcars.html

Texas Star Golf Course is at 1400 Texas Star Pkwy., Euless, TX 76040.

Registration and breakfast will open at 6:30 a.m. April 4, followed by the shotgun start at 8:30, reception at 1 p.m. and Recycled Rides presentation at 3.

Source: NABC

Attorneys Say Consumer Data Privacy Concerns for Collision Repair

Shops are Real

By John Yoswick Autobody News

A pair of attorneys speaking at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) earlier this year cautioned that collision repairers need to take the issue of release or misuse of customer personal identifiable information (PII)—such as that included on estimates—seriously.

“The unauthorized disclosure of a customer’s PII, whether intentional or not—intent doesn’t factor into the analysis here—creates a significant liability risk for repair shops,” said Pennsylvania attorney Larry Pockers

Shops should consider whether those documents address how any partner with which they are sharing information may be using that information.

“What have you opened yourself up to as far as the use of that customer information down the chain,” Bloch said.

Put together a list of standard operating procedures and best practices that comply with state law, he suggested.

“Prepare standard customer disclosures and notifications, and most importantly, obtain customer consent so they understand and have given you permission to use that data at least for the purposes for which it was intended, so you can perform your repair services,” Bloch said.

Pockers agreed looking at a shop’s existing agreements is important.

foremost to think about, and should be your first line of defense in terms of protecting that information.”

An Industry Spokesperson?

Other speakers at CIC addressed a variety of subjects, including the technician shortage. Industry consultant Petra Schroeder, vice chair of the CIC Talent Pool and Education Committee, suggested that while many organizations within the industry are working on various efforts to attract, train and retain new technicians, she believes it’s time to “combine forces and collaborate.”

you may look at this and think, ‘I had no idea of those considerations.’”

Jason Scharton, senior manager of global expertise delivery for 3M, said those considerations include OEM repair procedures.

“We’ve got to be checking that OEM repair documentation and understand what product is specified,” he said. “And there’s the supply chain: Can I get that material if I don’t have it? If it’s three months out, it’s going to change some of the decisions I need to make.”

He said repair planners need to consider the labor time associated with the material: What type of preparation is needed? What type of conditions are needed for application? What are the clean-up requirements?

“And are any of these included or not included in the repair procedures when we’re calculating the time,” Scharton said.

He noted five states—California, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Vermont—have specific consumer data privacy laws in place, and others are expected to be added to that list this year.

Connecticut attorney Steven Bloch concurred.

“Once that information has been breached or disclosed improperly, without customer disclosure and authorization and consent, there is liability and exposure for the shops. It’s as simple as that,” Bloch said.

If that information gets used down the supply chain after being disclosed by a shop, “You’re going to be held responsible in many circumstances for that use, whether you agreed to it or not,” he said. “Simply because you did not intentionally disclose customer PII, or you don’t have a full understanding of what your license agreements provide as far as that data use is concerned, or what your partners are using that data for down the chain, and how they are transacting it, doesn’t absolve you of the liability that you can face here.”

What can shops do to limit their liability in terms of customer data privacy issues? Bloch suggested shops work with legal counsel to review current contracts and licensing agreements “to determine what it is you’ve provided in terms of permission to industry partners and vendors.”

“You could try to renegotiate these agreements, but let’s be realistic. That’s not going to happen,” he said. “So the mitigation strategy is: What about future agreements with others in the supply chain that you’re going to enter into?”

Part of the challenge, she said, is that outside the industry, the general public has little awareness of how vehicle technology and other changes over the past decade have impacted the work and career opportunities within the industry.

She offered a two-part idea. First, she suggested the industry craft and adopt a common position statement relative to working together to “draw awareness and appeal of the exciting and rewarding career opportunities within our industry.”

How much of the material is needed is particularly important, as is considering the work time.

Both attorneys said such reviews and customer notification and authorization forms are among the services their firms offer. They said there may be some technology solutions that can help shops control access to their data.

“But given the landscape in which everybody is operating, and how the sharing and flow of information is being transacted, I don’t know you can necessarily do one thing and achieve complete peace in terms of thinking you’ve protected your customers’ data in a foolproof [way] and you have nothing to worry about going forward,” Bloch said. “That’s why the customer disclosure and consent are first and

Second, she asked rhetorically whether industry organizations could work together to jointly finance a spokesperson who could help bring the industry’s message to a wide audience. She said two possible spokespersons she could think of were Mike Rowe, who currently promotes other skilled trades including diesel repair, or Jay Leno, who has some connection with the industry given his “Jay Leno’s Garage” television series.

Repair Planning Considerations Regarding Materials, EVs

Also at CIC, the Parts and Materials Committee discussed the role of materials in repair decisions.

“The materials in or on the vehicle, the materials used to construct it, the materials used to put it back together, all make a difference in how we approach it,” said Aaron Schulenburg, who chairs the committee. “For many of the repairers in the room, that may feel like common sense. For non-repairers,

“If you’ve got a big job, you may need two or three technicians to make sure you’ve applied all the adhesive in the work time,” Scharton said. “Materials may change how you staff a job.”

During another committee presentation, I-CAR’s Scott VanHulle said the training organization is working to develop a searchable database of OEM refinishing guidelines for electric vehicles. He said the maximum temperature thresholds for electric vehicles varies by automaker.

“And one of the things that a lot of these [OEM] statements don’t make clear is whether the threshold is for the actual surface temperature of the vehicle, or the ambient temperature of the booth,” VanHulle said.

The limitations, designed to avoid overheating of the battery pack which can impact its range over time, have ramifications for the repair plan, he said, because the limits may require the use of a different paint product, may require air drying the vehicle which extends the time in the booth, or may require removal of the high-voltage battery.

A CIC panel discussion on data privacy concerns for shops included, from left, Dan Risley, Larry Pockers, Steven Bloch and Trent Tinsley.

“The unauthorized disclosure of a customer’s PII, whether intentional or not—intent doesn’t factor into the analysis here—creates a significant liability risk for repair shops.”

LARRY POCKERS PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY

3M’s Jason Scharton said estimators need to consider OEM requirements related to materials when creating repair plans.

Scott VanHulle of I-CAR said the training organization is working to develop a searchable database of OEM refinishing guidelines for electric vehicles.

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Tier-1 Wholesaler of Ford Parts & Master Redistributor

Farmers Insurance® and Classic Collision™ celebrated Valentine’s Day by donating newly refurbished vehicles to the nonprofit Family Promise of Montgomery County Texas (FPMCT) and a deserving family in need during a special ceremony Feb. 14 in Houston.

Farmers worked with technicians at Classic Collision, who donated their time and skills to restore a 2016 Ford Explorer and 2014 Chevy Sonic for the deserving recipients as part of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.

Local parents Harry Wiltz and Tracey Washington were family guests enrolled in Fort Bend Family Promise, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to meet the immediate needs of homeless families while empowering them to attain self-sufficiency. Job loss and a vehicle breakdown caused the family to experience housing instability. Through FBFP, the Wiltz/Washingtons have gained employment and transitioned to secure housing close to work and their son’s school. Receiving the 2014 Chevy Sonic is another

Present NABC Recycled Ride in Houston

important step in the family’s journey to achieve long-term independence.

“Since launching our organization on Feb. 14, 2005, Valentine’s Day has always held special meaning for all of us at Fort Bend Family Promise. Today’s gifting is a fitting way to commemorate 18 years of service in Texas,” said Vera Johnson, executive director for Fort Bend Family Promise. “Thanks to the generous support of organizations like Farmers, Classic Collision and the National Auto Body Council, we look forward to carrying on our mission to help families like the Wiltz/Washingtons.”

“Our goal is to give back to the communities where we live and work and help those in need obtain the reliable transportation that will help them continue on their path to independence,” said Don Porter, CEO of the United Recyclers Group and a member of the NABC Board of Directors. “It’s an honor to come together with our members Farmers Insurance and Classic Collision to help Wiltz/Washington family on their journey. We wish them all the best in the future.”

Family Promise of Montgomery County Texas is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve homeless families with children by providing shelter, meals, transportation and compassionate assistance leading to independence and received a 2016 Ford Explorer to help the organization continue its important work.

“Family Promise of Montgomery County is very grateful to be the recipient of this generous gift of transportation,” said Marilyn Kasmiersky, executive director for Family Promise of Montgomery County. “Without a vehicle or dependable transportation, it creates a hardship for families to get to and from work and basic living travel. Our goal is to remove barriers and transition our families with children into long term stability and create generational change. The donation of this vehicle will be utilized to assist families getting to and from work, childcare, school and medical appointments. Valentine’s Day is a perfect day to receive this lovely donation. A big thank you to all who made this a reality.”

“Classic Collision has been a

proud member of the Houston community for many years, and it’s always rewarding for us when we can leverage our expertise to make a positive impact,” said Drew Johnston, area vice president for Classic Collision. “At our core, we strive to provide quality service to help customers get back on the road. We know how important dependable transportation can be and are happy to help give that gift to Family Promise of Montgomery County and a deserving family.”

NABC Recycled Rides is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides program in 2007, members of the NABC have donated more than 3,000 vehicles valued at some $42 million.

Source: NABC

‘Who Pays’ Survey Offers Insights into Billing, Payment Practices for Vehicle Scanning, Battery Support

By John Yoswick Autobody News

Although a higher percentage of shops are now seeking to be paid for the labor involved in applying battery support during a vehicle scan, fewer of those shops say they are regularly being paid for the procedure.

“That is unfortunate,” said shop trainer and consultant Mike Anderson of Collision Advice of the finding from a recent “Who Pays for What?” survey. “When we first asked about this procedure back in 2018, nearly 70% of shops said they never negotiated to be paid for this. Today that is down to 54%, which is great. But only 40% of those shops said they are regularly reimbursed for the time involved by the eight largest insurers. That’s the lowest percentage we have seen in five years. I honestly don’t have an explanation for that.”

Anderson said hooking up battery support is important because it ensures proper system voltage throughout the diagnostic scanning process. When vehicle voltage falls below normal levels, scan results can be unreliable, or re-programming of the vehicle can fail entirely.

This “not-included” operation can sometimes require a significant amount of labor time, Anderson said.

“It can require removing components to access the battery, and requires the use of a special battery maintainer—a jump box, a trickle charger or a battery charger is not considered proper battery support,” he said. “And one of the things that I have learned is that battery support should be connected for at least 10 minutes before a scan operation is performed. There is no reason this procedure should not be paid for when it is necessary.”

features may be turned off or placed in fail-safe mode after the removal and reinstallation of a related component, or due to “lost communication” trouble codes that are set.

“most” of the time by the eight largest national insurers, with about another one-third saying they are paid at least “some of the time.”

The survey also asked for the first time about in-process vehicle scanning.

“I’ve learned that this is often an absolutely necessary procedure, so we added it to the survey,” Anderson said.

He explained some vehicle

“If you don’t scan the vehicle and address that prior to a test drive, it could generate another trouble code, or you may not be able to do a proper calibration,” Anderson said.

The survey found about 21% of shops reported conducting inprocess scans on all or most vehicles--in comparison, more than 90% of shops now say they conduct preand post-repair scans on all or most vehicles.

“I expect that 21% to grow in the future,” Anderson said.

More than one-third of shops (36%) billing for in-process scans said they are paid for them “all” or

The surveys over time have found some differences in the payment practices of the eight insurers. In 2017, State Farm and USAA were more likely than the other six large national insurers to pay the charges for a pre-repair scan. For example, 57% of shops reported State Farm regularly paid for pre-repair scans, while only 46% of shops said that about Allstate and Progressive. But over the next couple of years, most of the insurers began to pay for the procedure more regularly than State Farm. By 2019, as many as 79% of shops reported State Farm was regularly paying for pre-repairs scans, but on average 86% of shops said that about the other six insurers. State Farm remains at the bottom of the pack in the latest survey.

The latest “Who Pays for What?” survey, focused on not-include body labor procedures, is open throughout April. Shops can visit www. crashnetwork.com/collisionadvice to participate.

“There is no reason this procedure should not be paid for when it is necessary.”

MIKE ANDERSON COLLISION ADVICE

By Ed Attanasio Autobody News

Charlie Rich has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive in the automotive aftermarket, in the technology, insurance, OEM and collision repair segments.

Rich began his career in the automotive aftermarket when he joined CCC Intelligent Solutions in 1989. During his eight-year tenure, he played a major role in the company’s explosive growth and the introduction of several industry innovations— including the DRP concept and PCbased estimating. His other career highlights include co-founding ProcessClaims in 2000, where he served as president and board member. In just six years, the company grew from start-up to more than $11 million in sales before it was acquired by CCC in 2006. Rich went on to serve as vice president of business development at Fix Auto USA before founding Azimuth Calibration in 2022.

Q: What inspired you to start Azimuth?

Q: Whattypesoftrickycalibrations are shops encountering problems with?

A: High-end European vehicles and exotics, including calibrations involving any cameras, radar and blind spots that require OEM tooling and service information and appropriate space, lighting, clutterfree, level floors, etc.

Q: More and more shops are outsourcing their ADAS diagnostics. Why?

A: The leading reasons are liability, expense to start and operate, finding and training qualified

if it detects an object in the blind spot while executing a lane-change.

Intelligent Systems: The most recent technological advances involve combining the signals from multiple sensors and modules to create a connected system that can control the vehicle with great precision. One

Q: What doesyour companyname stand for? A: Azimuth is an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system. In a celestial context, it is the horizontal direction of a star. The reference plane for an azimuth is true north, measured at 0-degree azimuth—the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing. In land navigation, azimuth is denoted with the alpha symbol. It plays to the technicality of calibration with a simple one-word name.

Q:

How hard is to train a tech into an ADAS expert/diagnostician? How long does it normally take?

A:

The overall focus is on keeping people, families and communities safe. That includes repairing vehicles to OEM standard by performing quality repairs. We pride ourselves on protecting our clients’ liability by helping them identify calibrations and completing necessary calibration to OEM standards and procedures. We do that in a costeffective and efficient manner that supports our clients’ mission and goals.

Q: Who are your main clients and what markets are you targeting? A: Collision repair shops, dealerships, insurance companies and OEMs. Any company that needs to outsource their auto diagnostics for tougher recalibrations and everything else where they need help.

Q: Many shops are not embracing ADAS and see it as an impediment to their businesses. What would you tell them?

A: ADAS is not going away but growing by the day. Liability increases by the day as ADAS proliferates. The larger picture shows that complete calibrations need to be performed in order to keep your customers and communities safe. More regulations and enforcement are coming soon to make calibrations more and more vital.

technicians and staff, proper space and facilities to OEM specifications, cycle time and final safety inspections.

Q: Many people don’t understand the difference between active, passive and intelligent ADAS. Can you explain?

A: Passive Systems: Early ADAS and today’s aftermarket ADAS are passive systems. This means that they only serve to alert the driver of possible collisions or assist the driver with maneuverability by providing visual and/or auditory feedback. These include parking sensors, rearview cameras, panoramic cameras, blind-spot monitors and forward collision warning.

Active Systems: As ADAS modules became more advanced and reliable, they were given the ability to request operations from the other vehicle control units, apply brakes, increase or decrease engine torque, steer, adjust headlights, etc. These active systems allowed the windshield camera and forward radar modules to keep the vehicle at a safe distance from the vehicle it is following, as well as keep the car centered between visible lane markings. Advanced blind spot radar modules can even request that the vehicle steer back into a lane

example is the Intelligent Park Assist System, or IPAS. It combines the signals from the ultrasonic sensors, the cameras and mid-range radar to detect a parking spot and automatically park the vehicle. A system of this nature not only requires precise sensors, but will require those sensors to crate an accurate representation of the world around it.

A:It will typically take one to two years with continual learning and ongoing training. The market segment is in its early evolution, with systems, tools, information and software changing almost day to day, in some cases. We devised best practices, evaluated systems, created tooling, customized software and developed SOPs and training to get where we are, and we believe we have a great program. We designed it to be easy to absorb and practice quickly.

Charlie Rich founded Azimuth Calibration in 2022

“The larger picture shows that complete calibrations need to be performed in order to keep your customers and communities safe. More regulations and enforcement are coming soon to make calibrations more and more vital.”

CHARLIE RICH FOUNDER OF AZIMUTH CALIBRATION

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The Auto Care Association announced the latest recipients of the World Class Technician Award in partnership with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

The two organizations provide this annual recognition to professional technicians who have attained ASE certification in 22 specific areas during the previous calendar year.

There are an estimated 887,000 technicians in the U.S., with approximately 250,000 holding ASE certification. As of now, there are 2,224 technicians who have earned the respected status of “World Class Technician” since its inception more than 30 years ago.

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s World Class Technician certification qualifications, timing and recognition, visit www. autocare.org/networkingand-development/awardsand-scholarships/world-classtechnician

Source: Auto Care Association

Tesla Electric Plan Offers Unlimited Overnight Home Charging For $30/Month in TX

By Maria Merano Teslarati

Tesla Electric, a retail plan, is rolling out to select Powerwall customers in Texas.

During Investor Day 2023, Tesla announced a new plan for Tesla Electric, offering unlimited overnight home charging for $30 per month. The offer will be available to Tesla customers in Texas.

Drew Baglino, Senior vice president of powertrain and energy engineering at Tesla, talked about Tesla Electric during Investor Day 2023. Baglino presented data from Tesla Electric in South Australia, which serves around 5,000 customers. Tesla Electric uses the company’s energy technology, like Autobidder, to decrease the cost of electricity for customers in Australia.

Customers using default utility services paid around $142 per month for power. The cost of utility services halved to $69 per month for customers using Tesla Solar and Powerwall, not interacting

with the grid. Tesla Solar and Powerwall systems that interacted with the grid and enrolled in Tesla Electric were cheaper monthly and generated some income for customers.

“If Tesla Electric is operating those assets in an intelligent way, to benefit the grid…We can actually pay the customers to bring their energy services to the grid,” Baglino said.

Tesla Electric Enrollment and Benefits

Baglino said Tesla Electric is rolling out to customers in Texas, but only to those who receive an invitation to join.

To qualify for an invitation, customers must have a Powerwall and their home must come “with retail electricity choice.” Retail electricity choice is available in homes located in the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas.

The retail plan uses Tesla Electric Mode, which monitors electricity prices in the area surrounding customers’ homes. Tesla Electric

works similar to buyback plans, which allow customers to sell their excess solar energy. However, unlike other buyback plans, Tesla Electric enables Powerwall customers to sell their excess energy when there is higher demand, and it is more valuable.

Tesla Electric customers have complete control of their Powerwall Backup Reserve. Tesla recommends setting their Backup Reserve to 20%. The more energy customers make available for Tesla Electric Mode to sell, the more sellback credits they get. Customers can roll over their sell-back credits indefinitely or redeem them for cash with Tesla Electric.

Tesla Accused of Monopolizing Repairs, Parts in Consumer Lawsuit

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

Tesla is facing a lawsuit from customers who allege the company’s monopoly in maintenance, repair services and replacement parts has led to high prices and long waiting times.

On March 14, a class action antitrust lawsuit was filed in San Francisco federal court on behalf of Virginia M. Lambrix, the owner of a Tesla Model S. In the lawsuit, Lambrix said owners of conventional cars have several options for maintenance and repairs. They can even perform repairs and maintenance themselves. The complaint said traditional car repairs can also use OEM parts or those made by other companies. The complaint argued Tesla owners do not have these options. When it comes to service and repair, Tesla owners can only use the company’s parts. The vehicles must also be serviced only through the company or its lineup of Tesla-approved service centers. The suit alleged this

limitation is due to Tesla using its market power to restrict services for maintenance and repair, as reported by Bloomberg News. As noted in the complaint, Tesla’s practices when it comes to repairs and maintenance have resulted in Tesla owners suffering from “lengthy delays in repairing or maintaining their electric vehicles.” The complaint also said owners “pay supracompetitive prices for those parts and repairs once they are finally provided.” Tesla has not issued a comment as of writing.  Tesla’s areas for improvement when it comes to its vehicles’ repairs have been known for some time. And while the company has initiated a number of strategies that could help address repair needs quicker, the growth of Tesla’s fleet means there is also an ever-growing number of vehicles to repair. This has paved the way for opportunities for other automakers. General Motors, for example, said late last year it has a growing Tesla repair business, thanks in part to its vast dealer network.

GKN Automotive Opens Aftermarket Warehouse in Dallas-Fort Worth

GKN Automotive on March 7 announced the opening of its new Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, warehouse. The new facility will house its extensive and constantly updated portfolio of products for its aftermarket customers, including axle assemblies for light-duty passenger vehicles, driveshafts, joint and boot kits for all common makes and vehicle types.

The new 3PL facility, finished in December, is located in Fort Worth, and features 80,000 square feet of warehouse space, 4,000 pallet locations and 10 dock doors with room for expansion up to 240,000 square feet. This warehouse will be the hub for all U.S. independent parts distributors and garage fulfillment.

GKN Automotive’s new warehouse will deliver real-time inventory feeds and EDI ordering. It will be staffed with 18 employees to start, with plans to add up to 40 additional employees over the next three years.

GKN Automotive’s aftermarket business supplies original GKN

Automotive driveline parts. It offers a wide range of CV shafts and components as well as complete driveshafts for passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles worldwide.

“As a leading partner of carmakers and a holder of numerous patents, we are the first to bring new driveline technologies to the aftermarket,” said Dominik Görts, GKN Automotive vice president, aftermarket business. “We supply aftermarket parts that fit perfectly and repair solutions for all the major vehicle models. With our new, ultra-modern warehouse logistics system, we can make our products available more easily and quickly than before.”

“We are excited about our expansion and growth in the U.S. through this new warehouse,” said Stephen DiSorbo, national sales manager IAM North America. “This will allow us to service new and existing customers significantly faster and help make their garages more efficient and profitable.”

Source: GKN Automotive

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Vehicle Technology Highlighted During 2023 CES Show

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Technological innovations, new product debuts and a wide range of company announcements were all part of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, CES features all aspects of the tech sector, including automotive.

embracing the electric vehicle (EV) experience.

“Vehicle OEMs are investing billions in EV tech, charging stations are showing up in cities and across highways virtually worldwide, and consumers are procuring the latest line of EVs,” said Prabhat Agarwal, CTA senior director of research and trends, in his article, “EVs Drive the New Car Revolution.” “All these factors are leading indicators and encouraging signs for an industry that is early in its lifecycle. EVs are clearly on a growth trajectory, as will be on clear display at CES 2023.”

One of the keynotes was delivered by Oliver Zipse, chairman of the Board of Management for BMW. Zipse introduced the “perfect digital car of the future”—the NEAU KLASSE generation of vehicles—and unveiled the i Vision Dee, a BMW concept EV equipped with adaptive artificial intelligence (AI). The vehicles are expected to be produced in 2025.

comfortable and customizable mobile environment for passengers. This year’s show featured several LiDAR (light detection and ranging) companies showcasing their products for autonomous vehicles.

(IAC), which returned this year at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Jan. 7. The autonomous racing competition featured nine fully autonomous racecars that reached speeds of more than 190 mph. Team PoliMove from

Considered one of the most influential tech events in the world, some of the largest brands— including Google, Amazon and Microsoft—showcased their products and services at the event. This year’s theme, “Human Security for All,” highlighted sustainability and solving global challenges.

More than 115,000 industry professionals attended the January show, which was 70% larger than in 2021 and featured more than 3,200 exhibitors from more than 173 countries, territories and regions, including 1,000 startup companies.

Show organizers said the automotive section was “bigger than ever,” with nearly 300 exhibitors in the Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall. Attendees had the opportunity to see concept cars, connected vehicles, autonomous mobility and other vehicle technology firsthand from companies such as GM, Waymo and Mobileye.

“At CES 2023, new innovations promise to change our world for the better,” noted CTA President and CEO Gary Shapiro during CTA’s State of the Industry address. “Companies big and small are showcasing innovations in mobility, digital health, artificial intelligence, robotics, food tech, smart home, digital assets and more.”

Shapiro said new technologies keep drivers and passengers safer and more comfortable on the road, and carmakers are leading efforts to build a greener and more sustainable future.

According to CTA research, consumers are increasingly

“We are able to explore the full potential of digitalization to transform the car into an intelligent companion,” said Zipse.

Each year, the CES Innovation Awards competition honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. This year, more than 50 products received an award in the category of Vehicle Tech and Advanced Mobility.

Another highlight during the show was the Indy Autonomous Challenge

Politecnico di Milano in Italy and the University of Alabama won the second annual event.

At the conclusion of CES, Shapiro said, “The innovation unveiled this week will drive economic growth and change in meaningful ways to improve our lives and create a better future for the next generation.”

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares also delivered a keynote address, which included the company’s vision for making mobility clean, safe and affordable for all. Tavares unveiled the Ram 1500 Revolution Battery Electric Vehicle Concept and the Peugeot Inception Concept.

“We want to improve how people move, socialize, shop and entertain themselves,” said Tavares. “We are enabling human connections, maintaining access to clean, safe and affordable mobility, and working sideby-side with our partners to provide freedom of movement.”

Some of the new products unveiled during the week included Sony Honda Mobility’s EV concept car, Afeela; Holon’s autonomous and fully electric mover vehicle that can fit 15 people; Bosch’s RideCare Companion, a smart sensor-based solution to enhance vehicle safety; and new vehicle technology from FORVIA, designed to create a more

At CES, Faraday Future showcased its FF91, which uses Innovusion’s LiDAR to power the autonomous driving system.

“Vehicle OEMs are investing billions in EV tech, charging stations are showing up in cities and across highways virtually worldwide, and consumers are procuring the latest line of EVs.”

— PRABHAT AGARWAL CTA SENIOR DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRENDS

During CES, Mobileye founder and CEO Professor Amnon Shashua discussed the company’s initiatives in regard to autonomous vehicle and advanced driver-assistance technology, which includes Mobileye SuperVision™.

I-CAR Wins Top Workplace Award

I-CAR® earned a 2023 Top Workplaces USA award in the small employer category, which recognizes and celebrates organizations across the country that have built exceptional, peoplecentric workplace cultures.

The award is issued annually by Energage, with a 15-year history of surveying more than 20 million employees and recognizing the top organizations across 60 markets for regional Top Workplaces awards.

I-CAR, recognized in the small employer category (150-499 employees), has 282 full-time associates, including instructors, primarily concentrated at its Training Support Center in Hoffman Estates, the Chicago Technical Center in Vernon Hills, IL, and the Technical Center in Appleton, WI, and also remote based geographically across the U.S.

Top Workplaces USA recognizes organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures.

Source: I-CAR

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Arizona Neighbors Celebrate Octogenarian’s Birthday in Style

By Steven Symes Motorious

Turning 80 is a big deal, so it’s understandable why Merry Grace wanted to help her dad Leslie celebrate it properly. Because the man, who is battling Alzheimer’s, is a huge gearhead, she asked the people of Maricopa, AZ, to help make the day memorable. They did by showing up in force for a car parade as the octogenarian enjoyed the sights.

Even though Leslie struggles to remember things, the man can still rattle off all kinds of facts about classic cars he sees when out and about.

www.autobodynews.com

On Leslie’s birthday, the community turned out, with people bringing their classic and modern cool rides to show off, from Mustangs to Challengers, hotrods, lowriders, motorcycles and more. According to Merry, more than 100 vehicles cruised by to pay her father respects for his 80th birthday.

The gesture made Leslie feel appreciated, something Merry seemed to enjoy. Leslie’s wife died several years ago from Alzheimer’s, so the man has been stricken with grief and is now struggling with the very thing which took her away.

Not only did people cruise by to show off their rides, two people took the 80-year-old for rides, giving the man a real thrill.

Too often, gearheads are portrayed as overly materialistic and selfish, as if the only thing they care about is cars. While they certainly love their rides, many would put family, friends and others before any machine. What’s even sweeter is when they can use their cars to put a smile on someone else’s face.

AAA: Fear of Self-Driving Cars on the Rise

By Brittany Moye AAA

The results of AAA’s annual automated vehicle survey show that while there is still a high level of interest in partially-automated vehicle technology, attitudes toward fully self-driving vehicles have become increasingly apprehensive.

This year there was a major increase in drivers who are afraid, rising to 68%, compared to 55% in 2022. This is a 13% jump from last year’s survey and the biggest increase since 2020*.

AAA believes automakers must be diligent in creating an environment that promotes the use of more advanced vehicle technologies in a secure, reliable and educational manner. This includes the consistent naming of vehicle systems available to consumers today.

“We were not expecting such a dramatic decline in trust from previous years,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive research for AAA. “Although with the number of high-profile crashes that have occurred from over-reliance on

isn’t entirely surprising.”

Even with advancements made in recent years, these findings suggest improvements are still needed to build public trust and knowledge surrounding emerging vehicle technology. There is also a need to dispel confusion around automated vehicles.

AAA’s survey found nearly one in 10 drivers believe they can buy a vehicle that drives itself while they sleep. Currently, there is no such vehicle available for purchase by the public that would allow someone to fully disengage from the task of driving.

This perception could stem from misleading or confusing names of vehicle systems that are on the market. AAA found 22% of Americans expect driver support systems, with names like Autopilot, ProPILOT or Pilot Assist, to have the ability to drive the car by itself without any supervision, indicating a gap in consumer understanding.

What are Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)? Consumers aren’t entirely opposed to advanced vehicle

U.S. drivers would “definitely” or “probably” want these systems in their next car purchase.

Examples of ADAS include blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

is also the only ADAS classified as Level 2 automation as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

A fully self-driving vehicle is one capable of operating without human involvement. A human driver is not required to control the vehicle at any time, nor required to be present in the vehicle while moving. These vehicles are not available for purchase by consumers and are classified as Level 5 automation as defined by the SAE.

Active driving assistance (ADA) is also considered ADAS; however, it differs in functionality from other systems. ADA combines braking, accelerating and steering through a combined use of adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance. This technology actively assists the driver versus other ADAS that only turns on when needed. ADA

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“AAA seeks to partner with automakers to create greater consistency across the industry. Together, we can help consumers understand the type of technology their vehicle has along with how, when and where to use these systems, which will ultimately build trust in the vehicles of the future,” said Brannon.

*AAA has conducted its annual Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Survey since 2016; data not comparable to years prior to 2021 due to change in methodology.

Source: AAA

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CCC Releases 2023 ‘Crash Course’ Report

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. announced March 14 the availability of its annual Crash Course report, which identifies trends impacting the P&C insurance economy, a multifaceted industry advancing the future of personal mobility and safer roadways. The report delivers insights on the convergence of economic, social and technological shifts reshaping driving behaviors, vehicle ownership, automotive insurance and claims handling, collision repair and more.

Crash Course 2023 is the 28th edition of CCC’s industry-leading report, which draws insights from the more than $100 billion in transactions processed annually through CCC’s solutions by its 30,000 customers, which include automakers, insurers, collision repairers, lenders, parts suppliers and more. The report draws from the company’s decades of experience and information derived from more than 280 million claims-related transactions, 50 billion driving miles of driving data, and millions of bodily injury and personal injury protection

(PIP)/medical payments (MedPay) casualty claims.

“Macroeconomic trends like inflation, supply chain constraints and labor shortages are putting

pressure on an industry that is simultaneously managing through major advancements in vehicle technology, including the growing popularity of advanced driver safety systems (ADAS) and EVs,” said Jason Verlen , CCC’s vice president, product marketing. “Together these factors are shifting insurability and repairability models and related cost and service dynamics. To

Tesla Ramps Cybertruck Production Job Listings For Giga Texas

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

It appears Tesla is increasing its hiring efforts for the Cybertruck, as well as focusing on the vehicle’s production, looking at the number of open job listings for Giga Texas related to the upcoming allelectric pickup truck.

A look at Tesla’s Careers page shows Tesla has 26 open Cybertruck-related job listings at Gigafactory Texas, 23 of which are for manufacturing-related jobs. This suggests Tesla’s initial production of the Cybertruck is indeed coming, possibly within the timeframe that CEO Elon Musk shared during the Q4 and FY 2022 earnings call.

The open manufacturing job positions reference the vehicle’s drive unit, stamping and battery pack.

To say there is a lot of excitement surrounding the Cybertruck’s initial production would be an understatement. The Cybertruck

is arguably one of the most highly-anticipated vehicles yet to be released.

It appears Tesla is indeed preparing to start the initial production of the Cybertruck sometime this summer, as Musk said, with the Cybertruck’s real ramp likely happening next year.

“We do expect production to start… maybe sometime this summer. But I always try to downplay the start of production because the start of production is always very slow. It increases exponentially, but it’s always very slow at first. So I wouldn’t put too much thought in start of production. It’s kind of ‘When does volume production actually happen?’ and that’s next year,” Musk said.

advance, participants across the ecosystem are unifying around the consumer and leveraging technology with the shared aim of getting drivers back on the road safely, efficiently and affordably.” Verlen continued, “This year’s Crash Course explores these factors and more, providing data and analysis on the industry’s path forward. We’ve subtitled our report ‘The Era of Experience’ as businesses across the industry navigate the balance between automation, AI and the human touch, to facilitate richer, more personalized consumer experiences with their customers.”

Key topics covered in Crash Course 2023 include:

• Shifts in consumer driving behaviors and the changing nature of auto accidents, resulting in more severe vehicle damage and bodily injury.

• The impact of labor shortages on vehicle repair and medical

treatment costs, claim and repair resolution times, and consumers’ experiences with the overall claims process.

• Growing consumer interest in new vehicle technology—ADAS and EVs—and the benefits and subsequent increases in repair complexity.

• Increasing proliferation of advanced technology—AI, mobile, cloud and the Internet of Things—embedded in claims and repair processes to temper the effects of macro trends and user experiences.

• A view into what’s next for the operational future of automakers, insurers, repairers and other ecosystem providers.

In addition to macro trends and topics, CCC Crash Course 2023 also includes industry-level detail on claims frequency and severity, parts costs and utilization, total loss trends and more.

Download the full report at cccis.com/crash-course/

Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

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*Kia Genuine replacement parts sold but not installed by an Authorized Kia Dealer are covered for 12 months from purchase date, regardless of mileage, for the part only, and any labor charge is the consumer’s responsibility.

Genuine Kia Parts* are specifically manufactured from original engineering specs to ensure the same exceptional quality, performance and safety as when you first drove your Kia off the lot. Plus, they’re covered by our 12-month Replacement Parts Limited Warranty.

New-Vehicle Prices Trend Downward As Incentives Rise

The average transaction price (ATPs) of a new vehicle in the U.S. declined in February to $48,763, a decrease of 1.4% ($705) from an upwardly revised January reading of $49,468.

Transaction prices in February were up 5.3% ($2,466) from year-ago levels, according to data released March 8 by Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company. Meanwhile, incentive spend rose to 3.0%, averaging $1,474, a level not seen since March 2022.

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 February, the average price paid was just $95 more than the average sticker, as prices continued to trend downward relative to sticker price. A year ago, the average ATP was nearly $1,000 over MSRP.

In February, sales volumes were up month over month by 9% and up 9% year over year, thanks in part to improved supply and added fleet sales. A tougher economy and high loan rates are putting downward pressure on retail demand.

“The transaction data from February indicates that prices continue a downward trend at the beginning of 2023,” 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 new models, richer product mix and limited discounting are contributing to elevated prices.”

Average Prices for Non-Luxury Cars Decline

The average price paid for a new nonluxuryvehicle in February was $44,697— a decline of $681 compared to January. Most non-luxury brands—including Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Mazda, Subaru and Volkswagen— saw ATP declines between 0.2% to 3.9% month over month in February. This correlates with higher incentives helping to push prices down. Kia and

Honda showed the most price strength in the non-luxury market, transacting between 4% and 6% over sticker price in February.

Luxury Share Stays High, While Average Prices Fall in February

Strong luxury vehicle sales have been a primary reason for overall elevated newvehicle prices. This trend continued in February, when luxury vehicle share hit 19.5% of total sales, down slightly from the record high 19.7% in January. The high share of luxury sales pushes the overall industry ATP higher, even though the luxury ATP declined month over month. For comparison, in February 2018, luxury share was 13.2% of the market.

In February, the average luxury buyer paid $65,534 for a new vehicle, down $644 from January. Buyers continue to pay over MSRP for new luxury vehicles. Luxury vehicle ATPs were a mixed bag in February, with luxury cars, luxury full-size SUVs and

luxury mid-size SUVs showing price declines between 0.3% and 4.1%. Entry-level luxury cars prices remained stable, while luxury compact SUVs and luxury subcompact SUVs saw price increases between 0.6% and 1.4%.

Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover showed the most price strength in the luxury market, transacting between 5% to 7% over sticker price. Luxury brands Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Infiniti, Lincoln and Volvo showed the least price strength, selling 1% or more below MSRP in February.

Led by Tesla,

EV Prices Decreased

Notably in February, Continuing a Downward Trend

The average price paid for a new EV decreased by $1,050 (down 1.8%) in February compared to January. The average new EV sold for $58,385, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates, 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 by $977, down 1.6% month over month and down 5.9% year over year. Lower prices likely helped Tesla deliver higher sales volumes. According to Kelley Blue

Book estimates, Tesla sales in February increased year over year by more than 44%.

Auto

Incentives Offered

by Manufacturers Remain at Historically Low Level but Trending Upward Incentives reached a 10-month high in February, increasing to 3.0% of the average transaction price compared to 2.8% in January. However, incentive spend remains at a historically low level. For comparison, in February 2021, Kelley Blue Book estimates incentives averaged 8.3% of ATP. Luxury cars had the highest incentives in February at 6.5% of ATP. Meanwhile, vans had the lowest incentives, with less than 1% of ATP.

“After nearly a year of incentives below 3% of ATP, it will be interesting to see if this upward trend continues as inventory improves,” said Rydzewski. “The most affordable vehicles— compact cars, compact SUVs and subcompact cars—had incentives on par or above the 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 luxury and higherend models.”

Source: Kelley Blue Book

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

GM’s Hands-Free ‘Ultra Cruise’ To Employ Unique Sensor Suite

General Motors announced March 7 that Ultra Cruise, the company’s next-generation advanced driver assistance system designed to ultimately enable hands-free driving in 95% of all driving scenarios, will have a 360-degree view of the vehicle through a unique sensor suite when it launches on the Cadillac CELESTIQ.

GM’s Ultra Cruise sensor strategy is directly guided by the company’s philosophy of safely deploying advanced driver assistance (ADAS) technologies.

The destination-to-destination hands-free system will use more than just cameras to “see” the world. Ultra Cruise uses a blend of cameras, short- and long-range radars, LiDAR behind the windshield, an all-new computing system and a driver attention system to monitor the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention. These systems work together through “sensor fusion” to provide Ultra Cruise with a confident, 360-degree, threedimensional representation of the vehicle’s surroundings.

“GM’s fundamental strategy for

all ADAS features, including Ultra Cruise, is safely deploying these technologies,” said Jason Ditman, GM chief engineer, Ultra Cruise. “A deep knowledge of what Ultra Cruise is capable of, along with the detailed picture provided by its sensors, will help us understand when Ultra Cruise can be engaged and when to hand control back to the driver. We believe consistent, clear operation can help build drivers’ confidence in Ultra Cruise.”

Over time, GM expects customers will be able to travel truly handsfree with Ultra Cruise across nearly every paved public road in the U.S. and Canada, including city streets, subdivision streets and rural roads, in addition to highways.

Vehicles equipped with Ultra Cruise hardware will experience incremental enhancements through over-the-air software updates. GM is focused on expanding ADAS accessibility with the combination of currently available Super Cruise driver assistance technology and soon, Ultra Cruise, bringing these technologies to more customers on more vehicles, in more regions at more price points.

How Ultra Cruise’s sensor suite works: GM is developing Ultra Cruise software in-house with a team of highly skilled software engineers around the world. The company also works with suppliers who are experts in their relative spaces and integrates their sensing technologies with its homegrown software to bring Ultra Cruise to life.

Driver attention system: This small camera, located on the top of the steering column, uses infrared light to help monitor the driver’s head position and/or eyes in relation to the road to help ensure driver attention.

Compute platform: This is the physical hardware that enables Ultra Cruise. The system will be powered by a scalable compute architecture featuring system-on-chips (SoCs) developed by U.S. semiconductor company Qualcomm Technologies.

Long-range cameras: These seven 8-megapixel cameras are located on the front, corners, back and sides of the vehicle, providing expanded fields of view for Ultra Cruise. They help enable the system to detect objects such as traffic signs, traffic lights, other vehicles

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

and pedestrians.

Short-range radars: Placed on the four corners of the vehicle, these radars are used to help sense a radius of up to 90 meters, like pedestrians crossing the street or vehicles in surrounding lanes.

Long-range radars: The three 4D long-range radars on the front and back of the vehicle allow for Adaptive Cruise Control speeds as well as lane change maneuvers at highway speeds by helping to detect an object’s location, direction and elevation relative to the speed of the vehicle. They also help the system determine safe stopping distances.

LiDAR: The LiDAR, located behind the windshield, helps produce an accurate three-dimensional view of the scene, enabling more precise detection of objects and road features such as vehicles and lane markings, even in inclement weather conditions. Combined with other sensors, it can help create a robust perception of the environment around the vehicle for Ultra Cruise, increasing the system’s functional domain and performance.

Source: GM

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

Dannmar Updates SwingArm Tire Changers

Updated Dannmar® DT-50 and DT50A tire changers are engineered to maximize efficiency to help keep work—and profits—flowing.

Both tire changers feature a swing-arm design that facilitates quick loading, with steel clamps to efficiently handle 12- to 26-inch wheels, including challenging lowprofile and run-flat beads. For the stiffest sidewalls, the DT-50A adds a power-assist tower.

They are built to last in even the busiest shops, with sturdy bodies, rigid hexagonal vertical shafts and hardened-steel horizontal outrigger support arms that eliminate flex during tire service and reduce the risk of damage to alloy wheels. Their compact, non-tilt-back design adds to their versatility since they can be installed flush against walls.

Dannmar is offering special reduced pricing on all its wheel service equipment through its Big

Tesla Cybertruck’s Ultra-Hard Cold-Rolled Steel Confirmed

By Steven Loveday InsideEVs

The Tesla Cybertruck will be unlike any other vehicle on the road today, not only thanks to its crazy design, but also the material it’s made of and how its structure works.

The Cybertruck will wear a body that’s actually an exoskeleton made of ultra-hard cold-rolled stainless steel. Tesla just applied for a patent for the material, and CEO Elon Musk confirmed it.

It has been known from the beginning the Cybertruck was to be made of cold-rolled stainless steel, one of the reasons it’s to be so unique. It also won’t be painted. The Tesla electric pickup truck will come from the factory in just a single color, and we can only imagine people are going to have a field day

possible in-house. Now, the news is spreading Tesla applied for an official patent for the special material. A portion of the patent, titled “Ultra-Hard Cold-Worked

as an ‘exoskeleton.’” The patent mentions other prospective embodiments, though it seems clear it’s all in reference to the upcoming Cybertruck.

If there were any doubt about the materials and their use, Musk may have cast them away. Tesmanian tweeted a link to an article about the patent, and the CEO responded on Twitter with just two words: “New metal.”

Steel Alloy,” reads as follows: “In some embodiments, at least one exterior panel and/or body of the vehicle comprises the steel alloy. In some embodiments, the vehicle architecture is designed such that the exterior panels of the vehicle also contribute to the vehicle’s structural performance, wherein such exterior paneling of a vehicle may be referred to

The Cybertruck is due to come to market later this year, with large-scale production coming in 2024, as Musk also confirmed again. However, there hasn’t been any official information about the company or companies that will manufacture the new metal for Tesla, but there’s been some talk on social media about a company called Steel Dynamics.

Steel Dynamics has a huge factory in Texas not too far from Tesla’s Gigafactory. Hopefully, since early production is expected to start soon, we’ll get more information in the near future.

INSIST ON GM GENUINE PARTS

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Courtesy Chevrolet PHOENIX

602-248-7710

601-604-3025 Fax

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Emich Chevrolet LAKEWOOD

800-274-1127

303-986-2245

303-989-3490 Fax

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Ford Applies For Patent That Allows It To Repossess Cars Remotely

By Phoebe Wall Howard Detroit Free Press

Ford Motor Company has applied for a patent on a system designed to try and get people to clear up late car payments that, when all else fails, could lead to cars driving themselves to repo lots. A patent application from Ford Global Technologies was filed with the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office on Aug. 20, 2021, and formally published Feb. 23 for public review as part of the official process.

The patent is pending, not yet granted, Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood confirmed to the Detroit Free Press on March 1.

The patent application describes new “systems and methods to repossess a vehicle.” Inventors are listed as Anthony Maraldo of Southgate, Brendan Diamond of Grosse Pointe, Keith Weston of Canton and Michael Alan Mcnees of Flat Rock, all Ford engineers. They describe in the patent application a range of possibilities that include the car driving itself off private property to be picked up by

a tow truck or taking it to a junkyard if the value is too low based on mileage and other factors.

Avoid ‘Confrontation’

The patent application reviewed by the Free Press outlines a series of strategies to resolve nonpayment, which include sending reminder messages and a warning from banks or other lending institutions to the owner’s smart phone or vehicle display screen. After a period of days or weeks, the process may evolve to include audio that makes an “unpleasant” sound with tone, pitch, cadence, beat or volume to get the owner to contact the lender about arranging payment. Then the car may disable features such as window or seat controls, GPS or radio dials to “cause discomfort,” the patent said. The pages of the patent application spelled out in great detail how the design and embedded software may be used and noted that it’s “preferable not to provoke an undesirable confrontation.”

Will It or Won’t It Be Used?

The patent also spells out ways

that delinquent owners can keep their vehicle while working toward payment, such as locking the vehicle on weekends only so that the driver can still access a job or geofencing the vehicle’s range.

“The first thing to know is that if your vehicle is connected to the internet in any way, this system could theoretically work on it. The application likewise describes a ‘repossession computer’ that could be installed on future cars to make this system function smoothly, but it also states no extra hardware necessarily needs to be installed on the vehicle for it to function,” said thedrive.com, which first reported the story Feb. 27. “Basically, if your car has an infotainment system already set up to receive something like over-the-air updates, this could probably work without physical modifications.”

The Dearborn, MI, automaker declined to comment on whether the company plans to implement the idea for a new software system in any of its vehicles through factory installation or over-the-air updates.

Auto Repossessions Climbing Nationally

The new system has not been installed in current Ford products, and the company cannot discuss future plans, Sherwood told the Free Press on March 1.

“We submit patents on new inventions as a normal course of business but they aren’t necessarily an indication of new business or product plans,” he said. While Ford owns a financing entity known as Ford Credit, the 2022 Ford corporate earnings presentation actually showed a steady decline in repossessions from 2018 through 2022. However, consumer trends show banks and other lending institutions may be looking to get more aggressive.

In December, NBC News reported consumers were falling behind on car payments. A month later, Bloomberg reported, “Americans fell behind on car payments at a higher rate than in 2009. Automobile repossessions climbing...”

Years ago, Mel Farr, a Detroit Lions running back who retired in 1974 and bought his first Ford dealership in 1975 and went on to

run an automotive empire, made headlines for using a device to disable vehicles he leased out when customers failed to make timely payments. According to a Free Press story in 2000, lawyers for 1,550 customers agreed to drop a class-action lawsuit against Mel Farr Automotive Group over the engine disabling device in exchange for $200 in coupons for car services at the dealership.

Farr was willing to work with customers with bad credit and did so with high interest rates, but some customers alleged their cars shut down while they were driving. He died at age 70 in 2015.

Autel, Repairify Announce Agreement For Remote Diagnostics, Calibrations and Services

Repairify™, Inc., a portfolio company of Kinderhook Industries, LLC, and Autel U.S., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Autel Intelligent Technology Corp., Ltd., on March 1 announced an exclusive long-term collaboration agreement for the delivery of Repairify’s patented global OEM remote solutions for diagnostics, calibrations and programming through Autel’s remote capable products across North America.

As part of the agreement, Repairify will integrate its leading patented global remote diagnostic, calibration and programming solutions as a new service offering into a revised version of Autel’s Remote Expert platform. Repairify and Autel will jointly manage the platform that will now offer customers the choice of using the certified and warrantied OEM remote solutions from Repairify, along with the independent Remote Experts, vetted for their experience, who are already serving the platform.

Autel’s Remote Expert,

launched in 2022, provides customers onsite aftermarket scanning and access to remote OEM tools supported by experienced professionals. Remote Expert is available through the Autel MaxiSYS Ultra, Ultra EV, MS919, MS909 and MS909 EV diagnostics tablets. Remote Expert will also be expanded into Autel’s ADAS calibration systems.

“We are excited to enter into this collaboration with Repairify,” said Autel U.S. CEO Chloe Hung. “Autel developed the Remote Expert platform to provide our users remote access to specialized and experienced module programmers and diagnosticians. We are very proud that its success drew the attention of a company of such quality and industry success as Repairify. We are confident that this partnership will benefit both companies and, most importantly, be of immense value to our users.”

Repairify and Autel are

industry leaders in their respective markets. Combining the Repairify remote services solutions program with the Autel Remote Expert Platform delivers what automotive repair professionals have requested for years, a seamless experience that delivers fast, accurate, certified and safe vehicle repairs with the choice of aftermarket or OEM tool support.

“Since its launch into the North American market in 2005, Autel has been known for their consistent delivery of leading innovative solutions across the mechanical and collision markets,” said Cris Hollingsworth, president of Repairify Global Holdings. “Repairify is honored to embark on this partnership and to broaden the reach of our solutions through the new and existing Autel network of customers.”

For additional information, visit Repairify online at www.repairify. com.

Source: Repairify, Inc.

By Sebastien Bell CarScoops

As Europe, a number of U.S. states and others plan to ban the sale of new vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2035, Honda said its own studies show the technology could stick around until 2040.

Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe said the company is currently in the midst of running feasibility studies on future technologies, in a recent interview with Reuters. This research is looking at, among other things, low-carbon synthetic fuels that could help keep combustion engines around for longer, especially in highperformance car, trucks and airplanes. Despite keeping its options open, the executive said  Honda is focused on electrification and fuel cell technology. “I’ve been in the engine development business for more than 30 years, so personally it’s a little threatening,” admitted Mibe. “But I have to separate my own feelings from what is best for

the business.” The chief executive further confirmed EVs based on its own dedicated platform would start arriving in the U.S. in 2026, after a pair of electric crossovers based on GM’s Ultium platform debut in 2024. Honda is committing $40 billion to developing hybrid and fullyelectric technologies so they make up 40% of its sales by 2030. That includes a $3.5 billion joint venture in Jeffersonville, OH, where it will build batteries with LG Energy Solution starting in 2025.

In addition, it plans to establish a standalone business next month, tasked with the task of developing Honda’s battery business. That could eventually include an investment in developing EV infrastructure, like Tesla’s Supercharger network.

“The charging in`1frastructure is not at a place that it needs to be for our customers,” said Mibe. He added, however, “as we move toward carbon neutrality, we are focused on electrification and fuel cells—those are the two core components of future mobility.”

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Tesla Confirms Switch To 48 Volt System

By Mark Kane InsideEVs

Tesla is moving forward with applying improvements to the low-voltage system of its electric vehicles, which was operating at roughly 12 volts, the same as in the vast majority of other cars

During the recent 2023 Investor Day, Tesla representatives confirmed the intention to introduce a 48V system, still a rare solution in the automotive industry.

The first step for Tesla was the switch from 12V lead-acid auxiliary batteries to 12V lithiumion auxiliary batteries, announced in February 2021, and initially launched in the refreshed Tesla Model S/Model X and later in the Model 3/Model Y.

According to Tesla, the old leadacid batteries were a major source of failures in Tesla cars, and they needed a replacement about every four years. The new lithium-ion batteries are expected to withstand the lifetime of the car—just like the main traction battery—so there should be no replacement needed.

That’s the obvious

improvement, on top of which comes a smaller size and 87% reduction in weight.

Tesla said starting with the Cybertruck—starting production this year—the Optimus robot and all future EVs, the 48V low-voltage system will be used.

For reference, the automotive industry moved from 6V to 12V in the 1960s; currently smaller vehicles might still use 6V, while larger vehicles use 24V.

Tesla will use a 48V system because it will reduce the current by a factor of four, compared to 12V systems. This voltage level is still considered safe.

The increase in voltage is a necessity as power demand for onboard electrical devices steadily increases and at 12V, the wires are becoming thick, heavy and costly. With a 48V system, there will be noticeable weight and cost savings, while at the same time, efficiency might increase.

That’s an interesting change, which will also require a new 48V lithium-ion auxiliary battery, which, in the case of Tesla, might be produced in-house.

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Earnhardt

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

Schomp Ford

DENVER

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303-343-1396

303-361-9278 Fax

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Bob Howard Parts OKLAHOMA CITY

800-888-3827

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Lakewood LAKEWOOD

800-332-3722

720-481-2460

303-991-4134 Fax

Hours: M-F 7-8; Sat 8-4 steven.albertson@lhmauto.com

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TULSA

WHOLESALE DIRECT

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Five Star Ford

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS WHOLESALE DIRECT

800-895-7827

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Helfman Ford STAFFORD

281-240-7628

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Mac Haik Ford, Lincoln

GEORGETOWN/AUSTIN

877-969-3055

512-930-6260

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Tommie Vaughn Motors

HOUSTON

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713-869-4755

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Town East Ford

MESQUITE

972-798-4529

972-682-1290 24 Hr Fax

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Ford

Larry H. Miller Ford Mesa

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United Ford PDC

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