May 2022 Southwest Edition by Autobody News

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Polestar Cars Opens Retail Location in Scottsdale, AZ Polestar, a premium electric performance car maker, on April 13 opened a new retail location—known as a Polestar Space—in Scottsdale, AZ. The new showroom offers sales, service and test drives of the all-electric Polestar 2 performance fastback. Polestar Scottsdale is located in the Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall

at 7014 East Camelback Road, and is operated by Courtesy Automotive. As the company’s first retail location in Arizona, Polestar Scottsdale gives Valley of the Sun residents the opportunity to experience Polestar vehicles firsthand and learn more about them from Polestar Specialists in an avant-garde setting. As part of the brand’s innovative retail model, Polestar 2 vehicles can be ordered online at https:// www.polestar.com/us/polestar-2/ configurator/ for home delivery in the greater Phoenix area, or with the See Polestar Cars, Page 16

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio Co-Sponsors Federal REPAIR Act by Camille Sheehan, Auto Care Association

The Auto Care Association, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), CAR (Consumer Access to Repair) Coalition and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) applaud U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-OH, for co-sponsoring the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act. Introduced in February by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-IL, to provide consumers rights to their vehicle’s repair and maintenance data and safeguard a free and fair repair market, the

Credit: wirestock

REPAIR Act (H.R. 6570) is the only federal right to repair legislation that addresses this critical need in the automotive industry. Davidson is an automotive industry alumnus who ran his family

Vol. 40 / Issue 5 / May 2022

Oklahoma City Veterans Receive Vehicles Through NABC Recycled Rides® Program On April 12, two Oklahoma City veterans experienced a life-changing event—the gift of reliable transportation to help them get to work, manage their family life and continue their path to independence. This was made possible through the generosity of the vehicle donors Hertz and Allstate, and repair partners CARSTAR Jeremiah’s Collision and Service King North OKC, as part of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program. The presentation was held in conjunction with the NABC Pars for

Cars Golf Fundraiser Presented by Hertz at the Golf Club of Edmond.

Recipient Merinda Anderson with the Service King North OKC team and a representative from Honoring America’s Warriors See Oklahoma City Veterans, Page 18

Bad Driving Has Americans on Edge The roadways changed drastically at the onset of the pandemic, even with fewer drivers on the road, traffic deaths have soared throughout the pandemic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, despite miles driven declining by 11%, there was a 6.8% increase in fatalities from motor vehicle crashes in 2020.

See Federal REPAIR Act, Page 19

The problem continued to get worse as people returned to the roadways with fatalities increasing 12% through the first nine months of 2021. Despite a decrease in miles driven, accidents are likely to be more severe—even fatal—from reckless driving behaviors like

speeding or not wearing a seat belt. As we enter Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a new study from Nationwide found drivers are practicing poor driving behavior despite fears of others driving dangerously. Drivers say the road is considerably more dangerous today than before the pandemic, with half saying that driving is more stressful. Reckless behavior behind the wheel is happening everywhere and drivers are taking notice of other people’s wild actions. Compared to 2020: 81% think drivers are more aggressive 79% think drivers drive faster 76% think drivers are more reckless Even more frightening, more than a third of drivers (34%) believe it is safe to hold your phone while driving—whether that is to make a call, send a text or use navigation. This feeling is more prevalent in younger drivers: • 39% of Gen Z and Millennials think it’s safe to be using the phone See Bad Driving, Page 20

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CONTENTS

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REGIONAL

CCC Launches Integration with asTech �� 36

Capital Paint & Refinish, Capital Equipment

CDK Global Supports ASE Foundation �� 18

800-699-8251

Chevrolet Resumes Bolt Production

AUTOBODY

Lawsuit Against USAA Related to Total Losses Moves Forward �� 14 Musk Talks About Tesla’s Future at Giga Texas Cyber Rodeo �� 10 Oklahoma City Veterans Receive Vehicles Through NABC Recycled Rides® Program �� 1 Painter’s Collision Centers Announces Grand Opening of Newest AZ Location �� 14 Polestar Cars Opens Retail Location in Scottsdale, AZ �� 1 Sen. Ted Cruz Joins Texas-Based Automotive Aftermarket CEOs for Roundtable Discussion �� 12 Tesla Delivers First Model Y Vehicles from Giga Texas �� 16 The Soap Box Derby and Service to the Community Set the Stander Family Apart from the Competition �� 6

COLUMNISTS Anderson - Tips to Help Auto Body Shops Get Paid for Crucial Step of Destructive Weld Testing �� 26 Yoswick - Collision Repair Industry Trend Data Shows Need for Changes to Insurer DRP Metrics �� 34

Dingle Family Continues Journey with Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Stacey Phillips Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Norman Morano, (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Digital Marketing Manager: Bryan Malinski Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Vicki Sitarz Online and Web Content Editor: Abby Andrews Accounting Manager: Heather Priddy Permissions Editor: Randi Scholtes Office Assistant: Dianne Pray

Serving Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2022 Adamantine Media LLC.

American Icon Automotive Finishes �� 18

Industrial Finishes and Systems �� 48

Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 47

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 45

AutoMart Mitsubishi �� 31

Larry H. Miller Ford Mesa �� 26

Axalta Coating Systems �� 11

LKQ Corporation �� 21

BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 40

Mac Haik Ford-Lincoln �� 37

Bob Utter Kia �� 28

Matrix Edge �� 5

Car-O-Liner �� 29

Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 42

Certified Automotive Parts Association �� 10

Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts �� 38

Chevyland �� 34

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 35

Steering Feature in Action �� 46

Christopher’s Dodge-Ram �� 31

NOROO Paint & Coatings �� 17

Startups, AkzoNobel to Collaborate �� 46

Classifieds �� 46

North Freeway Hyundai �� 20

Supply Chain Issues and Repair Complexity

Dominion Sure Seal, Ltd �� 6

Northside Chevrolet �� 33

Eagle Abrasives �� 23

Part of the Club �� 31

Emich Chevrolet �� 31

Peak Kia �� 31

Emich Volkswagen �� 31

PPG �� 15

Equalizer Auto Glass Tools �� 12

Santa Fe Kia �� 30

Finnegan Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram �� 2

SATA Dan-Am Company �� 7

Fisher Acura �� 31

Schomp Mazda �� 22

Fisher Honda �� 31

Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center �� 8-9

Flatirons Subaru �� 31

Spanesi Americas �� 27

Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 43

Steck Manufacturing Company �� 14

Fowler Honda �� 30

Stevinson Toyota West �� 31

Freeman Mazda �� 36

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 41

GM Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 39

Toyota of Laredo �� 19

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers ��24-25

Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 32

Women Award Winners During Hybrid

Horne Kia �� 16

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 40

Educational Conference �� 22

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers �� 44

Wrenchers �� 13

Their Recycled Ride �� 41 EagleMMS Software Soars to the Top of Auto Body Shops’ To-Do Lists �� 38 EV Operating Costs Appear Much More Appealing as Gas Prices Soar: Report �� 40 Farmers Insurance Wins NABC Award �� 33 GM Headlight Recall Issued Over Low-Beam Glare �� 42 GM to Expedite Hummer EV Production as Reservations Increase to 65,000 �� 44 Improved Semiconductor Supply Drives Truck Market Share Gains for GM �� 44 New Standardized Independent Adjuster Competency Exam Announced �� 42 See The Tesla Cybertruck’s Rear-Wheel

Major Concerns in 2022 �� 30 Tesla Only Major Automaker to Show Growth Year-Over-Year �� 20 Tesla Roadster Reservations Reopen Ahead of 2023 Production �� 36

1Collision, Auto Techcelerators Partner �� 19 Bad Driving Has Americans on Edge �� 1 Biden’s FY 2023 Budget Proposal Includes Investments in EVs, ADAS, Autonomous Vehicles �� 4 Camaro Production Stopped �� 28

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

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio Co-Sponsors Federal REPAIR Act �� 1

NATIONAL

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Following Battery Issues �� 28

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Join Wesco Group �� 10

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Vehicle Connectivity Surging, but Consumer Paid Subscription Share in Sharp Decline �� 4 Volkswagen Wants to Cut 60% of ICE Lineup by 2030 �� 18 WIN to Recognize 2022 Most Influential

autobodynews.com / MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Biden’s FY 2023 Budget Proposal Includes Investments in EVs, ADAS, Autonomous Vehicles President Joe Biden released his $5.8 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2023, which builds on the investments made in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed last year, by allocating $105 billion to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Included in the budget are important projects for independent vehicle repair shops related to vehicle safety, autonomous vehicles, electric vehicle deployment and emissions reductions. The budget includes $49.8 million for the National High-

“From roads, tunnels and bridges to airport and port improvements, electric vehicle chargers, safe bike lanes and more, we are building a first-rate transportation system for all Americans.” — Pete Buttigieg “The investments in the presdent’s budget make traveling safer, easier, cleaner and more affordable for the American people,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “From roads, tunnels and bridges to airport and port improvements, electric vehicle chargers, safe bike lanes and more, we are building a first-rate transportation system for all Americans.”

way Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Research program, which studies vehicle improvements and other technical advances that can better protect people in a crash and reduce the likelihood of crashes. Portions of the $49.8 million will go toward Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving Systems

(ADS) research that facilitates innovation and development of new tests, tools and procedures to properly evaluate the safety of new technologies surrounding highly and fully automated vehicles. In the proposal, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is allocated $1 billion in advance appropriations to work with the newly formed Joint Office of Energy and Transportation to implement the new National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. This program will assist states in creating a network of convenient, affordable, reliable and equitable electric vehicle charging stations along the Interstate Highway System to build designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. The FHWA budget also includes $400 million to implement the new Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants Program, designed to further increase electric vehicle charging access in locations throughout the country through competitive grants, and

$1.3 billion for the Carbon Reduction Program, which will provide formula grants to states to reduce transportation emissions. The budget proposal aligns with Biden’s climate and energy goals and includes $27.5 million in funding for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program and $14.5 million for the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). In August 2021, NHTSA responded to Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment by amending the CAFE standards for vehicles model year 2024-2026 to require increased stringency for fuel efficiency standards. The release of the president’s budget proposal is the kickoff for the months long budget process. Lawmakers can now begin crafting the legislation that will make up the 2023 federal budget, using Biden’s proposal to guide them in the administration’s priorities. Source: Automotive Service Association

Vehicle Connectivity Surging, but Consumer Paid Subscription Share in Sharp Decline According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, connectivity will be available in more than half of new vehicles sold in 2022 and more than 70% in 2028.

Carmakers are committed to connectivity because of its various benefits, including fleet management, reduction of warrant costs, convenient electric vehicle (EV) ownership and over-the-air (OTA) updates. However, they still have not found an effective strategy to recoup the connectivity and airtime costs. Connected services adoption is low, especially among lower-tier vehicles, and the increase in free trial periods means the ratio of paid subscriptions will contract by 20% between 2021 and 2028. Despite moving to become ubiquitous, vehicle connectivity is still not a significant revenue source.

“Due to the prevalence of high traffic phone data plans, end consumers have little motivation to pay for connectivity and rarely renew subscriptions after the free trial period, which carmakers are constantly extending,” said Maite Bezerra, smart mobility and automotive research analyst at ABI Research. “This is especially true for infotainment services that compete with free phone mirroring. This reality signals that it will be challenging for carmakers such as Stellantis, Ford and GM to achieve their recently announced goals to generate $20 billion in software and services revenues annually by 2030, at least 13 times what they generate today.” From premium to volume cars, nearly all carmakers are committed to deploying software-defined vehicle platforms and betting on revenues from delivering software-enabled services and features OTA. That requires the establishment of a revenue-generating consumer touchpoint where these new services will be bought or updated, essentially relying on user engage-

4 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

ment with embedded infotainment systems rather than mirroring through CarPlay or Android Auto.

dle. ABI Research expects more than 70% of active infotainment subscriptions to be on a free trial or

“Due to the prevalence of high traffic phone data plans, end consumers have little motivation to pay for connectivity and rarely renew subscriptions after the free trial period, which carmakers are constantly extending,” — Maite Bezerra “However, most subscription revenues presently derive from essential telematics and remote services rather than infotainment,” Bezerra pointed out. Connected services subscriptions are being extended to drive higher customer engagement. The average free trial period in the U.S. is increasing from three to six months, in Europe from one to three years (e.g., Polestar), and in China, many carmakers offer free for life connectivity (e.g., NIO, SAIC-GM). The drawback of such a strategy is the ratio of subscriptions paid by the final consumers will dwin-

free-for-life arrangement in 2022. Further adding to the connected vehicle monetization challenge, software-defined vehicle platforms will considerably increase monthly data consumption—from 400500 MB to up to 2-20 GB—and connectivity costs, which neither carmakers nor end consumers have been willing to pay so far. “Nevertheless, EVs could be the panacea for low connected services adoption by final users as they significantly improve ownership convenience,” concluded Bezerra. Source: ABI Research

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The Soap Box Derby and Service to the Community Set the Stander Family Apart from the Competition High-quality repairs, great customer service and the soap box derby are hallmarks of the Stander family collision repair business. For National Mom and Pop Business Day on March 29, founder Jerry Stander reflected on building and managing a family business. “I’ve been repairing automobiles since my high school days,” said Stander. “In the 1970s, I started repairing damaged cars—mostly brand-new BMWs—out of my family home garage. Soon after, in February of 1983, my wife Bernie and I established Jerry Stander’s Auto Body in Littleton, CO. In 1997, we had the opportunity to purchase land and build a facility of our own for the future. The rest is history.” The Standers’ philosophy has always included working with others inside and outside the industry to help solve simple and complex business problems. The Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and I-CAR have been some of the organizations used for increasing business networking and creating training programs for the shop and

staff. In the early 2000s, a massive Denver market consolidation started to take place. The family decided to join Fix Auto USA in 2006 as Fix Auto Highlands Ranch. Fix Auto USA helped the Stander family organization connect with other operators with the same business mindset and values. This led into joining a Fix Auto Business Development 20 Group and various business advisory councils. Jerry and Bernie Stander realize their success would not be possible without their staff. Their team is one big family and they see very little turnover among their staff. Today, youngest son Dan has joined the team as the general manager while his brother Bob works as the production manager to continue the legacy. “We work to help everyone get the training and certifications they need to deliver great repairs,” said Stander. “Professional, safe and quality repairs have always been the culture for us at Fix Auto Highlands Ranch.” Fix Auto Highlands Ranch has been I-CAR Gold Class certified for

6 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

more than 16 years, with many of the staff obtaining platinum status. Fix Auto Highlands Ranch became the first shop in Colorado to become Honda ProFirst Collision Repair Certified. They have also worked with Subaru to become Subaru Collision Certified, and they are currently working with other manufacturers to obtain additional OEM certifications. They have partnered with Verifacts Automotive, which helps them continually improve through spot vehicle inspections and verifying the facility is up-to-date with shop equipment and procedures. These training and certification programs provide the groups and coaches that helped Fix Auto Highlands Ranch provide a great culture of customer service, repair training and OEM procedures. Alongside the repair culture, it has always been important for Fix Auto Highlands Ranch to be involved in the community. “The Sertoma Mile High Soap Box Derby has been near and dear to our hearts,” said Stander. “We have been involved since 2008 and

it has been incredibly rewarding. It all began when I was asked to build the starting ramps and it has evolved from there. I’ve built various classes of race cars, trailers, the starting line, the finish line and everything in between. The shop is home base for the local Mile High Soap Box Derby club. Many meetings and fund raisers are held at our facility, along with clinics where racers and families build their soap box race cars.” Fix Auto Highlands Ranch is also involved in the local Rotary Chapter. Through Rotary, the Fix Auto family has enjoyed many service projects, including making and serving meals at the Ronald McDonald House, serving meals at the Denver Rescue Mission, assembling and delivering Thanksgiving baskets to home-bound people for the Interfaith Task Force, and helping at local food banks. Fix Auto Highlands Ranch is thankful and grateful for their community and industry involvement. Visit FixAutoUSA.com for more information. Source: Fix Auto USA

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Musk Talks About Tesla’s Future at Giga Texas Cyber Rodeo by Maria Merano, Teslarati

Tesla celebrated the opening of its Giga Texas factory April 7 with the Cyber Rodeo, featuring an address from CEO Elon Musk. Welcoming Musk to the stage were drones in the sky depicting an image of Nikola Tesla, the inventor the company is named after; the Cyber Rodeo sign; the image of a moving vehicle, which turned out to be a Model Y; and the Cybertruck’s outline. After the drone show, Tesla showed a short clip of a “herd” Tesla Model Y’s running through Giga Texas grounds alongside a horse and its rider. The video was cut short by Musk, arriving in style in an original Tesla Roadster---the car that started it all. “We’re gonna talk about the past, present and future,” Musk told the crowd. “When we first started out Tesla, I thought we had—optimistically—a 10% chance of succeeding,” he said. He thanked the Tesla team for their hard work and attributed the

company’s success to them. Musk listed all the products Tesla offers, including its solar products. He said two thirds of America’s electric vehicles are Tesla cars. Musk highlighted the accomplishments of the Tesla AI team. He announced Tesla was aiming for the wide release of FSD beta in North America this year. “California was running out of room,” Musk said. “And we needed

Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen and CEO Elon Musk stand in front of the Cybertruck on April 7 at the Cyber Rodeo at Giga Texas

a place to grow big. And there’s no place like Texas,” he said, thanking the state and particularly Travis County. Musk said Tesla Giga Texas is

taller than the Burj Khalifa if the factory were turned on its side, and one could fit a total of 194 billion hamsters in the factory. “And this building is the most advanced car factory that Earth’s ever seen,” Musk said, bringing up the idea Tesla’s factories are products in and of themselves once again. Musk noted Tesla is building its own cells at Giga Texas, the long-awaited 4680 cells. He proudly said the Austin factory could be one of the biggest cell factories in the world. “Raw materials in, a bunch of stuff happens, and car out,” Musk said, describing the simplified version of Tesla’s main operations. He added Tesla plans to produce the Cybertruck in Austin next year. “I can’t wait to have this baby around. [Cybertruck] is gonna be epic,” Musk said. Musk also said Giga Texas will be the most “high-volume” factory in America, and Tesla will aim to command 20% of the auto market in the long term. “We’re gonna move at a truly massive scale,” Musk said. He also

hinted at the company’s Robotaxi fleet, describing it as futuristic and significantly different than Tesla’s other offerings. Musk also talked about Optimus. Tesla plans to produce V1 Optimus, the Cybertruck, the next-generation Roadster and the Semi next year. Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen later showed up with the Cybertruck. Musk pointed out there are no handles on the Cybertruck. He apologized for the vehicle’s production delay, though he and von Holzhausen assured the audience the Cybertruck will be well worth the wait. And with that, Musk kicked off the Cyber Rodeo party. Several minutes’ worth of fireworks ensued.

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Capital Paint & Refinish, Capital Equipment Join Wesco Group Wesco Group, a leading paint, body and equipment distributor in the U.S. and Canada, is pleased to announce Capital Paint & Refinish and Capital Equipment has joined the Wesco Team. Capital was founded in May 2015 by Todd Kinsel and his two brothers Craig and Scott. Since its inception, the team has continued to grow aggressively and has expanded to 11 locations in Texas, Louisiana and Colorado. “Capital Paint joined Wesco because of the nationwide footprint, great products, service and support. Service and support will remain the focus to give our customers the best chance for success in the collision industry,” said Todd Kinsel. Todd Kinsel has joined the Wesco Group as a principal part-

ner and will continue to lead the growth in those markets. “We are excited to welcome Capital’s customers and great team to the Wesco organization,” said Lloyd White, CEO of Wesco Group. “We regard their philosophy of being an organization that is driven to provide value to customers they serve. This connects our footprint to become the premier distributer coast to coast.” The combined Wesco Group, which includes Wesco, Color Compass, Kemperle and now Capital, makes it one of the largest privately-held PBE distributors in North America servicing customers from more than 130 stores, 13 distribution centers, 12 equipment divisions and 11 training centers. Source: Wesco Group

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Sen. Ted Cruz Joins Texas-Based Automotive Aftermarket CEOs for Roundtable Discussion On March 29, Sen. Ted Cruz (RTX) joined Texas-based auto care industry CEOs for an exclusive meeting to discuss the critical issues facing the auto care industry and to share what Congress is doing to address them. Cruz is a senior member of the Senate Commerce Committee, which controls the fate of Right to Repair legislation in the U.S. Senate. The CEOs participating in the roundtable were Mike Duffy, president and CEO, FleetPride, the nation’s largest independent heavy duty parts distributor based in Irving, TX; Eric Sills, CEO, Standard Motor Products, which has multiple manufacturing facilities in Texas; Donnie Carr, CEO, Christian Brothers Automotive, an award-winning repair shop franchise headquartered in Houston; and Jim Arnold, CEO, Arnold Oil, a fourth-generation family-owned business headquartered in Austin. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association, opened the roundtable discussion by emphasizing the importance of meeting with legislators to simply share information about industry business and economic impacts. “As technology becomes almost a weapon for the automakers, it’s critical for all of us to be able to have a dialogue with our local representatives or senators so that they understand the issues that are on the table for our industry.” In Texas alone, the auto care industry provides nearly 200,000 jobs and nearly $40 billion to the Texas economy, including 266 manufacturing facilities, 17,000 wholesale locations, 11,000 retail locations and nearly 21,000 service locations within the great state of Texas that pay $13.4 billion in wages. “We are not only an economic powerhouse in the nation, but also in the state,” said Hanvey. Access to affordable vehicle repair FleetPride’s Duffy asked Cruz for his position on access to quality affordable motor vehicle repair and his perspective on vehicle owners still continuing to have that ability to get

their vehicles repaired by independent repair shops. Duffy also asked the senator what the aftermarket industry can do to advance a bill like the REPAIR Act, federal legislation introduced in the U.S. House in February, and how to push it across the goal line. Cruz responded that he “strongly support[s] the right to repair your own vehicle, your own car, your own truck…and get whoever you want to repair it. That’s a fundamental question of individual liberty and individual property rights. But, it’s also a question of small businesses. We have so many small businesses that provide jobs and lower cost repairs. I am a passionate supporter of small business. I think the key to jobs is small businesses. Two-thirds of all new jobs come from small businesses.” When it came to legislation supporting the right to repair, Cruz said he needed to look more closely at the details within the legislation, but he was “happy to commit to working with [the industry] to address the issue in a way that makes sense and ensure that people have the right to make their own repair decisions.” Standard Motor Products’ Sills shared with the senator that his business, like many in the industry, has been dealing with significant supply chain disruption. “The ports have been facing nearly insurmountable backlogs on both coasts, causing significant delays, sometimes months, and it’s really impacting it all the way down to the consumer. What do you think is needed, both in the short term and the long term, to address this crisis?” Sills asked Cruz. Cruz responded that “the supply chain crisis is real, and it’s putting real consequences and burdens on small businesses and consumers across the country. There are a lot of factors that have contributed to the crisis.” After elaborating on the ripple effect of the pandemic, shutdowns, inflation and more, the senator called for “an examination of the factors that have led to this crisis” and committed to “calling hearings and examining the root causes and the specific solutions to address

12 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

it,” should Republicans retake the U.S. Senate, “because it’s causing a world of hurt, both for small businesses and for consumers.” Christian Brothers Automotive’s Carr said the aftermarket industry thrives with a highly technical and well-trained workforce and asked what Congress can do to help close the workforce gap of 200,000 technicians nationwide. Cruz expressed his deep passion for education and detailed his work in support of it, including introducing “legislation that would create a federal tax credit of $10 billion a year, totaling $100 billion over the next 10 years for contributions to scholarship granting organizations in the state—half of which is dedicated to workforce development to training for things like being an auto technician and advanced work skills to help adults get the skills they need to compete in today’s marketplace. If it passes it will be the most far-reaching federal education reform since the G.I. Bill and would dramatically expand the

number of auto technicians that are available across Texas and across the country.” Arnold Oil’s Arnold raised the issue of currently skyrocketing prices for crude oil, gas and natural gas, underscoring the point that the increased cost impacts not just the prices at the pump, but also rubber and plastic goods. Arnold asked for the senator’s thoughts on the shortand long-term effects of these disruptions and what could be done. Cruz shared said he believes energy independence is key to American prosperity in the wake of rising energy prices. “The single most effective thing we could do is reach oil, gas and energy independence, which would take away Russia’s customers,” said Cruz. “What we ought to do is step up and get Europe to cancel those contracts with Russia. If American energy production steps up and fills the gap, there is nothing we could do that would more effectively defeat Russia and Putin than to take away See Sen. Ted Cruz, Page 16

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Painter’s Collision Centers Announces Grand Opening of Newest AZ Location by Ed Attanasio

James and Kelly Huard, owners of Painter’s Collision Centers, officially opened the doors to their newest collision repair facility in Chandler, AZ, in March—a full-service facility with a wide range of OE certifications and multiple DRPs. Family-owned and operated, Painter’s Collision Centers started as a single location in Queen Creek, AZ. When the founding owners retired in January 2021, James and Kelly Huard took ownership, bringing with them the same family values, as well as more than 35 years of collision repair experience. James Huard grew up in the collision repair industry working at his father’s shop. In the following years, he held various roles in collision repair, including operational and ownership positions, and garnered respect from customers, colleagues, insurance companies and executives for his profound work ethic and industry knowledge. As the CFO, Kelly Huard holds years of business experience, with her impressive success in the fields

of commercial real estate, commercial HVAC and restaurants and hospitality. She is well-versed in setting up infrastructure, including human resources, payroll, administration, SOPs and all financial services, which applies well to her current role.

ing their goal. To open an auto body shop today entails a lot more than just hiring people and hanging a sign, Jim Huard said. “It’s no secret that today’s cars are far more complex than those from five years ago, let alone the car you learned to drive with,” he said. “As vehicle and consumer technology and hardware and software evolve, so does the complexity of collision repair.” Today’s vehicles can’t be repaired with the knowledge technicians had 10 years ago. “The equipment we use is light-years ahead of what Painter’s Collision Centers is ready to expand strategiwe used when cars were cally in Arizona within the next few years made of [only] steel,” he Combining their skills, expe- said. “The software and online applirience and business acumen, James cations we have at our fingertips toand Kelly have developed a strategic day used to be printed and published business plan to purchase underper- in manuals that made the phone book forming collision repair facilities in look small. Even how collision repair the Phoenix area and grow them, facilities approach vehicle repairs forming a regional MSO. With the have evolved from a ‘brute force’ addition of the Chandler facility, approach—’just muscle your way they are well on their way to achiev- through it’—to a more delicate ap-

Lawsuit Against USAA Related to Total Losses Moves Forward by John Yoswick

In a lawsuit stretching back more than a decade, a recent decision by an appeals court in Texas will allow a class action against USAA, related to total losses, to move forward. The lawsuit alleges USAA routinely filed “owner retained reports” for non-repairable vehicles with the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) immediately after issuing checks for total losses, without giving claimants adequate notice. The lead plaintiff in the case, Sunny Letot, was hit by a USAA-insured driver in 2009. Repairs to her 1983 Mercedes-Benz were estimated at $8,859. USAA determined the car was a total loss, and mailed Letot a check for $2,738. Her attorney returned the check and demanded more than $10,000. But without Letot’s knowledge or consent, the lawsuit argues, USAA filed a report with the Texas DOT one day after issuing the check, resulting in the vehicle

being recorded as a salvage vehicle and limiting further transfer of the title. Discovery in the lawsuit found USAA filed dozens of such reports each week. The appeals court has ruled in Letot’s favor twice since then: once overturning the lower court’s summary judgement in the case for USAA, and then in February rejecting the insurer’s appeal of the certification of the class, which includes anyone who filed a claim in which USAA filed an owner retained report within three days of issuing a check for a total loss. “The focus is not on determining whether a vehicle was an actual salvage vehicle, but rather on the timing of USAA filing an owner retained report,” the Fifth District Court opinion stated. “At trial, Letot entered into evidence…nearly 2,000 owner retained reports filed by USAA showing a date of filing three days or less from the date of claim payment.” An attorney for USAA said the insurer is considering further appeal options.

14 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

proach that takes into consideration production requirements and constraints, workflow and layout, and optimizing employee productivity. Training is more important now than ever, and that’s why we’re proud to be an I-CAR Gold company.” The Huard family is ready to serve the Chandler market out of its new state-of-the-art facility. “Our mission is to provide a superior collision repair experience for customers, featuring high-quality repairs done according to manufacturers’ standards and outstanding customer service,” Jim Huard said. “We can’t wait to bring our level of service to more of our neighbors in the East Valley community.”

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Continued from Page 12

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Sen. Ted Cruz

Polestar Cars

the billions in revenue he’s making from energy right now. I’ve spent a decade being the leading defender of oil and gas, the leading defender of energy, in the United States Senate. I think energy—and energy independence—is the key to prosperity. It’s the key to abundance. It’s the key.” Company engagement in advocacy is critical to gaining momentum for our policy goals and for achieving our industry’s success. Learn more about how to get involved in advocacy at autocare. org/advocacy or email Tod Moore, manager, advocacy and grassroots, at tod.moore@autocare.org.

help of a Polestar specialist at the Scottsdale Space. A test drive can be coordinated on-site or at a customer’s location of choice via Polestar. com/test-drive. “Polestar Scottsdale gives the brand a great presence in the Southwest. Phoenix is a rapidly growing market, with a 99% year-over-year increase in EV registrations in 2021,” said Gregor Hembrough, head of Polestar North America. “After several months of operating from a temporary facility, we are thrilled to be in our permanent home in the greater Phoenix area.” Arizona, already the 11th largest market in the U.S. for EVs, is experiencing robust growth, with sales of electric cars up 96% yearover-year in 2021, according to IHS Markit data. With an expanding array of customization options for Polestar 2, Scottsdale-area buyers now have the selection of two motor variants and three optional equipment packs.

Source: Auto Care Association

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Specifically notable for desert-climate markets is the ability to opt for a full-metal roof, versus the previously standard full-length glass roof previously standard. The single-motor Polestar 2 has an EPA-estimated range of up to 270 miles and starts at $45,900, both the longest-range and the least expensive model in Polestar’s lineup. The 408-hp dual-motor variant starts at $49,900. “We are excited to move Polestar Scottsdale into its permanent ‘Space’ within Scottsdale Fashion Square among some of the world’s leading luxury brands,” said Jason Church, COO of Courtesy Automotive Group. “For customers who don’t want or need to come visit our new Space, Polestar Specialists will deliver a vehicle to the customer’s location for a test drive, and cars can be purchased through Polestar. com. Polestar 2 EVs are readily available through Polestar Scottsdale.” Customers living within 150 miles of Polestar Scottsdale can have their Polestar vehicle retrieved and returned for servicing free of

charge, enabling a convenient Polestar ownership experience without being troubled by vehicle service appointments. This encompasses the entire Valley of the Sun area of greater Phoenix as well as the Tucson market. For those living further than 150 miles from Polestar Scottsdale, Polestar offers a mobile service program in which a Polestar-trained technician will travel to the owner’s location for minor repairs or software updates. Mobile service can be requested by contacting Polestar Support 24/7 via phone at 800-8062504 or at polestar.com/contact. Polestar Scottsdale is only the next in a rapid expansion of the brand’s retail network of Spaces, with the goal of 35 locations across the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2022. Source: Polestar

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Tesla Delivers First Model Y Vehicles from Giga Texas by Maria Merano, Teslarati

After the Cyber Rodeo grand opening event April 7, Tesla officially delivered the first production Model Y vehicles with 4680 batteries from Gigafactory Texas. On April 8, CEO Elon Musk announced the first production Model Y units were delivered. He thanked the Tesla team for their hard work. A few of the new Model Y owners already shared their joy with the community online. Over the following weekend, Tesla technician Regan Janssen announced on LinkedIn she received the first Model Y with 4680 battery cells produced in Giga Texas. Janssen happens to be an engineering process technician at Tesla. She started her Tesla career the month before. Janssen didn’t elaborate on her new Tesla Model Y much in her LinkedIn post. She did not disclose the variant she received. Janssen also didn’t say how many Model Y units with 4680 battery cells were delivered. It makes sense a Tesla employee received one of the first Model Y vehicles from Giga Texas. Tesla’s first deliveries are usually handed over to

employees. During Cyber Rodeo, Tesla debuted the Model Y Standard Range with 4680 cells. The debut of the base Model Y with 4680 cells hinted Tesla might have started production at Giga Texas with the Standard Range variant, though Tesla usually kicks off deliveries with the Performance variant. Before Giga Texas’ grand opening event, @TesLaw22 announced on Twitter he expected to take delivery at Cyber Rodeo. “I got more than I ever expected! It’s wonderful,” he told Teslarati. Based on his announcement before Cyber Rodeo, he had an order for a Model Y Long Range. As Tesla Giga Texas ramps production, more Tesla Model Y vehicles with 4680 battery cells will be delivered across the U.S. It would be interesting to test the differences between the Model Y with 4680 cells and the Model Y with Tesla’s other cells. It seems Tesla may also revisit the idea of mining and refining its own lithium for batteries in the future. Lithium prices are skyrocketing, and it can affect vehicle prices. Tesla has already raised the price of its vehicle lineup several times in the last month or so.

16 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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CDK Global Supports ASE Foundation CDK Global has expanded its support of the ASE Education Foundation with a second donation of $20,000 to provide technician toolboxes to aspiring automotive students with a demonstrated need. This donation is in addition to the CDK donation announced earlier in March that will support the foundation’s diversity, equity and inclusion program. Data shows 94% of students who focus on a CTE (Career and Technical Education) course of study graduate from high school on time versus 86% for other high school students, a result that holds true in low-income areas as well. For those students to start their first job, they need the basic tools of the trade. Even with a student discount, sets of starter hand tools can cost $1,000 to $2,000, and this can discourage otherwise promising students from pursuing automotive service careers before they even get started. Source: ASE

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Oklahoma City Veterans The golf event helped raise funds for programs like NABC Recycled Rides, and leaders from the local and national automotive industry were on hand to celebrate the veterans’ accomplishments. “It was tremendous to see our colleagues from the collision repair industry come together to help change and save lives through the NABC Recycled Rides program,” said Clint Marlow, chairman of the NABC Board of Directors and

Keith Beverly enjoying his new car

Allstate claims director. “The two veteran recipients are great role models for other military members building their lives after their ser-

Volkswagen Wants to Cut 60% of ICE Lineup by 2030 by Andrei Nedelea, InsideEVs

Volkswagen has just announced a bold plan to reduce its lineup of internal combustion-engined vehicles by 60% by decade’s end, in an effort to concentrate on each individual product more and also increase profitability. To us that sounds like the German giant is looking to lower volumes, but make more money by selling more expensive cars---like VW is looking to go upmarket and electric at the same time. Right now, even though VW has a growing range of ID-badged electric vehicles, most of what it sells still burns fuel. And even with the announced 60% cut, that would still leave almost half of the ICE models it currently sells on sale after 2030, although by then it will have added a lot more electric vehicles, so they may not constitute the majority anymore. VW is not the only mainstream car brand that wants to trade volume sales for higher per-unit profit margins; it is just following a trend

sweeping the industry. There used to be a race between VW and Toyota regarding the number of vehicles sold globally every year, but it looks like that may be a thing of the past. The information comes courtesy of Arno Antlitz, VW’s CFO, who told the Financial Times recently, “The key target is not growth. We are [more focused] on quality and on margins, rather than on volume and market share.” He also noted even though VW is investing $56 billion in electric vehicles, “We are not adding capacity: we rework factory by factory. We have [a significantly] lower fixed-cost base, so we are less dependent on volume and less dependent on growth.” The last statement refers to cost reductions VW has been able to enforce ahead of schedule, pointing to the fact he expects VW’s EVs to soon be as profitable as its ICE vehicles.

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18 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

vice. We were proud to present them with reliable transportation that will help continue their positive life path. Many thanks to our partners who made this presentation possible.” Keith Beverly, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, received a 2018 Kia Forte donated by Hertz and repaired by CARSTAR Jeremiah’s. He was selected by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Beverly served as a staff sergeant from 2011 to 2016. He has been working for the Department of Veterans Affairs for several months on the night shift. He has to ride the city bus 20 miles each way to and from work. The gift of reliable transportation will allow him to safely commute to work and care for his family and friends. Merinda Anderson, who served in the U.S. Army for 10 years as a firefighter and a truck driver, received a 2014 Honda Pilot. She was nominated by Honoring America’s Warriors. She was deployed in 2007-2008 as a prison guard in Iraq. After her deployment, she faced some personal challenges all while raising

two wonderful young men by herself. She is now involved in several nonprofit organizations dealing with other veterans and helping them find ways to cope with everything we went through. Anderson is also a fulltime student at UCO and getting a bachelor’s degree in studio art, with an emphasis in ceramics, sculpture and hopefully drawing. She would like to put her degree to use by showing other veterans a way to use art as a form of therapy. Having reliable transportation will allow her to continue her education, take care of her family and support other veterans in need. Source: NABC

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1Collision, Auto Techcelerators Partner 1Collision and Auto Techcelerators, LLC have announced a partnership where Auto Techcelerators will provide consulting, software, mobile apps and training to help 1Collision affiliate locations open and operate ADAS service and calibration businesses. 1Collision affiliates will now have access to advice, training, software, mobile apps and other solutions that will help them launch and operate a profitable ADAS services and calibration business in their local markets. The agreement provides support for site identification and preparation, equipment selection, software and mobile apps that identify ADAS systems, components and required calibrations to managing their calibration businesses and documenting, invoicing and validating all aspects of the calibration process. Source: 1Collision

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Federal REPAIR Act business: a small-batch machining and fabricating business which was transformed into a high-volume contract fabrication and injection molding manufacturer during his tenure. “By prohibiting vehicle owners from accessing and sharing data they generate, manufacturers stop consumers from accessing third-party repair shops,” said Davidson. “American vehicle owners have a right to control their data, and a right to access third-party repair shops, tools and parts. This bill would end manufacturers’ anti-competitive practices and restore consumer property rights.” “Thanks to Congressman Davidson, the bill is now a bipartisan effort,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “We thank the representative for recognizing that consumers deserve the right to choose where they get their vehicle repaired. In a time where Americans rely on their vehicles more than ever and are keeping their

vehicles longer due to economic uncertainty, we hope that other legislators follow suit.” “AASA applauds Rep. Davidson for joining Rep. Rush on this critical legislative push,” said Paul McCarthy, president and CEO, AASA. “The consumer’s ability to continue to have choice in where to repair, service, and maintain their vehicles is at stake. The bipartisan support from this bill, as we saw with the bipartisan-supported ‘Nixing the Fix’ report from the FTC, speaks to the fact that this automotive right to repair effort is not partisan, it is to support consumers, competition and free markets. Without action, consumers will face rising costs and fewer options. We look forward to working with both representatives on this important effort.” “The CAR Coalition applauds Rep. Davidson for co-sponsoring the REPAIR Act,” said CAR Coalition Executive Director Justin Rzepka. “This bipartisan legislation is critical to protecting the rights of consumers in the post-collision auto repair market. It is also crucial to ensuring the security and accessibility of vehicle

data. As the cost of cars and repairs rise, consumers need more choices, not fewer, when it comes to repairing their own vehicles. The CAR Coalition looks forward to working with Rep. Davidson and Rep. Rush to advance the REPAIR Act on behalf of consumers across the country.” “SEMA and the specialty automotive aftermarket appreciate Rep. Davidson standing up for free and fair competition for consumers looking to service, repair or modify their vehicle,” said Daniel Ingber, vice president, government and legal affairs, SEMA. “The bipartisan REPAIR Act must be passed to protect access to vehicle systems, tools and information necessary for independent repair and modification services for millions of consumers.” Automotive aftermarket companies can urge legislators in their district to also co-sponsor the bill by visiting autocareadvocacy.org/takeaction-tell-congress-support-rightto-repair, aftermarketsuppliers.org/ repairact, carcoalition.com or semasan.com. Source: Auto Care Association

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Bad Driving while driving • 35% of Gen X think it’s safe to be using the phone while driving • 20% of Boomers think it’s safe to be using the phone while driving “Half of the drivers Nationwide surveyed said in the last six months they have held a cell phone to talk, text or use an app while driving,” said Beth Riczko, Nationwide’s president of P&C personal lines. “Far too many drivers are multitasking behind the wheel, putting everyone at risk by creating dangers for themselves, their passengers, pedestrians and others on the road—I promise you it isn’t worth it.” Despite reports of increasing danger, everyone thinks other drivers are to blame and they are not the ones contributing to the problem. 85% rate their driving as excellent or very good, but only 29% give the same rating to other drivers on the road around them. Drivers of all generations seem to

share this sentiment: • Gen Z—82% say they are good drivers/36% say others around them are good drivers • Millennials—86% say they are good drivers/38% say others around them are good drivers • Gen X—86% say they are good drivers/30% say others around them are good drivers • Boomers—85% say they are good drivers/20% say others around them are good drivers While people think they are good drivers, some of the behaviors they reported doing behind the wheel would indicate otherwise. Despite two-thirds of drivers (66%) saying holding a cell phone to talk, text or use an app while driving is dangerous, half (51%) reported doing this in the past six months, with Millennials doing this more than any other age group (67%). During the past 12 months: • 54% of drivers reported driving 10+ mph over the speed limit • 53% reported eating while behind the wheel • 23% said they have audibly

yelled at another driver • 21% have given an obscene gesture • 17% ran a stop sign/light “The first step to correcting bad driving behavior is recognizing when you’re doing it, and surprisingly enough, technology can help with that,” said Riczko. “Nationwide’s SmartRide mobile app provides customized feedback on phone distractions to help our members reduce distracted driving on roadways. The app’s feedback has reduced everyday hand-held distractions by nearly 10% among those who use it.” Nationwide is advocating for state lawmakers across the country to enact hands-free legisla-

tion allowing drivers to only use hands-free mobile phone technology while operating a motor vehicle. The intent is to curb crashes caused by drivers distracted by their mobile devices. To date, 24 states have enacted hands-free-primary enforcement laws with active legislation pending in 21 states. Survey Methodology: Edelman Data & Intelligence conducted a national online survey of 1,000 adults (ages 18+) US car-owning consumers on behalf of Nationwide. The study was fielded March 4-11, and has an overall margin of error of ±3% at the 95% confidence level. Source: Nationwide

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Tesla Only Major Automaker to Show Growth YearOver-Year by Joey Klender, Teslarati

Among the major automotive manufacturers, Tesla is the only one to realize a year-over-year growth in vehicle deliveries from March 2021 to February 2022, seeing a near doubling in sales. Other companies struggled to maintain level sales this year compared to last---the only company seeing a less than 10% decline was Kia. Tesla delivered 23,050 vehicles in March 2021, according to data from TrueCar. The electric automaker saw 93.2% growth in February 2022 compared to last March, delivering 42,742 vehicles. Tesla was an anomaly in this category when compared to other major automakers. From BMW to Ford to GM and Stellantis, every major automotive company suffered substantial losses in deliveries year-over-year. The automaker to suffer the most substantial loss was Volkswagen, which saw a 44.3% decline in automotive sales from March 2021 to February 2022. Other considerable

losses came from Nissan (-41.3%), Honda, (-30.6%), Subaru and Ford (-27.6%), and BMW (-23.9%). The realized gains in Tesla’s sales figures could be attributed to a more favorable consumer sentiment regarding electric vehicles over the past year, due to the company’s nearly-unanimous recognition as the leader in EVs. Additionally, Tesla was one of the only major automakers to combat the semiconductor and chip shortage with relative ease. While the company did experience delays in production last year due to parts shortages and other supply chain issues, it was widely successful in maneuvering the issues, getting cars to customers frequently. In terms of quarterly yearover-year comparisons, Tesla was one of two automakers to see positive gains from Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021. Tesla sold 127,432 vehicles in Q1 2022, compared to 69,300 in Q1 2021, representing an 83.9% growth. Hyundai saw a 0.9% increase, delivering 176,920 vehicles in Q1 2022, compared to 175,352 cars in Q1 2021.

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WIN to Recognize 2022 Most Influential Women Award Winners During Hybrid Educational Conference by Leona D. Scott

tial’ standard every day.”

According to Catalyst.com, women in automotive repair and maintenance make up only 9.9% of the automotive workforce. In 2014, when Mary Barra became CEO of GM, she was the first woman to run a major OEM. While women are making progress in the industry, it can happen slowly and with great challenges. That’s why programs like the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Most Influential Women (MIW) Awards are vital. The collision industry looks forward to WIN’s annual announcement of its stellar lineup of recipients, and 2022 is no different. WIN’s 2022 MIW recipients will be honored at a gala held during WIN’s 2022 Annual Educational Conference, May 2-4 in Greenville, SC. This year’s conference will be hybrid, offering an in-person event, alongside an online program to make the event accessible to more attendees. To learn more, visit www.womensindustrynetwork.com. Autobody News reached out to the seven recipients who make up the 2022 class of Most Influential Women to get their thoughts and reflections on receiving this prestigious industry award.

Alicia Figurelli, vice president, Thomas Greco Publishing, believes the recognition that awards like this provide Alicia Figurelli will help elevate the work of all women in collision repair. “Being recognized in this way as someone who has helped make a difference in our industry is exhilarating! It’s a definite milestone in my career, and I’m so grateful to help represent one of the many areas of collision repair where a woman can excel and contribute,” said Figurelli.

Allison Boever, chief human resources officer, Repairify, values the opportunity to mentor women for leadership Allison Boever roles at Repairify. “I am beyond humbled by the recognition as one of WIN’s Most Influential Women,” said Boever. “As a human resources leader, I’m a believer that when we strive for diversity, we strengthen the organization as a whole. One of my most rewarding activities in business and life is to mentor and help prepare women for leadership opportunities as our industry continues to evolve. I’m surprised and honored and will strive to live up to the ‘most influen-

Shirin Hezar, director, strategic accounts, Caliber Collision, said as a result of recent economic and cultural dynamics, Shirin Hezar she found opportunities to contribute in unexpected ways. “In today’s evolving environment, it will be key for female leaders in our industry to leverage innovative, out-of-the box thinking to ensure we keep pace with rapidly changing customer expectations,” Hezar said. “The collision industry offers many unique opportunities for female leaders. Their fresh perspectives and new ideas will shape our future, and I am honored to be part of this amazing journey.” Jennifer Hubbard, client engagement manager, CCC Information Services, looks forward to promoting careers for women in col- Jennifer lision repair even Hubbard more as a result of the award. “I am grateful for being recognized and I intend to live up to the level of success this award demands,” Hubbard said. “I am dedicated to

22 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

spreading the word on how a career in the automotive collision industry is very rewarding. The people I meet on a daily basis are an amazing group of individuals with a strong worth ethic and are driven by our ever-changing and exciting industry.” Samantha Kita, regional vice president, operations, Gerber, is grateful for the award’s legacy and is humbled by the Samantha Kita recognition. “... It’s hard to find the words to explain how I feel. All the amazing women out there who are paving their own way while finding work-life balance, have my utmost respect,” Kita said. “Knowing that I have the support and dedication of my Gerber family makes me want to be better. I am so honored to have my work recognized by the Women’s Industry Network.”

Micki Woods, owner, Micki Woods Marketing Genius for Body Shops, is thankful for the recognition and believes the Micki Woods award highlights the overall contributions of women in collision repair. “I know I work hard and do well for my clients but there are so many other women out there working their tails off doing their best that deserve to be honored,” said Woods. “I’m proud, I’m surprised, I’m grateful, I’m humbled and I’m freaking pumped UP!” Debbie Menz, strategic account manager (retired), Axalta, will also be recognized at this year’s event. She was unable to be reached for comment before press deadline.

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autobodynews.com / MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

From the Desk of Mike Anderson with Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson is the president and owner of Collision Advice, a consulting company for the auto body/collision repair industry. For nearly 25 years, he was the owner of Wagonwork Collision Center, an OEM-certified, full-service auto body repair facility in Alexandria, VA.

Tips to Help Auto Body Shops Get Paid for Crucial Step of Destructive Weld Testing In a previous column, I wrote about the critical necessity to perform destructive testing of welds prior to welding on any vehicle—and regardless of whether your shop is being paid for that procedure. But I also believe you should be paid for this crucial work, and that’s what I hope to address here. Those of you who have read my articles in the past on better negotiating know I believe the process involves four questions: Is the procedure necessary? Is it included in any other labor operation? Are there pre-determined times? If not, what it is worth?

validated by tuning the welder and performing destructive testing.” I could go on and on, but you get the idea: It is a necessary procedure. The next negotiation question: Is it included in any other labor operation? No matter which estimating system you are using, you should be able to find that the user’s guide— often referred to as “procedure pages”—lists set-up and performing test welds as a not-included operation. If you can’t find it, visit the Database Enhancement Gateway website (www.DEGweb.org), and read the estimating system providers’

for this process are not included. That can include OEM-approved wire, welding tips/nozzles, shielding gas and gun liner. If you’re buying welding coupons, keep that cost in mind. You can also improve your chances of being paid for this necessary step by documenting the process. Shoot images of the test welds prior to testing, while the test welds are in the vise, and after they destructively tested. If you use an electronic quality control app, you can set it up to require these photos, ensuring they are time- and datestamped. Some shops also actually label and store the test welds to help limit their liability should any questions about the repair arise down the road. Remember the automakers state the welding coupons you use should be of the same material with the

The Ford

In addition to photographing the destructive testing of welds, some shops label and store the test welds as part of their documentation

Looking at any of the OEM repair procedures should convince you that it is necessary. Here is some of the wording I’ve seen: BMW: “To determine the optimum electrode contact force for spot-welding, carry our spot-weld shear tests on sample sheet metal.” Ford: “Place the welded sample in a vice and carry out destructive weld tests by peeling the scrap metal apart using large lock-type pliers. Measure the weld nugget to determine the nugget meets Ford weld nugget requirements.” Hyundai/Kia: “Test welding must be performed before welding vehicle body.” Toyota: “Welding strength must be

responses to inquiries about this, including #15358 (Solera/Audatex), #12565 (Motor/CCC) and #16652 (Mitchell). None of the estimating systems publish a labor time for destructive testing of welds, so the answer to the third negotiation question is no. That leaves you with the fourth question: What is it worth? I can’t answer that question for you. Perhaps you could conduct your own time study. In any case, remember it should be based on how long it takes an average technician—one with five to seven years of experience—to gather the tools, equipment and supplies needed, perform the task safely, and return the tools, equipment and supplies to their store area, and clean the work area. Remember, too, material costs

26 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

same coating that the new replacement panel will be attached to. In some cases this may require multiple different coupon thicknesses and coatings, such as galvanized. That’s a common oversight, according to Rick Miller of Wadsworth International and a program consultant for Jaguar Land Rover North America and Subaru of America. Others mistake he sees: Not checking to ensure the correct wire type is in the machine, not understanding what makes a good quality weld, not following the specific placement of welds called for by the automaker, or the use of MIG welding because of a perception that it’s easier than squeeze-type resistance welding. Potential sources of coupons include I-CAR, your welder manufacturer or Custom Metal Shearing in Ohio (www.custommetalshearing.

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com). Some other resources that may be helpful: CollisionHub offers a welding validation series (collisionhub.com/ product/oem-weld-validation) and will build customer QR series for shops to put on their welding equipment to offer “just in time” training for the tech. SCRS has some great information on its website, including video of a panel discussion on OEM expectations about welding at www. youtube.com/watch?v=x85ZcSGvbU4&t=9s American Honda offers two-day hands-on welding training for anyone in the industry, with a discount for Honda and Acura certified shops. Attendees will learn how to identify steel strengths and thicknesses on Honda vehicles, and how to find Honda service information requirements for each type of recommended attachment method. After completing 13 unique practice joints, attendees are expected to complete multiple replacement procedures. To register, visit academy.veri factsauto.com, or for questions,

email collisioinrepairtraining@na .honda.com. “Anyone may enroll, but I would suggest this is not a class for beginning welders,” said Scott Kaboos, national assistant manager for collision repair training and technology for American Honda. “It is an advanced level class, and so far we have had a 50% pass rate, mostly because some attendees did not have prior basic training.” Listen, I mean this in love, but we as an industry need to get it together! We must follow the OEM procedures. Not setting up and performing destructive weld test is not negotiable. All of the steps above should help your shop join those being paid regularly for performing destructive testing of welds. But whether or not you choose to pursue being paid for it, I can’t stress enough that you need to ensure your technicians are absolutely performing this crucial step every time they will be welding on a vehicle. www.autobodynews.com

Camaro Production Stopped by Steven Symes, Motorious

Supply chain disruptions have unfortunately become a part of everyday life, affecting everything from the availability of certain foods to the new car market. GM is currently grappling with parts shortages, leading to C8 Corvette production stopping for a week in March. Now, production of the Chevy Camaro along with the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 has been halted for the week of April 4. GM insists the production stoppage isn’t because of the chip shortage that has vexed the automaker since last year. Just like with the last two production stoppages for the C8 Corvette, GM wouldn’t specify what supply shortage has caused the unscheduled downtime. With production having been stopped at Lansing Grand River Assembly, home of the Camaro and the Caddie twins, the people wanting to buy those cars have had a harder time getting ahold of exactly what they want. In turn, GM has ceded market share to its competitors. The plan is for the production

halt at Lansing Grand River to last just the week of April 4. On April 11, everything is scheduled to come back online, although it’s not clear at what capacity. Meanwhile, GM has announced the shutdown of the Fort Wayne Assembly plant the same week and next. That production stoppage, which affects Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks, has been triggered by the chip shortage. Also hit hard by shortages is Ford. The Blue Oval is shutting down Flat Rock Assembly Plant the week of April 11 because of a lack of semiconductor chips. That means there’s about to be a Mustang shortage. In other words, the Dodge Challenger will be the only new American muscle car being made continuously in April. These are truly strange times. Other automakers have struggled with supply shortages which have spilled into 2022. According to AutoForecast Solutions, 1.2 million units of planned car production have been lost so far this year with more expected as 2022 progresses.

Chevrolet Resumes Bolt Production Following Battery Issues by Joey Klender, Teslarati

Chevrolet has resumed production of the Bolt EV and EUV following a series of battery issues that would sometimes result in spontaneous fires. General Motors, the parent company of Chevrolet, spent $1.8 billion throughout the Bolt’s battery issue saga to resolve the problems. General Motors issued a series of recalls on the affected vehicles, described as “unpredictable” due to their defective battery modules. LG Energy Solution provides the battery cells for the vehicle and said in a joint statement with GM in July 2021 “the simultaneous presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same battery cell” were increasing the risk of potential fires. Production of the Bolt EV was halted in late August. GM said in a statement it would “not resume repairs or restart production until we are confident LG is producing defect-free products for us.” GM said in mid-February the

Bolt would resume production in early April. Things appear to be right on schedule, as GM Authority is now reporting the Bolt EV and EUV are resuming production at General Motors Orion Assembly Plant in Michigan. The battery defects caused a widespread issuance of preventative measures from various entities to prevent the possibility of a fire. For example, a parking lot in California advised owners of the Bolt EV’s affected models to not park on their property due to the potential danger of fires. Meanwhile, the U.S. agency responsible for vehicle recalls, the NHTSA, officially closed its investigation of the Bolt fires in February. The NHTSA reviewed reports of 24 Bolt fires, while GM said it only suspected 18 of the 24 could be linked to battery defects. The Bolt still holds plenty of credibility in the sector, especially as it beat out some of the industry’s biggest names, like the Tesla Model 3, to win U.S. News’ Best Electric Vehicle of 2021 award.

28 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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Supply Chain Issues and Repair Complexity Major Concerns in 2022 by Ed Attanasio

Before the pandemic hit, people in the collision repair industry were most concerned about a lack of qualified employees and the growing complexity of OE repairs. Those problems still exist, but now the crippled supply chain has been added to the equation. It’s a whole new world and scary in many ways, so how will auto body shops be able to navigate through these uncertain and troubled times? Solid, carefully researched and highly relevant data can surely help everyone in this industry. Director/ Industry Analyst Susanna Gotsch from CCC Intelligent Solutions, Inc., is well-known for being the author of the company’s annual Crash Course since 1995, where she interprets the numbers and forecasts what is going to happen next. Gotsch’s historical perspective supported by data is invaluable for anyone who works in the automotive industry. Gotsch set the table for this year’s report before diving into the numbers. “It’s hard to fathom that we are nearly two full years into the pandemic, but one thing we know for sure: The natural pre-pandemic order of things has been altered, leaving us searching for a new normal or rhythm to how we live, communicate and conduct business,” she wrote. Obstacles created by supply chain issues are a concern to every body shop in the world right now. “Despite new variants and ongoing debates on how best to balance public health and economic well-being, the U.S. economy has roared back, with consumer buying things like cars, homes, furniture, electronics and other goods,” she said. “As a result of the increased demand, supply chains have been pushed to their brink, either from shortage of goods or people to deliver them. “Whether it’s the auto industry’s shortage of semiconductor chips or metals critical to development of electric vehicles, or the medical industry realizing many of the most critical drugs and supplies are only manufactured overseas, all industries are hav-

ing to re-examine and restructure their supply chains.” The supply versus demand imbalance has also impacted U.S. inflation in a huge way, which hit a 40year high in December 2021, Gotsch said. “Labor shortages have also driven up wages across nearly all industries, with Conference Board

pandemic, the Crash Course said. While repairers are seeing an increased number of non-driveable DRP repairs relative to the preceding two years, both driveable and non-driveable repairs are taking longer, and repairer productivity is lower. “Unfortunately, as repair costs climb, repairer productivity can sometimes suffer, customer satisfaction can fall and the likelihood that the customer needs to bring their vehicle back for additional work after repairs completed also increases,” Gotsch explained. “And it’s not just repair time that is taking longer. The time to get Director/Industry Analyst Susanna Gotsch from CCC an appraisal has increased Intelligent Solutions forecasts that supply chain problems, for traditional channels inflation and repair complexity will continue to be major where the customer either obstacles for collision repairers in 2022 is visited by an insurance data pointing to higher wages in staff appraiser or brings their vehicle 2022,” she said. “The disruption in for a DRP appraisal.” Ultimately, the key to combat experienced over the last two years has accelerated the pace of innova- higher costs is to improve production across all industries, leading to tivity, Gotsch outlined. the transformation of how business is conducted as technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), telematics, mobile and cloud are being adopted to help inform and speed processes, and combat challenges stemming from labor shortages, new consumer expectations and other market dynamics.” The automotive repair industry is still struggling to find employees, Gotsch reported. “Representatives from Universal Technical Institute predict a wave of retiring baby boomers will create 100,000 auto technician job openings over the next decade or so, 1701 Saint Michael’s Drive with the Bureau of Labor Statistics Santa Fe, NM 87505 projecting a 4% decline in employment in the overall auto technician 505-982-1957 field through 2029,” she said. “Finding technicians with the right skillM-F 7:30am – 5:00pm sets is also a growing challenge as vehicle complexity increases.” Sat 8:00am – 12:00pm Most collision repairers indicate the technician shortage has n Wide Delivery Area been the primary reason for longer n Competitive Pricing backlogs of work. Repair work is up as auto accident frequency has risen. Many shops have indicated they cannot repair as many vehicles at the same time as they did before the

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“Unfortunately, new vehicle technology such as ADAS and EVs have added increased complexity and requirements for new skillsets, training and tools for the collision repair industry,” she said. “So, while the industry has demonstrated its resilience and ability to adapt to new vehicle technology over the years, adapting takes time, and today’s environment means these repairs may cost more.” A sharp increase in motor vehicle fatalities occurred in 2020 and 2021 in the U.S., highlighting the need for new directives to improve vehicle safety. An estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first six months of 2021, according to the NHTSA—an increase of 18.4% from the first six months of 2020, and the highest number of fatalities during the first half in 15 years, based on this year’s Crash Course. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased to 1.34 for the first six months of 2021,

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versus 1.28 for the first six months of 2020 and 1.07 during the same period in 2019. Fatal accidents either involving just one vehicle, speeding, illegal substances or failure to wear a seat belt rose disproportionately—underscoring how more drivers are more reckless than ever before. Some of those states with the highest fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2019 are also those states experiencing the most growth in population. What caused this lack of inventory in 2021? “Extreme weather and cyber security were not the only challenges in 2021 that forced people and businesses to evaluate business models,” Gotsch wrote. “Many industries like the automotive industry had moved to a just-in-time inventory system prior to the pandemic—an approach that was sorely tested over the last year as consumer demand increased much faster than anyone had planned. “Inventories had been drawn down from plants being closed at the outset of COVID, and then operating

at lower levels of production while trying to balance employee safety and production demand,” she continued. “As industries scrambled to meet demand, they met the same challenges: Higher raw material prices, higher transportation costs from higher wages and fuel prices, record spot container shipping rates (14 times higher now than during the same period in 2019), more money and time to unload goods at shipping ports, and shortage of employees on site.” In the P&C insurance and automotive sector, dealers, OEMs and aftermarket parts sellers have been operating with lower parts inventories, based on numbers outlined in the report. “Demand for parts has rebounded faster than many of the parts manufacturers and distributors expected, leading to an increase of ‘out of stock’ from aftermarket or ‘backorder’ scenarios for OEM parts,” Gotsch said. “Even when parts are available, they may be stuck overseas where the issue is getting the parts from the warehouse to the ports, onto the ship and then unloaded and delivered to the U.S.”

Parts delays and challenges finding qualified technicians are the two primary reasons repairers have seen their throughput of repairs and productivity fall and repair times grow. CRASH Network in Q4 2021 reported 96% of shops surveyed were experiencing delays, and the national average scheduling backlog reached 3.4 weeks, versus the pre-pandemic Q4 average backlog of only 1.7 weeks. Shops are focused more than ever on blueprinting the repair to identify parts needing replacement and delaying the start of the repair until all parts have arrived on site. This is leading to delays in the average days from estimate completion to vehicle in for both driveable and non-driveable DRP repairs. In conclusion, supply chain disruptions, extreme weather, cyber threats and labor shortages are disrupting historical trends, and have also made pricing and reserving for insurance much harder. Fewer commuters mean less traffic and fewer accidents. “Nearly two years in from the early shelter-at-home orders and a

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sizable share of the working population in the U.S. is still working remote at least one day per week,” the report said. “Many companies have postponed plans to bring employees back to the office numerous times, even in a hybrid model. Research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Stanford and University of Chicago suggests nearly 40% of U.S. jobs can be done at home, and office occupation levels tracked by Kastle Systems continue to stay well below 50% across their 10-city average.” With many vehicles traveling at faster speeds on less congested roads during the pandemic, vehicles in accidents were seeing higher Delta-v’s, with greater damage to both the vehicle and its occupants. Delta-v is a measure of a collision’s severity or force. Higher forces in an accident increase not only the damage to a vehicle but also the likelihood for occupant injury and more severe injuries. The professional disciplines of accident reconstruction and injury causation have clearly established axioms. All other factors being equal, the following are true: in-

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creasing the severity of an impact, in terms of impact force, increases the amount of damage to a vehicle, and increasing the severity of an impact, also in terms of impact force, increases the risk of injury to the vehicle’s occupants. According to a survey by Workplace.com, 37% of U.S. employees will be working remotely in 2022, according to Gotsch’s data, with between 29% to 39% of the time spent working in the U.S. possibly done remotely, with 22% of employees able to work remotely three to five days per week without affecting productivity. With potentially fewer people on the road during rush hour, congestion levels may remain lower, and some of the auto claim trends experienced during the pandemic may become more permanent. Overall miles driven and trips taken might not see a significant decline, but more telework would still lead to fewer rush-hour trips, less congestion in urban areas and freer movement of remaining traffic. This is important because the variable shown to be most highly

correlated to vehicle accident frequency is a large number of vehicles on the same road at the same time— i.e., congestion typical of morning and evening rush hour traffic. So, with miles driven recovering, but fewer during historic peak rush hour times, does automotive claims data suggest different driving patterns will continue in 2022 and beyond? Overall claim counts including comprehensive losses were up 9.6% in 2021 versus 2020, while non-comprehensive losses were up 10.2%. The acceleration of repair costs is always a major issue for body shops nationwide. Gotsch’s report said in 2021, the industry experienced a much larger increase in repairable claim costs than in prior years. The average total cost of repairs overall for all repairable appraisals was $3,708, up 8% from 2020 and up 14% from 2019. Growth in the average number of parts replaced per claim as well as more labor hours per claim largely account for the rise in repair costs. Increasing vehicle complexity—both in terms of the materials used in the construction of the vehicles, as well

as an increased number of standard options—are helping to lift costs. The distribution of repair cost dollars has changed little over the last 20+ years, the timeframe in which CCC tracked this information. In 2021, the increase in both the share of overall dollars spent on replacement parts and sublet/miscellaneous operations continued. The average price paid per replacement part had historically experienced only moderate increases at an aggregate level. However, supply chain issues in 2021 drove prices up sharply. At the close of 2021, the industry’s share of replacement part dollars was split at 64.4% OEM versus 35.6% non-OEM. Between 2001 and 2021, the average number of replacement parts per non-comprehensive appraisals increased from 5.1 parts to 9.1 parts for driveable vehicles; from 18 parts to 22.3 parts for non-driveable vehicles; and from 8.0 parts to 12.1 parts for the combined driveable and non-driveable claims. www.autobodynews.com

Farmers Insurance Wins NABC Award The National Auto Body Council (NABC) President’s Award is designed to honor the NABC member company that supports the vision of the NABC through donation of its time and resources. For 2021, the NABC President’s Award was presented to Farmers Insurance, selected by a vote of the NABC Board members. The Farmers Insurance nomination received overwhelming support from the NABC Board based on Farmers strong commitment to the NABC. Throughout 2021, Farmers Insurance assisted with the gifting of nearly 30 NABC Recycled Rides vehicles, and provided its staff with the time and resources to act as chairman of the NABC Fundraising committee and support NABC activities.In addition to presenting Farmers with the NABC Presidents Award, the NABC will make contributions to two organizations in the recipient’s honor— one selected by NABC and one by Farmers. Source: NABC

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Industry Insight with John Yoswick

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon who has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988. He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Collision Repair Industry Trend Data Shows Need for Changes to Insurer DRP Metrics

Shop Showcase

Collision repairers have for some a little less than two full days longer ing to CCC. Today, it’s just over supplements has also grown, where time been saying changes they are than they were in 2019. By the time 30%. The percentage involving two, over 35% of the overall repair cost is seeing within their business point to we get to a $10,000 or higher repair, three or four supplements has nearly added during supplements for those with Ed Attanasio a need for insurers to adjust their key the average repair time exceeds 35 tripled over that time span to more claims with four or more suppleperformance indicators (KPIs) met- days. than 30%. ments,” the report said. rics for direct repair claims. Another interesting statistic Recent industry data from CCC for DRP shops concerned about the Intelligent Solutions support the metrics insurers are using to meatrends shops are reporting. sure their performance: The decline Average repair costs, for exin labor hours per day that has been with Ed Attanasio ample, rose 8% in 2021, about one occurring since 2017 only acceleratpercentage point higher than U.S. ed in 2021. Direct repair shops were inflation overall; the average part producing about 2.5 labor hours per cost across all part types—OEM and repair day on drivable vehicles in the aftermarket—was also up 8% last second half of 2021, down from just year, the “largest annual increase we over three hours during the same pehave seen” since CCC began reportriod in 2020, and down from more with Ed Attanasio ing that data in 1997, according to than 3.5 hours in 2016 and 2017. CCC’s Susanna Gotsch. For non-drivable cars, shops “Moving forward, most anawere producing about two labor lysts expect that we’ve seen most of With more larger repair jobs during the pandemic, cycle time across the industry has risen hours per day during the second half the increase in parts costs that we are of 2021, down from above 2.5 in going to see,” Gotsch said. “We’re “In addition, the share of the 2018 and 2019, and about three in “Subsequently, we hear more carriwith Ed Attanasio not likely to see part prices reverse ers saying their customers are run- overall repair cost added during 2017. substantially, but the largest increas- ning out of allocated rental days, es that we experienced in 2021 are and many carriers have said they are not likely to be repeated in 2022. looking at…their policies to deterWhere most analysists are predict- mine if those [limits] should be ading [the industry] will see the most justed.” pressure in 2022with will beStacey on wages.” Phillips Another data point of note from Average total labor hours per CCC’s recently-released annual Toll Free: repairable non-comprehensive claim Crash Course Report: The national 800-551-8189 grew slowly from 2011 (23 hours per average body rate in 2021 ($52.86) Parts Direct: 318-425-3417 claim) through 2019 (23.9 hours), but was up just 1% from the prior year, Fax: 318-425-1705 then jumped to 24.7 hours in 2020, the smallest percentage increase and to 25.8 hours last Stacey year. Gotsch since 2011, in a year when overall with Phillips said the pre-pandemic growth was inflation in the country was 4.7%. related to vehicle complexity, but the CCC reports overall claim larger increase in the last two years counts were up nearly 10% in 2021 is based in part on the increase in the compared to the prior year, but still percentage of non-drivable claims. down more than 13% from 2019. Compared to 2019, there was “Month-by-month compariElectronic Catalog Available Online! with Stacey Phillips more than a full percentage point sons, however, show volumes have • Fast, Next-Day Delivery jump in DRP claims with repair been steadily rebuilding,” CCC said • Millions in Inventory costs above $10,000 in 2021, and a in the report. For example, overall • We also sell tires! Your Best Source 2.5 percentage point jump in claims claim counts in January 2021 were between $5,000 and $10,000. That down 19% versus January 2019, but for Genuine GM 7500 Youree Drive results in longer cycle times, Gotsch by December 2021, overall claim Shreveport, LA 71105 Parts, Powertrain said. counts were down just 5.9% comwith Stacey Phillips www.chevyland.com Engines and “For each $1,000 increment, pared to December 2019. Transmissions we essentially see an additional two One statistic in the CCC report with full days in the overall repair time, will be of little surprise to shops: The or keys to keys time,” she said. “In- percentage of claims with suppledustry wide, DRP repairs are now ments continues to increase. Back in taking over 12 days, two full days 2001, more than 50% of DRP claims above where they were in 2020, and did not have a supplement, accord-

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CCC cites such factors as the technician shortage and the increased number of non-drivable repairs as the likely cause of the change. But a number of shops said they would point to other causes. “For us, it’s absolutely the parts shortage,” one shop owner said. “It’s got us stopping and starting on jobs

going to continue because of the ever-increasing vehicle complexity. “It’s not like you can just hang a replacement fender or replace a bumper cover any more,” one shop manager said. “Those jobs have mostly gone away. There’s electronics involved with almost every part now.”

CCC data shows labor hours produced per day for DRP claims has been declining since 2017

like never before, and spending way too much time shuffling cars around in the shop and back lot.” Two other collision repairers said they think the decline is only

Still another had what he acknowledged was just a theory. “A lot of CCC’s data reflects only DRP claims,” he said. “Many of the top independent shops have

Tesla Roadster Reservations Reopen Ahead of 2023 Production By Maria Merano, Teslarati

Reservations for the next-generation Tesla Roadster have reopened after Elon Musk announced that the company would start production in 2023. Anyone interested in a next-gen Tesla Roadster can reserve one on the company’s official website. Tesla requires a $5,000 credit card payment for the Roadster due on the spot and a $45,000 wire transfer ten days after the initial order. The $5,000 credit card payment is fully refundable. Tesla does not state whether the $45,000 wire transfer is refundable, but reservations will not be final until the wire transfer is officially received. The next-generation Tesla Roadster debuted in November 2017 during the Semi unveiling. Many people might still remember Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen driving the new Roadster out of a Semi. It has been at least four years since Tesla unveiled the next-generation Roadster. The Tesla Chief Designer talked a bit about the Roadster during his appearance on the Spike Car Radio podcast in February 2022. Holzhausen shared that Tesla was working hard

on developing the all-electric supercar. “We are working on the Roadster. I wish it was, you know, we were working faster, but I have to also say that in the time that we’ve been developing it, we’ve also been learning a lot. Like, Plaid is a great learning platform, that all those experiences will, you know, make its way back to a much better Roadster than had we launched right after when we debuted it,” Holzhausen said. Now, Tesla is more equipped for Roadster production with Giga Texas starting to grow roots and the 4680 battery cell in production. Tesla still has some challenges ahead. Elon Musk always notes that getting from prototype to production isn’t easy. Lithium supplies will probably be one of the challenges Tesla faces as it aims to produce not just the Roadster but also the Cybertruck and Semi. “We’ll be in production with Cybertruck next year. We’ll be in production with the Roadster and with Semi. So that’s all coming. This year is all about scaling up. Next year it’s gonna be a massive wave of new products,” Musk said during his talk at the Cyber Rodeo last week.

36 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

cut way back or eliminated DRP agreements in recent years, like we have. Not to knock the big MSOs, but even some people I know who work at them say they’re not as productive as shops with an owner on-site. They can help contain costs, but it’s not usually through better productivity. I think the CCC data reflects more DRP claims going through those MSOs.” MSOs with 25 or more shop locations last year accounted for 43% of uploaded DRP appraisals, according to CCC, a percentage that has grown nearly four-fold since 2008. Whatever the cause, even CCC acknowledged labor hours produced per day isn’t likely to rebound soon. “With many repairers seeing repair volumes grow while still unable to find the technicians needed, we expect we will continue to see labor hours per repair day remain below where it was pre-pandemic,” Gotsch said. www.autobodynews.com

UPDATED DAILY

CCC Launches Integration with asTech CCC Intelligent Solutions on March 31 announced asTech®, a Repairify company and a leader in diagnostic, calibration and programming solutions, has joined the CCC® Diagnostics network. The integration makes it easier for repair facilities to capture and document scan information in CCC ONE® workfiles. This streamlined service is available now via CCC ONE. The integration does not require a physical connection between the asTech device and CCC ONE. Information is uploaded wirelessly and the scan report is automatically attached to the vehicle’s CCC ONE workfile. Activation is simple. Repair facilities using CCC ONE select their preferred diagnostic provider(s) from those available through CCC’s network and providers send scan data directly to the workfile. Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions

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EagleMMS Software Soars to the Top of Auto Body Shops’ To-Do Lists After a highly productive brainstorming session, Yanni and Alex Two brothers were driving from sought to develop a lightweight, Connecticut to Maine, and they de- high impact solution to address the cided to spend the time brainstorm- disparity regarding stagnant insuring instead of playing 20 Questions ance rates and rising materials costs or the license plate game. to help business owners in their misIt’s a 4.5-hour trek, so to kill sion of providing excellent car care time they began talking about diffi- and customer service, without sacriculties in the auto body industry and ficing their bottom line. how it has lagged from a technologAfter nearly a year and a half ical perspective for many years. of intensive development, they That journey turned out to be were poised to offer the industry a highly productive for the Koutmos cutting-edge solution that can help brothers, Yanni and Alex, because shops reclaim lost revenue on items by the time they reached their des- and products they used on almost every repair. That car ride has turned into a product gaining traction and receiving five-star reviews nationwide. “We started out venting about the industry and all of the problems associated with it,” Yanni said. “The insurance companies are always going to be playing Brothers Yanni, pictured, and Alex Koutmos developed with labor rates and ignorEagleMMS, a software program that can help shops get ing things like inflation and paid for materials and other expenses related to every car supply chain issues. Their repair numbers are consistently tination, the pair had an idea for a outdated and arbitrary. The paint product that could help any collision companies have informed the shops repairer track consumables usage earlier this year that they’re going to and get paid for them by the insur- raise their prices significantly. ance companies. “In addition, it’s harder and They named it EagleMMS and harder to find qualified people to were excited about their new baby fix these vehicles and it’s more and and how it could change the colli- more difficult to recoup their costs for materials. We knew if we could sion repair industry. EagleMMS is a technology come up with software that could company committed to providing help shops to recoup their costs, it collision repairers with the insight would be a hit.” Yanni’s mantra is “If something needed to run at peak efficiency. From family-owned independent comes into your shop and it costs shops all the way to large MSOs, you money, it should always make EagleMMS is a materials manage- you money on the way out,” he said. ment software saving shops thou“Too many shops have gotten sands of dollars month after month. used to not charging for things, so Yanni is a seven-year veteran of we’re re-educating them. Once they the auto body industry, having spent see how much they can recover, they nearly one year as a certified appraiser realize how much money has been from the insurance side and six years bleeding out of their businesses for as a frame tech and master body man. literally decades.” Alex is a former Amazon softBy creating precise documentaware engineer, currently one of the tion that clearly states the products leading experts in the Elixir pro- being used down to each piece of gramming language community, and sandpaper and every ounce of rubhas spent more than a decade devel- berized undercoating, for example, oping reliable and robust software EagleMMS is also educating the insurers. systems. by Ed Attanasio

38 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

“The system builds an invoice and as the tech scans every QR code, it goes into the document,” Yanni said. “Every product you use is invoiceable and once your people become familiar with that concept,

By building a comprehensive and detailed invoice on every repair, EagleMMS is saving shops thousands of dollars every month

it becomes part of their daily lives. Then once you get the insurance company onboard, they will normally stop fighting you.” Simple is one of the best adjectives to describe EagleMMS, Yanni said.

“Getting started with EagleMMS is easy and straightforward. After adding all of the materials that you want to track into EagleMMS, you’ll be able to generate QR code tags to put near your materials. With your QR tags in place, all your technicians need to do is scan a QR tag,” he said. “Technicians scan the needed material QR tag and then provide checkout details. The technician selects the repair order and the quantity used, and it’s immediately added to the invoice. After the scan is completed, the repair order invoice is automatically updated. All that’s left to do is submit the shop’s EagleMMS invoices in order to get adequately reimbursed.” In addition to providing accurate repair order material usage invoices, EagleMMS also enables users to manage all aspects of material management from the shop floor. “Technicians can report low or out of inventory items, so that your parts people can order more inventory before running out,” Alex said. “You can also analyze your data to See EagleMMS Software, Page 40

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EV Operating Costs Appear Much More Appealing as Gas Prices Soar: Report by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs

According to a new analysis by the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), electric cars are saving owners money, attributed to operating costs, which comes as no surprise. To be clear, the general idea here is not news. We’ve shared comparisons time and time again showing how an electric car can be cheaper to own than a similar gas-powered car once you factor in long-term ownership costs. EVs are much more expensive up front, though they tend to save owners money on fuel and maintenance over the years. If this wasn’t already provable in a growing number of cases, it’s becoming even more of a reality as gas prices soar. While electricity prices are also rising, they’ve remained relatively consistent over the years, with a more gradual rise. Meanwhile, gas prices have proven more volatile over time. Moreover, due in part to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, oil prices have spiked to record highs, and gas prices are following suit.

“This month’s Consumer Price Index shows once again that gas prices are surging, which has been exacerbated by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” said ZETA Executive Director Joe Britton. “American families are losing money at the pump to a commodity that is increasingly unpredictable and unaffordable in an already-expensive pandemic year. Our analysis shows that American consumers don’t have to choose between driving their car or saving money. Electric vehicles are affordable now.” Note that “affordable” is highly subjective here. Just because a family can potentially save money over time by choosing an EV over a gas car doesn’t mean it will prove true in all cases. In addition, if a car shopper simply can’t afford the upfront cost of an EV, they won’t be able to take advantage of the potential opportunity. Finally, even with high gas prices, it almost always makes sense to keep the car you already own, especially if there aren’t major issues with it. Buying a new car right now

Continued from Page 38

EagleMMS Software find out which materials are being used, by whom and at what rate, in order to better optimize your production process.” EagleMMS is web-based and does not require any cumbersome mobile or desktop applications. Techs can access their shop’s information and perform the job right from their phone. Another benefit is EagleMMS is not tied to any particular material manufacturer or supplier. “When we designed EagleMMS, a critical objective was to have a product that was extremely fast and streamlined,” Yanni said. “That’s why it takes less than five seconds—start to finish—to add material usages to repair orders. We’ve also made it very affordable with a monthly subscription of $49 and an optional $499 one-time setup fee if customers choose to have us set up their inventory and print their QR code tags and technician QR tag binders.”

Coming inin hot: Coming hot: Your next Your next parts order

when inventory is scarce and prices are high may not be the best plan. At any rate, ZETA put together a report comparing the operating costs of electric cars versus gas-powered cars. We’ll say right up front these studies should always be taken with a grain of salt, though they do paint an interesting picture of the situation as it’s unfolding. Reports such as this typically rely on a small data set, and there are an immense amount of factors and variables involved. ZETA used three of the most popular gas-powered vehicles. It looked at a select number of U.S. states and aimed to compare the operating cost of the gas-powered vehicles to that of similar EV models. ZETA claims its research suggests, unlike gasoline prices, EV charging costs aren’t “dependent on global oil markets—and are therefore not subject to the same price shocks, disruptions and supply shortages.” “Instead, EVs run on electricity, which is cheaper than gasoline and is produced domestically from increasingly renewable and locally derived resources,” Britton said. “As Congress moves forward to pass

new transformative clean energy investments to electrify the transportation sector and bolster domestic auto manufacturing, EVs’ sticker prices and total cost of ownership will only continue to come down, paving the way for electric vehicles to become the new—and affordable—normal in the United States.” Based on the details in the study, ZETA suggests, as of March, driving an electric car is significantly less expensive than a gas-powered equivalent. The EV advocacy group goes so far as to say “EVs are three to five times cheaper to drive per mile than gas-powered vehicles.” It added in some states, the savings appear to be even higher. ZETA mentioned earlier data from Consumer Reports that claimed EV owners were saving between $6,000 and $10,000 over the lifespan of the car as compared to gas-powered vehicles. That report was published in late 2020, when average U.S. gas prices were much lower than they are today, though several more expensive EVs have also come to market since then, and electricity prices have risen slightly.

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40 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

Dingle Family Continues Journey with Their Recycled Ride smiling when he first saw his 2013 Nissan Versa for the first time six years ago. As part of Autobody News’ “After “It was so miraculous, I still the Donation” series, we focus on can’t believe it happened even now,” families, individuals and nonprofit Dingle said. “The people at Mike’s organizations who give away cars Auto Body and the Rose family are through NABC’s Recycled Rides incredible, because they make their Program. benevolence program a priority evMike’s Auto Body is a leader ery year. After receiving these blesswhen it comes to philanthropy, and ings, I realized that I now have a renationally known for giving people sponsibility to help others—to pay it a hand up as opposed to a hand out forward.” through its Benvolence Program. In Since receiving the vehicle, December, the California Bay Area April and Eugene Dingle have been MSO, owned by the Rose family, doing everything they can to give gave four families “nearly new” back to their community, completely refurbished cars—bringand their Nissan Versa has ing its total number of donations to 100. played a significant role in Many of these recipients have their journey. decided to pay the benevolence for“Back then, I was the ward and help others in need, and chaplain assistant at Moffett the Dingle family is a prime examField in Sunnyvale, CA, so ple of the power of giving. I had a 1.5-hour commute In November 2015, Mike’s from our home in Suisun Auto Body presented a 2013 NisCity,” Eugene said. “I was san Versa to Staff Sgt. Eugene Din- The Dingle family is still driving the 2013 Nissan Versa also studying to become a chaplain at Gateway Semgle from Travis Air Force Base and they received in 2015 as part of Mike’s Auto Body’s inary in Fremont, and runhis wife April as part of its annual Benevolence Program ning the religious education programs at Travis Air Force Base at the same time.” In December 2018, Eugene transferred to Maryland to join the 175th War Field Wing in Middle River. He The following dealerships are eager to serve your needs. now proudly wears two hats—one Call your local Subaru collision parts specialist today! as an active member of the Air Force and another as an assistant chaplain. Think Genuine Subaru Parts. It’s a role he loves because it allows We’re W ’ focused f d on getting tti you the Genuine Subaru Parts him to help people as they navigate you need — fast and competitively priced. Put us to the test on your next Subaru repair or service job. through their lives in the military. “It can be a stressful existence and a lot of what I do involves criARIZONA LOUISIANA sis management,” Eugene said. “I Subaru Superstore Baldwin Subaru offer the men and women I help Covington of Chandler with 100% confidentiality, which (888) 310-9605 PHX Metro East is something they appreciate. We (985) 892-2902 (877) 443-3239 do everything we can to keep these (985) 273-3273 Fax (480) 268-2402 Local people in the Air Force and this can Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 8-3 Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-5 be a very stressful job, but the reparts@baldwinmotors.com WholesaleEast@ShopSubaru.com wards are many.” TEXAS When Mike’s Auto Body gives Subaru Superstore anyone a vehicle, they first re-conHuffines Subaru of Surprise Corinth dition every part of the car. With PHX Metro West (888) 928-2978 112,000 miles now on the Dingles’ (844) 378-9875 (940) 321-2679 (623) 232-7202 Local 2013 Nissan Versa, the vehicle is (940) 497-2920 Fax (623) 232-7303 Fax still going strong after a few treks Mon.-Fri. 7-7; Sat. 8-5 Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-5 that tested its ability to go the disles.hickman@huffines.net WholesaleWest@ShopSubaru.com tance. “When we moved to Maryland, we drove there with the Versa and a by Ed Attanasio

presentation on Veterans Day at the company’s Fairfield, CA, location. At the time, Eugene was a member of the 60th AMXS Squadron and had to commute to and from his assignment at Moffett Air Base as well as get his children to and from school. Thanks to their completely refurbished vehicle from Mike’s Auto Body, the Dingle family was able to function normally. In addition, the Rose family gave the Dingle family one year of insurance coverage and a trunk full of gifts for the children. Eugene said he couldn’t stop

van that we purchased. It was a little scary with my wife, the kids and a dog and it was wintertime,” Eugene said. “My friends told us take the southern route to avoid the snow and the mountains, and that was good advice. It took us six days to get there.” Before moving to Maryland, Eugene and April donated their time generously to Mike’s Auto Body, which included walking in the Veterans Day Parade in Fairfield, CA. In addition, Eugene did the invocation at the Veterans Day presentation and April sang the National Anthem at the 2016 Christmas presentation in Antioch. “We feel like we’re part of the family at Mike’s Auto Body now. Sal Contreras and the Rose family have been wonderful to us,” April said. “We’ve become good friends with the people at Mike’s—they’re truly special!” The car now gets Eugene to and from his job—another 1.5-hour commute—while April uses the van to transport her children to their activities. “The car is a workhorse and we wouldn’t be in the position we are now without it,” Eugene said. “One of my daughters, Ariel, is now playing competitive basketball and volleyball, and we are also taking care of our parents who live in Washington, D.C. My father Lovair is 85 [former Air Force]; and we are also taking care of my wife’s parents [David, 78, and Carlisle, 76]. The car gets us to where they live, so we can take them to our appointments, etc.” One random and wonderful event happened as a result of the benevolence car, Eugene said. “Our little pug named Bishop was an escape artist and one day he ran off and we figured we’d never see him again,” he said. “But, because of the media coverage we got through Recycled Rides and Mike’s Benevolence Program, a veterinarian all the way in New Jersey knew my name when they found Bishop and scanned his microchip. We didn’t update the contact information, so if they hadn’t known our name from the press coverage, we would have never been reunited with Bishop!”

autobodynews.com / MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

New Standardized Independent Adjuster Competency Exam Announced by Ed Attanasio

When an adjuster walks into your auto body shop to write an estimate, the decisions they make can affect the repair from start to finish. If your number and their number don’t agree, it can lead to an avalanche of supplements and potentially open up a tug-of-war between you and the insurer. How qualified is the adjuster and can you rely on their assess-

its kind in the independent claims industry. Adjuster Score will provide secure, fully proctored multiple choice and practical claims testing for new and experienced property and auto adjusters. The exams will test key competencies including but not limited to basic computer skills, policy knowledge and application, estimating knowledge and application, building construction and vehicle knowledge, damage identi-

“We want IA firms to be able to assess an applicant at a glance—similar to a credit score or a standardized test score like the SAT or LSAT,” — Chris Stanley ment of the vehicle in question? A test score could help shops strip out a lot of question marks across the board, and be confident of an accurate sheet. AdjusterTV.com and IAPath. com have partnered to create a new company, Adjuster Score, offering a standardized independent adjuster core competency exam, the first of

fication and customer service skills. “It’s important that we test applicants not only on how well they can build a diagram in the estimating software, but also how well they can use that software in the context of a claim,” said Mathew Allen, Adjuster Score co-founder and owner of AdjusterTV.com. “We feel that Adjuster Score

scratches several important itches in the claims industry,” Allen said. “It will provide adjusters with a narrow roadmap for building their skills and equipment, and will calibrate third-party adjuster training companies to the skills that firms and carriers need new adjusters to have. It will also provide IA firms with an objective measure of an adjuster’s skills, knowledge and equipment.” “We want IA firms to be able to assess an applicant at a glance— similar to a credit score or a standardized test score like the SAT or LSAT,” said Chris Stanley, co-founder of Adjuster Score and owner of IAPath.com. A user’s Adjuster Score will have an aggregate total score that is then broken down into specific scores for soft skills, technical skills and policy skills, among others. In addition, adjusters will be able to gain points every time they get a new license, certification or important piece of equipment. This will help firms and carriers to know who’s ready to deploy. Adjuster Score is rapidly gain-

ing traction with insurance companies and the collision repair industry, as well as with both fledgling and veteran adjusters. Insurance claims adjusters play a vital role in the insurance industry. They are often called upon to conduct interviews, study police reports and inspect damages, among other duties. It can be a fast-paced career that has its financial rewards, and there are a number of different areas an insurance claim adjuster can work in. But education and licensing requirements vary state to state, so without a standardized national test, no one can quantify someone’s skillset definitively. A test levels the playing field and offers a number everyone can use to measure and compare, as well as offering that much-needed peace of mind to insurance companies and consumers alike.

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GM Headlight Recall Issued Over Low-Beam Glare by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com

A GM headlight recall over lowbeam glare includes more than 740,000 model year 2010-2017 GMC Terrain SUVs after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration denied a petition from General Motors to skip the headlight recall. General Motors said a reflection from the headlight housing may illuminate “excessively bright light” in areas above the Terrain and outside the view of the driver. “A reflection caused by the headlamps’ housing can project a narrow beam of light 80 degrees outboard and 45 degrees upward of each lamp’s forward-center axis,” GM said. GM also said the design of the Terrain headlights allows a narrow beam of light from the lower beam light to reflect off the inner surface of the high-beam reflector. However, the high-beam headlights are not affected. The headlight problem has been going on for years because it was in June 2019 when the automaker petitioned NHTSA for a recall exemption because only one GMC Terrain

owner had complained. That complaint didn’t mention bright lights or glare, but the complainant said the headlights shined into the tops of trees.

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GM also said the headlights hadn’t caused any crashes or injuries even though the Terrain model years go back to 2010. Early in March, safety regulators denied GM’s petition and told the automaker it should issue a GMC headlight recall for 2010-2017 Terrains.According to GM, dealers aren’t sure what they will do to repair the headlight problem, but headlight recall notices are expected to be mailed April 23. GMC Terrain owners may contact GMC at 800-462-8782 and use headlight recall number N222363740.

42 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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autobodynews.com / MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

Improved Semiconductor Supply Drives Truck Market Share Gains for GM General Motors Co. sold 512,846 vehicles in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2022, with improved semiconductor supplies supporting higher production and market share in key truck segments. “Our ability to meet pent-up demand improved dramatically thanks to a tremendous effort by our supply chain and manufacturing teams to keep our plants operating at close to normal levels,” said Steve Carlisle, executive vice president and president, GM North America. “Supply chain disruptions are not fully behind us, but we expect to continue outperforming 2021 production levels, especially in the second half of the year.” According to GM Chief Economist Elaine Buckberg, industry light vehicle volumes will grow this year and top 2021 levels, thanks to a strong labor market, higher vehicle production and pent-up demand. “Ordinarily, a U.S. economy this strong would translate into light vehicle sales in the 17 million range,” she said. “Improvements in the supply chain should lift auto sales as the year progresses, despite headwinds from higher inflation and fuel prices.”

GM estimates total light vehicle SAAR for the first quarter was 14.1 million, down from 16.8 million a year ago, due to lower inventory and production levels. GM deliveries in the first quarter were down 20% from a year ago, but they were up 16% from the fourth quarter. GM’s production in North America has increased sequentially each quarter since the end of September 2021, and the company ended the first quarter with 273,760 vehicles in dealer inventory, including in-transit units, which are rising. Inventories were 128,757 units at the end of the third quarter of 2021, and 199,662 at the end of the fourth quarter. GM expects inventory to remain relatively low throughout the year due to high demand. GM’s performance, along with a more stable operating environment, has already translated into market share gains for GM in key truck segments: The combined retail market share of the Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD pickups was a segment-leading 41.5% during the first quarter, according to J.D. Power PIN— up more than 10 percentage points from a year ago and GM’s strongest

quarter in HD retail market share in over a decade. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 also led their segment during the quarter, with combined retail market share of nearly 42%, up 2.6 points year over year, according to J.D. Power PIN. The combined retail market share of the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL reached 69% during the first quarter, up 5 points year over year. GM’s sales in the segment were up 10%. The Cadillac Escalade had its best first quarter since 2007, with a 7% sales increase. In another sign of robust economic growth, commercial customers have been upgrading and expanding their fleets. GM delivered its best commercial sales quarter in nearly three years with sales velocity at the end of the quarter reaching a 15-year high. In the commercial market, sales of full-size pickups were up 5%, compact SUVs up 131% and mid-size pickups up 23%. Total first-quarter deliveries of the Chevrolet Low Cab Forward were up 48% compared to a year ago. The

Chevrolet Silverado medium duty line, which is a popular choice for upfitters, was up 23%. Fleet sales, which were 24% of GM total sales in the first quarter, grew 10% year over year, with commercial and government deliveries up 14% and 18%, respectively. Chevrolet Tahoe sales to government customers increased 243%. The first quarter saw GM reach several milestones as the company scales EV capacity in North America to more than 1 million units by the end of 2025. GMC’s launch of the HUMMER EV is going according to plan, with early production focused on satisfying orders of the launch edition. Production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV will resume April 4. Chevrolet dealers continue to repair customer vehicles and recently resumed deliveries of some completed Bolt EV and Bolt EUVs in inventory. Production of the Cadillac LYRIQ began March 21, nine months ahead of the company’s original target. Cadillac will begin taking orders for future editions May 19. Source: GM

GM to Expedite Hummer EV Production as Reservations Increase to 65,000 by Maria Merano, Teslarati

General Motors is expediting GMC Hummer EV production after receiving more than 65,000 reservations. “Production’s actually slightly ahead of plan, and we’re putting things in place now to actually expedite that as well, so we can deliver these reservations quicker than we originally thought. We’re seeing momentum building,” Duncan Aldred, GMC’s global vice president, told CNBC. He also said GMC Hummer EV reservations had exceeded expectations. Once again, the demand for electric vehicles remains strong. Ford was in a similar situation with the Mustang Mach-E. Aldred said about 95% of people are converting their Hummer EV reservations into orders, a much higher number than GM expected. Unfortunately, he estimated the company will not be able to fulfill new Hummer EV pickup orders until 2024. Meanwhile, the Hummer EV SUV is expected to arrive in 2023. “What we’re looking at now is how can we build the maximum

amount and how can we deliver, fulfill these reservations as quickly as possible? We’re doing all the studies on that, and we’re confident we can go a lot quicker than we originally thought, but it still means a reservation now probably means delivering in ’24,” said Aldred. GM has invested billions in transitioning from an internal combustion engine producer to an electric vehicle manufacturer. The legacy automaker plans to build most of its EVs at Michigan’s Orion and Factory ZERO facilities. The Orion plant is expected to produce up to 360,000 EVs per year by 2025, while Factory Zero could make up to 270,000 units by mid-decade. GM unveiled the Hummer EV SUV after the pickup version. Megan Hart, assistant marketing manager for the Hummer EV, noted newer reservations seemed evenly split between the SUV and pickup truck versions. In December 2021, GMC announced Factory ZERO had already produced the first 2022 Hummer EV pickup trucks. The announcement kicked off customer deliveries.

44 MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com

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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. autobodynews.com / MAY 2022 AUTOBODY NEWS 45

Startups, AkzoNobel to Collaborate

See The Tesla Cybertruck’s Rear-Wheel Steering Feature in Action by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs

After winning Paint the Future awards, three startups have already signed letters of intent to continue working together on sustainable business opportunities with AkzoNobel. The solution from Israeli startup SolCold is a sustainable self-cooling coating based on anti-Stokes. It uses the sun’s energy to keep the inside temperature much cooler without having to use any electricity. Latvian startup Aerones brings a robotic solution to wind turbine maintenance. Its crawling robot allows technicians to safely and efficiently perform inspections, cleaning and repairs at height. From the Czech Republic, SprayVision brings a data-driven approach to optimizing spray application of paint, offering customers full control over the process. The solution helps to reduce environmental impact by saving material and improving quality. Source: AkzoNobel

The Cybertruck was definitely the star of Tesla’s Cyber Rodeo event held April 7 at Gigafactory Texas in Austin.

It even got some time on stage next to CEO Elon Musk after Franz von Holzhausen drove it up there in a moment that reminded everyone of the Cybertruck’s November 2019 launch. This time, Tesla’s design boss refrained from throwing any metal balls at the pickup’s windows, though. Cyber Rodeo attendees got to see some of the electric truck’s updated features, including the doors that no longer feature any handles, the retractable rear glass, the side view cameras located in

the plastic cladding around the front wheels, as well as a charging port on one of the fenders. Visitors also got a chance to look at the interior, but there was nothing to write home about as the prototype didn’t feature a production-ready cabin. For example, the yoke sourced from the Model S and Model X did not feature an airbag and many of the parts were not in final production spec. But there was something special some of the people who kept a close eye on the Cybertruck got to witness at one point: the rearwheel steering feature. While this wasn’t an extensive demo, a video from Cybertruck Owners Club clearly shows the Cybertruck prototype’s rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels. This feature will obviously come in handy during low speed maneu-

vers, helping to shorten the pickup’s turning radius and therefore making parking maneuvers easier. Rear-wheel steering is a necessary feature on a vehicle with a longer wheelbase than the Ford F-150. We’ve seen the difference it makes in terms of maneuverability on a massive vehicle like the GMC Hummer EV, although it remains to be seen whether Tesla will go the extra mile and offer something similar to the CrabWalk feature. Musk first announced the Cybertruck’s rear-wheel steering feature last year on Twitter. During the grand opening of Tesla’s new factory in Austin, Musk confirmed production of the Cybertruck would begin there in 2023, likely at the beginning of the year. The electric pickup was originally supposed to enter production in late 2021 and was later postponed to late 2022. Here’s hoping we won’t see another delay and Tesla will start making the Cybertruck in early 2023.

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May 2022 Southwest Edition

Articles inside

Their Recycled Ride ��

Appealing as Gas Prices Soar: Report ��

Auto Body Shops’ To-Do Lists��

Apart from the Competition��

Giga Texas ��

Weld Testing ��

DRP Metrics��

for Roundtable Discussion��

Major Concerns in 2022��

Farmers Insurance Wins NABC Award ��

Growth Year-Over-Year ��

May 2022 Southwest Edition

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Appealing as Gas Prices Soar: Report ���������

Auto Body Shops’ To-Do Lists���������������������

Apart from the Competition���������������������������

Giga Texas ��������������������������������������������������

Weld Testing �����������������������������������������������

DRP Metrics������������������������������������������������

for Roundtable Discussion���������������������������

Major Concerns in 2022������������������������������

Farmers Insurance Wins NABC Award �����������

Growth Year-Over-Year ��������������������������������

Their Recycled Ride ��

Appealing as Gas Prices Soar: Report ��

Auto Body Shops’ To-Do Lists��

Apart from the Competition��

Giga Texas ��

Weld Testing ��

DRP Metrics��

for Roundtable Discussion��

Major Concerns in 2022��

Farmers Insurance Wins NABC Award ��

Growth Year-Over-Year ��