September 2023 Southwest Edition

Length of Rental Decreases Year-Over-Year For First Time Since Start of Pandemic

Enterprise released Length of Rental (LOR) data for the second quarter of 2023, showing a 0.3-day decrease— from 17.7 days to 17.4—compared to the same quarter last year, the first dip in LOR year-over-year since the initial stages of the pandemic.

LORs was 9.6 days, compared to a gap of 9.0 days in Q2 2022. In the contiguous 48, the gap was 7.2 days between Georgia (20.5) and Iowa and North Dakota (both 13.1). In Q2 2022, this gap was 8.9 days between Louisiana and North Dakota.

REGIONAL NEWS

Phoenix Sees 719% Increase in Kia Thefts, 412% for Hyundai in 2023

By Cole Lauterbach The Center Square

Car thefts of two kinds of vehicles in Phoenix have skyrocketed due to a social media trend showing how easily they can be broken into.

The Phoenix Police Department released crime statistics showing violent crimes are slightly lower in the first half of the year compared to the same time in 2022. Property crimes are also down by 10% overall.

The department considers burglary, theft, arson and motor vehicle theft in the category of property crimes. All of those dropped except for stolen vehicles, up 4% on the year compared to the first half of last year.

Of the vehicles stolen, all measured model theft had fallen with the exception of Kia and Hyundai vehicles.

“This increase is, in part, is believed to be associated with a social media trend involving the theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles,” the report said. “Had the number of Kia and Hyundai thefts remained the same as 2022, overall auto thefts would have decreased by 24%.”

From Jan. 1 to July 31, Kia-model vehicles saw a 719% increase in the number of cars stolen. Hyundai owners saw a 412% spike in their cars being stolen.

The report considered the possibility that car thieves chose

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

It was also a 1.5-day decrease from the first quarter of this year, when LOR was 18.7 days, which fits historical seasonal trending of a decrease from the first quarter to the second quarter. While positive, these results continue to reflect the new normal, as the LOR for the second quarter in 2021 was 13.2 days.

Alaska recorded the highest overall LOR in Q2 at 22.7 days, followed by Georgia (20.5), Colorado (20.2) and Louisiana (20.1).

Hawaii had the lowest LOR with 13.1 days. North Dakota and Iowa were next-lowest at 13.3 days each, with DC (13.5) and Nebraska (13.9) completing the states under 14 days.

Interestingly, the gap between the highest—Alaska—and lowest—Hawaii—

Only three states saw a yearover-year increase of a day or more: Minnesota (+1.4), New Mexico (+1.2), and Montana (+1.0). Eighteen additional states saw increases while five other states were flat.

Notably, 24 states, plus Washington, D.C., saw decreases. Rhode Island (-2.0), DC (-1.9) and Louisiana (-1.8) had the largest decreases.

John Yoswick, editor of the weekly CRASH Network newsletter, said:

“We’re seeing a number of trends that could account for some—though not a lot—of decline in LOR, at least for now. Shops’ backlog of work tends to drop in the spring, and this year was no exception. The national

l CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Texas City’s ‘Uber of Auto Care’ Wants to Transform Auto Repair Industry

By Amber Gaudet Denton Record-Chronicle

When Erick King’s mom had an issue with her Dodge Nitro in 2016, the family was expecting a simple repair. Several incorrect diagnoses and repairs later, the car was still on the fritz, and worse, the high costs of repair led to the King family’s eviction, after which they spent time living in the Nitro.

The situation sparked a desire for

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

REGIONAL NEWS

Columnist Abby Andrews: SCRS Executive Director Responds to Criticism of Right to Repair Pact Signed with Automakers

Columnist Stacey Phillips: Body Shop Owners Discuss Mentorship Programs Initiated with Support from Toby Chess, Part 2

Columnist Mike Anderson: Technical and Financial Considerations Related to Your Paint Department

Denton, TX-founded TinMan Automotive is hoping to shake up the auto repair industry through its mobile model. Courtesy photo/TinMan Automotive

Index of Advertisers

Kia and Hyundai makes over other vehicles, which would explain the drop in thefts for other makes and the increase in Kia and Hyundai makes.

Earlier this year, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 17 other attorneys general in calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to force the two carmakers to recall vehicles with the vulnerability to theft.

“Hyundai and Kia’s failure to adequately address their vehicles’ alarming theft rate is unacceptable and harmful to consumers,” she said. “I urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to take swift action and institute a recall of these unsafe vehicles, which have not only harmed car owners but also consumed valuable law enforcement resources.”

The carmakers agreed in May to a $200 million settlement with car owners over the thefts.

The stealing frenzy is fueled by a social media trend on TikTok showing the two car types, both manufactured by Hyundai, lack a security mechanism called an engine immobilizer that disables the vehicle if the ignition is tampered with.

Dallas-Based Harvey’s Collision Centers Welcomes Jeff McFadden

Harvey’s Collision Centers, a leading collision repair group in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex, is thrilled to announce the addition of Jeff McFadden as its new partner.

With an impressive career spanning 37 years in the industry, McFadden brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to strengthen further Harvey’s Collision Centers’ position as a trusted and reliable service provider.

McFadden’s extensive experience in the collision industry makes him a valuable asset to the Harvey’s Collision Centers team. Throughout his career, McFadden has demonstrated an exceptional ability to deliver the highest level of service to ensure customer satisfaction while always maintaining the highest quality standards.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff McFadden as our partner,” said Jeremy Lennox, owner of Harvey’s Collision Centers.

Lennox purchased the business in January 2018 from Johnny Harvey, grandson of William Harvey, who founded Harvey’s

Paint & Body in 1956. The business has been family owned and operated since its inception.

“Jeff’s wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success,” Lennox said. “His commitment to excellence and the customer perfectly aligns with our core values, and we are confident that his expertise will further enhance our reputation as a leading provider.”

As CEO and co-owner, McFadden will play a vital role in overseeing strategy, growth and reputation, ensuring the brand continues differentiating itself. His deep understanding of industry trends and landscape will allow Harvey’s Collision Centers to continue delivering outstanding results to its loyal customer base while focusing on growth opportunities. McFadden’s prior experience and success as the president of an MSO with more than 350 locations across the nation will ensure the company’s ability to scale the business in a way that creates value for all.

McFadden expressed his

excitement about joining Harvey’s Collision Centers.

“I am honored to become Jeremy’s partner. His honesty, integrity, business acumen and loyalty to his family, teammates and customers are second to none,” McFadden said. “Throughout my career, I have admired his commitment to excellence and his unwavering dedication to the ultimate satisfaction of the customer. I look forward to working alongside the talented team at Harvey’s Collision Centers and contributing to the company’s continued growth and success.”

For more information about Harvey’s Collision Centers and its services, visit www. harveyspaintandbody.com.

Source: Harvey’s Collision Centers

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Technical and Financial Considerations Related to Your Paint Department

Based on a question I received from an Autobody News reader, I’m going to focus my next couple of articles on refinish-related items I think you should know or think about.

For instance, as ADAS continues to become more prevalent, some automakers are saying an approved paint line needs to be used, because some paint products can affect the way blind spot monitors work behind a bumper. Nissan North America, for example, put out just this type of requirement for its ARIYA model. Similarly, Toyota put out a bulletin (CRIB #201) noting select 2023 Toyota and Lexus models use 77 Gigahertz (GHz) radar sensors, which require special refinish precautions that may mean the bumper cover cannot even be repainted.

less than $30, while in others it’s $50 or higher.

So I think it’s really important to

it may make more sense to using invoicing versus the multiple method. Paint materials profitability also

Average Paint Labor Hours Per Estimate in 2022

out a lot of calibration or other ADAS work—which is a growing portion of the total repair cost—paint materials may now account for 8% or 9% of your total sales. Or if you repair a lot of high-end luxury vehicles, your parts bills may be higher, also reducing the percentage of sales for your paint materials.

So while I’m not saying you shouldn’t still benchmark paint materials as a percentage of sales, I think it’s also important to monitor the average number of refinish labor hours per repair order. As the state-by-state averages for paint labor hours shown on the table demonstrate, there’s certainly a range for this. (The averages shown are for all insurance claims, both DRP and non-DRP combined.)

If you look at that data, you’ll see North Dakota is the lowest at 7.5 hours, and Rhode Island is the highest at 11.1 hours. Nationally, the average is 9.7 hours. But again, your mix of work can affect your average refinish hours per job. Are you doing more heavier hits or smaller jobs? Train wrecks versus dealership shipping damage or rental car parking lot damage?

So researching OEM repair procedures from a paint perspective is becoming very, very critical.

Now let’s talk about calculating reimbursement for paint materials. There continues to be two methods in our industry. There’s the traditional multiplier method, which is a set dollar rate multiplied by the number of refinish labor hours on the estimate or repair plan. If a job has 10 hours of paint labor and your material rate is, say, $40, you’re going to get $400 for paint materials. That’s still the most widely used method, but that’s changing.

Our “Who Pays for What?” surveys over the past several years have found a growing percentage of shops using an invoicing system for paint materials—at least some of the time. There are several ways to produce an invoice for materials: a paint company’s mixing scale, Mitchell’s Refinish Materials Calculator, PMC Logic, etc.

Which method makes the most sense for your shop may depend on your market. Paint material rates vary across the country. In some markets, the multiplier rate may be

understand there’s not a one sizefits-all approach. But as we see more three- or four-stage paint, or more “limited use toners”—which tend to be expensive and not widely used, so generally not stocked in shops—

requires writing solid repair plans, particularly if you are using the multiplier method. In the past, the benchmark was paint materials should account for about 10% of sales. But if you’re a shop that sublets

That’s why another method to monitor this is by average paint labor hours per $1,000 in sales. The goal for that is typically about 2.7 paint labor hours for each $1,000 in sales. I recently ran a graph**** from our portal where we track the performance of many shops we consult with, and over the eight months, they were averaging between 2.03 and 2.16 average refinish hours per $1,000 in sales, and just under 11 refinish hours per repair order.

One other thing to keep in mind: If you’re doing a lot of smaller jobs without a lot of refinish labor hours, you may need to set a minimum you collect for paint materials per job. If a customer only needs a mirror replacement, you may only get an hour of refinish time, but that one hour times your multiplier rate may not adequately cover the cost of the refinish materials needed.

In my next article, I will discuss what’s actually included in “materials,” both in the past versus what we see today, with more and more shops moving to itemize things on estimates and repair plans, including stock parts.

In 2022, the average number of refinish labor hours per repair order varied by state, but on a national basis the average was about 9.7

Data from a group of Collision Advice shop clients show they were averaging just below 11 refinish labor hours per repair order, and about two refinish labor hours per $1,000 in sales

“Our ‘Who Pays for What?’ surveys over the past several years have found a growing percentage of shops using an invoicing system for paint materials.”

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ASE Vouchers Available For EV Testing

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has made vouchers available for EV certification testing.

ASE previously announced the creation of Electric Vehicle Technician/ Shop Personnel Electrical Safety Standards, to minimize exposure to hazards and their associated impacts, developed in conjunction with vehicle manufacturers, aftermarket personnel and other electric industry subject matter experts. Visit www.ase. com/ev to see the standards.

In addition to the standards, ASE launched two tests in this series: the xEV Electrical Safety Awareness Certification (Level One), designed for anyone who may encounter an EV in the workplace, and the xEV Technician Electrical Safety Certification (Level Two), for professionals, technicians or specialists who have received training, have demonstrated skills and knowledge, and maintain a safe working area and use PPE. Automotive service professionals and shop owners who want to purchase ASE EV test vouchers for their employees can visit the myASE portal.

Source: ASE

Texas-Based MSO On the Road Garage Joins 1Collision

1Collision is excited to announce the addition of On the Road Garage, which operates two locations in Texas. The Irving facility opened in 2020 and two years later, an additional location was established in Dallas. The company has 40 fulltime employees.

“We are pleased to be adding our first licensees in the Dallas, TX, area,” said John Hollingsworth, 1Collision’s director of new location development. “Roy Villarreal and his team strive for greatness and they know there are always things that can be improved upon. We look forward to supporting them in their mission to grow.”

Established by CEO Michelle Corson, On the Road Garage is part of On the Road Companies, a family of businesses established in 2011 with the mission to build prosperity for America’s workers.

The businesses include Champion Impact Capital, On the Road Sustainability Funds, On the Road Lending and On the Road Motors, a Texas motor vehicle dealer that sources for clients at auction.

On the Road Garage focuses on

mechanical and electronic repair of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), other smart-car technology that require diagnostics and blueprinting.

Villarreal, vice president of operations, said the company provides highly experienced and skilled collision technicians, customer service representatives and painters. The company takes pride in offering fast and competitively priced service and exceptional customer support.“What sets our collision repair facilities apart from others in the industry is our apprentice programs,” said Villarreal, who holds an I-CAR Platinum designation.

On the Road Garage has five apprenticeship programs registered with the Department of Labor. These include estimatics, collision repair technician, refinisher, office manager/admin., and automotive technician specialist (ADAS).

“We have created a culture of training and learning,” explained Villarreal. “We do not hire anyone who is not willing to train someone

or that’s not interested in continuing education.”The company decided to join 1Collision after learning about the support the network provides to its locations.

“We recognized the industry expertise and insight 1Collision can offer,” said Villarreal. “1Collision has many levels of support that we believe will help us improve our business model, and support our growth plan.”

The team at On the Road Garage hopes to expand its network of locations and share ideas with industry professionals.

“We are excited to be part of 1Collision and look forward to working with the team,” said Villarreal.

Source: 1Collision

Digital Innovations for the Mixing Room

Solutions recently launched for the PPG LINQ™ digital ecosystem are leading collision centers into a new era of refinish paint mixing that can significantly spark gains in key-to-key productivity. The PPG LINQ digital ecosystem is comprised of interconnected hardware, software and innovative services, using a cloud-based platform.

PPG VisualizID Software

The first of its kind in the industry, this advanced software enables technicians to compare 3D renderings of the retrieved colors and compare multiple “virtual sprayouts” in a matter of minutes. A sprayout can be compared from flash, flop or face angles, rotated in any direction and compared from “blend” and “edge” views.

Carl Garcia, owner of Carl’s Collision Center, Fall River, Massachusetts, is a huge fan of PPG LINQ digital tools, particularly since his workforce is primarily younger. “These kids today grew up with computers, with smartphones—it’s a totally different mentality. So we need to adapt to the changing workforce.”

PPG DIGIMATCHTM Spectrophotometer

This small spectrophotometer takes readings of a vehicle’s color from six imaging angles as well as six reflective angles to provide color and texture information—including effect pigment particle size.

The color reading is seamlessly loaded into PPG retrieval software to find color formulations providing the best match. The spectrophotometer’s readings work in concert with another PPG innovation to further enhance the ability to determine the best match—PPG VISUALIZID™ software.

“In the old days, we would have to do our own sprayouts to test the colors,” explains Garcia. “It would take us a minimum of 15 minutes for each car, sometimes over an hour. So instead of having to do sprayout cards, we are able to do a virtual sprayout.” Once satisfied with the match, the technician hits a button and sends the formula to another PPG innovation that Garcia’s operation has incorporated into their process—the PPG MOONWALK® system.

PPG MoonWalk Mixing System

This award-winning, automated paint mixing system is designed for use with the PPG ENVIROBASE® High Performance refinish system. “This is a great advantage for us,” says Garcia. “It’s 100% accurate. No waste. And it’s increased our efficiency by at least 15%.”

Echoing praise of automated mixing is Frank McClosky, owner of Frank’s Collision Center, operating six locations in the Houston, Texas, area. “We’re getting a highly accurate mix and color matches every time. This system is so precise, down to the hundredths of a gram. And we haven’t over-poured any product yet.”

For more information on the PPG LINQ digital ecosystem and MoonWalk automated mixing system, contact your local PPG distributor or PPG sales representative.

How new technologies from PPG are proving to save time, reduce waste and enhance color-matching accuracy.

Autobody News Remembers Friend and Writer Ed Attanasio

The team at Autobody News was heartbroken to learn our longtime writer and friend Ed Attanasio passed away July 18, 2023.

Barbara Davies, co-owner and CEO “I’ve known Ed since 2009. Ed met our publisher, Jeremy Hayhurst , at an industry event in 2009, and he became one of our regular writers right after that. He became one of our family.

“He [loved] all the people in this industry. It didn’t matter if he was interviewing the CEO of a major manufacturing company or the tech intern at a body shop. He gave everyone the same level of respect and importance, which came through in all his articles. The industry has lost someone very special that touched many lives.

“Ed was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. He would always put the spotlight on others and never himself. He had a heart of gold.

were both invited to a day-long event hosted by a vendor in the industry. Rather than ‘talking shop,’ he was quick to enthusiastically discuss other interests we shared: movies, art, baseball. I ended up feeling like we knew a lot about each other in a short period of time—and I know many others had a similar experience with Ed.

“That’s why I thought his ‘Day Job/Night Job’ series for Autobody News was such a perfect fit for him, because while he talked to people

laughing and joking with him.

“Ed, although you are gone from my sight, you will forever occupy a special place in my heart. You will be missed. Rest in peace, Ed.”

Norm Morano, regional sales manager

“Ed was a bona fide renaissance man with so many talents and interests that ran the spectrum—from writing, to art, to baseball, to people, to living. Such a sweet man with a beautiful soul. He’ll be missed.”

Ed wrote for our publication since 2009, and over the years he covered a wide range of industry topics while always keeping a keen eye for the stories that highlighted the human element, particularly in his long-running Day Job/Night Job series.

Ed was a lot more than a journalist, however. He was a baseball historian, stand-up comedian and an animal lover, which he combined with one of his other many interests—art—to create the Pandemic Pet Project. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ed drew hundreds of people’s pets as sketches on Post-It notes, asking in return only a donation to a local animal shelter. His favorite rescue was Muttville in San Francisco, which specializes in finding homes for senior dogs.

Ed’s team members at Autobody News shared their memories.

“Ed had been to most of the ball parks in the U.S., but had never been to Petco Park in San Diego. I invited him to come down from San Francisco a few years ago for a game at Petco and he was like a kid in a candy store! His passion for baseball came through just as strongly as his passion for our industry.”

Stacey Phillips, columnist “I met Ed when I first started working at Autobody News in 2014. Ed was always a phone call away when I had a question about the industry or an article. When I started working from home and writing freelance articles, Ed was a tremendous support. I always admired how he enjoyed learning about other people and sharing their stories.

“Like everyone who knew him, I will miss Ed and appreciate how he always brought a smile to the faces of those around him. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

John Yoswick, columnist “I met Ed sometime in the 1990s when we were each writing for different collision industry publications and

about their work in the industry, he found ways to also get to know so much more about interesting aspects of their lives.

“While I probably crossed paths with Ed at industry events only once or twice a year in the 25+ years after we met, I’d more often open my email to find a recommendation for a documentary he’d just seen that he thought I’d like—and asking me for my latest finds.”

Joe Momber, regional sales manager “Ed was a gentleman with a soft soul and a huge heart. He spoke kind words and shared a smile that lit up any room or conference hall. I am extremely saddened and will miss

Abby Andrews, editor

“I learned a lot about the industry through editing Ed’s articles. He had a real knack for finding the little details that could make a topic go from ho-hum to interesting.

“When Ed started the Pandemic Pet Project in 2020, I sent him a picture of my dog, Pepper. The PostIt note sketch he sent back captured Pepper so perfectly---he was my ‘grumpy old man’ by that point. I lost Pepper to cancer in 2021. Out of a million pictures I had taken of him over the years, that sketch is one of the best.”

Our deepest condolences go out to Ed’s family and friends.

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ATI Welcomes New President

The Automotive Training Institute (ATI) is excited to announce Craig Montgomery as its new president.

Montgomery brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ATI through his past 15 years as an executive in the logistics and automotive technology industries. Most recently, Montgomery was the chief revenue officer and general manager for Derive Systems, which develops engine software to increase the performance and fuel efficiency of corporate fleets.

ATI is excited to have Montgomery join the team and to partner with its members to continue to expand the vision created by Chubby and then grown by Richard of helping current and new members realize their full profit potential. Montgomery looks forward to expanding ATI’s service offerings to the membership and the launch of www.drivenadvantage. com through ATI for the automotive aftermarket.

Source: ATI

Colorado Proposes Generous EV Incentives For New Buyers

By Suvrat Kothari InsideEVs

Colorado could soon compete with California for maximum incentives offered on electric vehicle purchases. A new report indicates that Colorado EV buyers can save thousands of dollars on new and used EV purchases.

Gov. Jared Polis’ administration aims to add nearly 1 million lightduty EVs on Colorado’s streets by the end of the decade, a significant increase from the current 86,000 EVs now on its roads, reported Colorado Public Radio News.

To meet this ambitious target, buyers would need to begin adopting zero-emissions vehicles in the coming years, something the government plans to encourage with generous rebates.

Some of those incentives

vehicles for up to $6,000, and gain $5,500 in rebates from the electric utility and natural gas company Xcel Energy. And of course, the $7,500 federal tax credit is available nationwide.

A previous version of this article stated Colorado residents could combine all of the aforementioned incentives for a total of $26,500 in savings, but that’s not the case. The Colorado Energy Office told InsideEVs that “given the various requirements and limitations of each of these incentives, one individual would not currently be able to take advantage of all these incentives at once.”

The low-cost EV tax credit is applicable to cars priced under $35,000—and only a handful of options are available currently, including the soon-to-bediscontinued Chevrolet Bolt EV (although its successor is in

of up to $12,000 for hybrid and pure electric trucks. To qualify, the commercial vehicles must be new, registered in Colorado, have a battery capacity of at least four kilowatt-hours, and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds. Even the likes of the Hummer EV could qualify for this credit, given its GVWR of more than 9,000 pounds.

The $5,000 state tax credit isn’t new and has been around since 2018, but the additional incentives appear relatively new, which EV buyers can combine to obtain substantial savings.

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Stacey Phillips — Solving the Tech Shortage

Body Shop Owners Discuss Mentorship Programs Initiated with Support from Toby Chess

This is the second part of a twopart series. Check out the August 2023 issue of Autobody News or autobodynews.com to read about more shops in the program.

Toby Chess recalls planning a collision repair training day for about 80 high school students in Hawthorne, CA, 25 years ago. Since then, he’s had a passion for training young people and bringing them into the collision industry.

About two years ago, he was visiting a body shop and a newer employee was asked by his supervisor to sweep floors and do menial tasks.

“I asked his supervisor why he didn’t buy him some tools so he could feel part of the team,” said Chess, who ultimately bought tools for the budding technician. “The expression on his face was unbelievable.”

Fast forward to the present and Chess said shops are in the same predicament as they were when it comes to hiring and retaining staff.

“We all need technicians,” said Chess. “We’ve been talking about that for years but what are shops doing about it?”

Chess stresses the importance of keeping young people engaged and setting a career path for them.

“It’s critical to find ways to motivate these young people and keep them engaged or they won’t stay,” said Chess, who embarked on a project to encourage independent shop owners to initiate mentorship programs.

Chess supplies a set of tools to the helper and asks shop owners to provide toolboxes. He also shares best practices documents he created that the mentor and mentee can follow to help standardize the repair and can be used in conjunction with OEM repair procedures and proper personal protective equipment. These include repair planning, corrosion protection, bumper repair, vehicle measuring and glue tab dent repair.

“We have to take steps to give back to the industry and address the technician shortage,” said Chess. “Otherwise, nothing will change.”

As a long-term instructor with I-CAR for more than 25 years, Chess reached out to the organization about the program. I-CAR is offering support to his endeavors and working with him to amplify his efforts.

“I-CAR is proud to support the efforts of leaders in our industry, like Toby, who are making strides to foster a learning culture and growth

mindset in our shops—particularly with new technicians,” said Dara Goroff, I-CAR’s vice president of planning and industry talent programming. “It’s an exciting time to be a professional in collision repair and we want to highlight the purpose new technicians find within it when they’re presented with opportunities that contribute to a complete, safe and quality repair for the safety of their customers.”

Six shops in Southern California shared information about the support Chess has provided with their mentorship programs, supplying tools to mentees and training. Here is what the second three shop owners had to say.

European Motor Car Works

In the 1970s, Kye Yeung enrolled in an auto body and paint course at the local community college to repair his car and didn’t realize it would become a lifelong passion. He opened European Motor Car Works in Costa Mesa, CA, in 1975 when he was 20, just out of college.

involved in organizations such as the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). He has been part of both organizations for more 15 years.

Yeung met Chess and wellrespected shop owner March Taylor when they visited his facility in 2005.

When Taylor passed away, Chess asked if Yeung would like to take his place on the CIC Technical Committee.

“We went on to spearhead the SCRS Educational Committee and founded the Kool Tools of SEMA videos and presentations,” said Yeung. “We are lifelong friends and I have the greatest respect for him.”

Jim & Jack’s Collision Center

Jim & Jack’s Collision Center in El Segundo, CA, was established in 1967. Many of the employees at the family-owned and operated facility have been with the company for more than 15 years.

he said.

Kizirian has known Chess for 25 years.

“There isn’t anyone I have met who is so passionate about the industry and to help in any way possible,” said Kizirian. “Toby will always go the extra mile to help a friend or technician in need and I’m extremely fortunate to know him as a colleague and a friend!”

Marina Auto Body

Tom Williamson, owner of Marina Auto Body, operates three locations, Marina Del Rey, Inglewood and Huntington Beach, CA. The company has 49 employees and is a Lexus Authorized Collision Center as well as the collision center for Toyota of Huntington Beach and Lexus of Westminster.

He currently has 25 employees, many of whom are family members who have been with the company for more than 20 years; the longest is 39 years. These include his daughters Nichole and Jennifer, his son-in-law Mike Hubbard and grandson Connor Many of other employees have relatives who also work at the shop.

Yeung has put many processes in place to help hire and retain technicians. These include maintaining a healthy work environment, giving employee bonuses for referrals, offering top pay and the necessary tooling to perform tasks, and providing OEM training to allow constant growth.

“We keep them interested by diversifying what they do day-to-day,” said Yeung. “Having them work in different departments allows us to gauge where they are most proficient.”

He stresses the importance of the industry working together to address the technician shortage and getting

Richie Kizirian’s uncles, Jim and Jack, gave him opportunity to run the business in 2003 and implement innovative ideas.

“Customer service is our No. 1 priority,” said Kizirian. “We have serviced the South Bay communities for over 56 years and have become a household name to our clientele.”

The company has 18 OEM certifications and prides itself on having friendly management who ensure everyone feels like family.

Kizirian has taken many steps to hire and retain technicians. These include providing a clean work environment, investing in tools and OEM certifications, paying above market rate to ensure staff has financial stability and providing benefits such as paid vacations, health insurance and a 401K.

Kizirian said it is critical the industry supports local trade schools.

“Quality technicians are depleting and providing support to new talent is the only way to combat the shortage,”

Williamson acknowledges the challenge and expense of hiring, training and retaining technicians.

“We all know the industry is aging out,” he said. “The shortage of skilled labor has had a negative impact on all trades.”

To help meet the challenge, Williamson said he offers a good wage, benefits, clean, well-equipped shops and training.

He hired a recent tech, Brandon Candelaria, after meeting him at a local car show. The two discussed their mutual interest in Pontiacs and Williamson learned Candelaria was taking auto body classes at a community college. He asked him to come and work at Marina Auto Body and offered to compensate Candelaria for learning and supply him with tools as he continued to show growth.

“He is a future super star of the industry,” said Williamson.

Williamson is appreciative of the tools Chess supplied Candelaria. Throughout their long friendship, Williamson said Chess has always been available to share training and repair techniques.

“He has been supportive with trainees by supplying basic hand tools, training and encouragement for the trainee,” he said.

Pictured, left to right, are Kye Yeung, Connor Kelly and Mike Hubbard of European Motor Car Works.

Richie Kizirian, center, is pictured with Henry Mejia, left, and his son, Fernando, right, who joined Jim & Jack’s Collision Center in 2022 and is being mentored by his father to become a technician.

Brandon Candelaria, left, and Cyndi Osthus, right, Marina Auto Body manager.

average backlog was 4.7 weeks in Q2 2023, down from 5.8 weeks the prior quarter.

“Prior to the pandemic, the typical second quarter decline in backlog was about three days. This year, the drop was almost eight days, and the percentage of shops that could schedule a job in two weeks or less increased 14 percentage points to 27%,” Yoswick continued. “While that is the highest percentage of shops with a ‘normal’ backlog since October of 2021, it is still far from the prepandemic second quarter average of 72 percent. Nearly half of all shops (46%) were still scheduling work four or more weeks into the future. That is a significant decline from 60% in the first quarter of this year, but also far from the typical 7% with that length of backlog pre-pandemic.”

According to PartsTrader’s Chief Innovation Officer Greg Horn, “The overall Q2 2023 measure of median plus two standard deviations of delivery days for all part types was actually lower overall in Q2 2023 compared to Q2 2022; several statelevel increases align with the LOR results. States that saw increases in overall LOR in Enterprise’s data, such

as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Minnesota, also saw similar trends when comparing parts delivery days. Parts delays are still a significant factor in repair time and length of rental, and shops are making a great effort to schedule repairs for drivable vehicles to maximize shop throughput.”

It’s also important to consider the impact from the luxury segment, both ICE and EV.

Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance for Mitchell International, shared some insight: “Luxury make repair frequency increased nearly half a point to 13.28% of all repairable estimates in Q2 2023 compared to Q2 2022 (12.79%). On average, luxury vehicle estimates are written for nearly two additional labor hours (1.83) compared to common make vehicles, as well as an additional 1.3 replacement parts.”

Mandell also shared an important consideration about calibrations, which impact overall repair time: “The frequency of ADAS calibrations increased from 11.28% in Q2 2022 to 16.11% in Q2 2023.”

Drivable

For rentals associated with drivable repairs, LOR in Q2 2023 was 15.5 days, a 0.3-day increase. Alaska also had the highest drivable LOR in Q2 2023 at 18.8 days. Georgia (18.6),

Tennessee (17.8) and Louisiana (17.7) were the next-highest.

The lowest drivable LOR for was found in North Dakota (10.5), Hawaii (11.3), Iowa (11.6) and D.C. (11.8)

The highest year-over-year drivable increases were found in Minnesota (+1.6), Alaska (+1.5) and New Mexico (+1.2). Three other states (Washington, Arkansas and Utah) had increases of one day or more. A total of 39 states had drivable increases, with only three flat and eight states, plus D.C., showing drivable decreases.

Non-Drivable

LOR for non-drivable claims was 25.6, a 0.8-day decrease from Q2 2022.

Montana had the highest LOR at 36.0 days, a 3.1-day increase. Next highest was Alaska (35.4), followed by Colorado (32.2). All told, eight states had non-drivable LOR greater than 30 days, with six more states at 28 days or higher. Oregon (31.5) had the highest increase at 3.3 days.

Positively, only 13 states had non-drivable LOR increases, while 37 states plus D.C. had decreases. Compare this to Q2 2022, when every single state and D.C. had an increase of at least 1.2 days.

The lowest non-drivable LOR belonged to New York at 21.1 days, followed by D.C. (21.2), Iowa (21.6) and Nebraska (21.9).

Delaware had the highest decrease, down 3.4 days. Rhode Island (-3.2), D.C. (-2.5) and Indiana (-2.4) also saw significant decreases.

Yoswick also offered some insights from his latest survey regarding repair and supplement approval times: “From about 500 shops who responded to a CRASH Network survey in June, the average time those shops spend waiting for a supplement approval hit another record high in 2023, approaching times that are nearly double what they were pre-pandemic. Shops say they are waiting 4.9 days on average for an insurer to complete an in-shop inspection to approve repairs. Prior to 2020, that time was just 2.9 days. Wait times for a remote desk review—or ‘virtual inspections’—are averaging 4.3 days, almost two full days longer than the 2.4-day average reported in 2018.”

According to the CRASH Network results, shops cite approval times— along with some continued parts availability issues—as contributing to having more jobs at some stage in process, a factor that generally cuts into overall productivity.

Among the shops who shared data in CRASH Network’s June survey, the average shop had work in process (WIP) equal to 66% of their typical monthly volume. That’s down from the fourth quarter of 2022 when

shops’ WIP was averaging 78% of their monthly volume. But the average WIP is still higher than it was a year earlier when shops’ WIP averaged 59% of their typical monthly volume.

Total Loss

For rentals associated with total loss claims, LOR was 16.5 days, a 0.8-day decrease over Q2 2022.

While Alaska had the highest results at 25.3 days (+5.1 days), the next highest was Kentucky at 20.3 days, followed by Montana at 20.0 days.

D.C. had the lowest total loss LOR at 13.5 days, followed by Nebraska at 14.5 days.

Total Loss LOR varied greatly; excluding Alaska, the highest increases were Wyoming at +2.2 days and Maine at +2.1 days. Twenty states (less Aalaska) had an increase of 0.9days on average. However, 29 states plus D.C. had an average decrease of 1.6 days, with 17 states plus D.C. down an average of 2.2 days.

Summary

As the numbers show, the trend of

“predictable” seasonal LOR continues. The LOR decrease is positive, and many repairers are finding ways to anticipate and operate in the new normal. However, challenging market conditions remain, and overall LOR remains significantly higher than it was pre-pandemic.

Enterprise is committed to partnering with insurers, repairers and suppliers on all of the issues impacting repair times and LOR. Through foundational support provided by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Enterprise is spearheading the Collision Engineering Program, designed to attract and develop entry-level talent to fill essential roles within the collision repair industry.

Enterprise is thrilled to expand its longtime partnership with Ford Motor Company, through its philanthropic arm, the Ford Fund, to expand the program and help address this ongoing industry challenge. For more information, visit www. beacollisionengineer.com.

Source: Enterprise

Houston First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills Through NABC F.R.E.E. Program

More than 40 first responders from the Houston Fire Department and surrounding areas donned their rescue gear July 29 for a handson demonstration of the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication, preparing them to provide the best response for car accident victims in Houston, all thanks to CARSTAR Ambassador Collision Center, Allstate Insurance, Genesis Rescue Systems and the National Auto Body Council® (NABC) First Responder Emergency Education (F.R.E.E.)™ program.

CARSTAR Ambassador Collision Center in Houston hosted the first responders for the education and guidance program, to help ensure Houston drivers have the best prepared response in case of an accident.

Today’s vehicles are equipped with numerous airbags, advanced technology and innovative safety systems that keep drivers safer in case of an accident. But, these same safety advantages make

it harder for first responders to rescue those drivers and passengers. Add to that the potential challenge presented by electric and hybrid engines, and first responders need a whole new arsenal of rescue tools and procedures.

The NABC F.R.E.E. program helps prepare local first responder teams to rescue accident victims from these latemodel vehicles. The program provides education and live demonstrations on working with high-strength steel, airbags, advanced restraint systems, onboard technology and safety around alternative fuel vehicles. Since it was founded, it has provided education for more than 5,000 first responders.

Allstate Insurance provided the vehicles, and Genesis Rescue Systems supplied the classroom education and extrication demonstration.

Source: NABC

SCRS Executive Director Responds To Criticism of Right To Repair Pact Signed

With Automakers

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

On July 11, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), the Auto Service Association (ASA) and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation announced they had signed a “landmark agreement on automotive right to repair,” reaffirming a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding stating independent repair facilities shall have access to the same diagnostic and repair information automakers make available to authorized dealers.

Later that same day, the Auto Care Association (ACA) and CAR Coalition released statements criticizing the pact, calling it a “thinly veiled attempt to confuse lawmakers and drivers” from federal right to repair bills currently being considered by Congress, including the REPAIR and SMART acts.

“While the agreement purports to be relevant, all it does is affirm the 2014 MOU rather than implement a meaningful solution to preserve the entire automotive aftermarket and the competition and consumer choice that it creates,” ACA said in its statement.

dealers. The foundation of that agreement is the fact that we’re all working toward the same goal.

It wasn’t about replicating the 2014 agreement; it was about collaborative work between organizations that have built a trust all trying to accomplish the same thing.

Access to information, data, tools, equipment and procedures for collision repairers is critical in performing proper repairs. The agreement is an acknowledgment that we all believe—SCRS, ASA and the alliance and all the automakers it represents—that consumers deserve a safe, proper repair and that independent repair facilities should be and are able to access the information that’s necessary to do that.

I’m not sure I understand how or why any organization that claims to support right to repair would dismiss or oppose an agreement that reinforces that position. If we’re truly interested in or in favor of the right to repair, an agreement that enforces that independent repair facilities will continue to have access to the information they need to perform the repairs—the same diagnostics—this should be a good thing, and it’s odd that it’s not.

Q:Is the pact taking away focus from the REPAIR and SMART acts? Is it meant to be in place of or in addition to those laws, should they be passed?

opportunities with, in our opinion, an emphasis on upholding quality and safety standards, training, proper equipment, to perform repairs as designed by engineers. And the consumer choice has been more limited by proponents of other initiatives.

I’ll give you an example. The CAR Coalition is comprised of used and aftermarket parts groups, alternative parts sourcing platforms and insurance companies. All those groups, interestingly enough, have been waving this banner claiming to be in support of consumer choice and right to repair because independent businesses are being deprived of the information needed to fix the cars properly. But all of those companies have a financial interest in pushing consumers to the cheapest possible repair. Many of those businesses have also opposed initiatives that would hold repairers accountable to using the data already made available to them.

Again, our agreement is that independent repair facilities should continue to have access to the same diagnostics and repair information available to automakers’ dealers.

It’s a win for consumers, a win for the industry to affirm a commitment for that. We view it as a genuinely positive commitment for our members and their consumers.

Q: What is SCRS’ position on the REPAIR and SMART acts?

A: There are some concerns on our end, specifically around the proponents. The SMART Act is one [SCRS] has had conversations about in the past. We do not support it. We do believe in intellectual property rights. [The SMART Act] is not in consumers’ best interests for entities looking to create the cheapest possible option for safe and proper repairs, so we have not supported that.

Q: What is the response to the criticism the pact doesn’t address safety and security of the telematic data?

A:We specifically said telematics systems would not be used to circumvent the commitments made in the agreement, that automakers will provide access to diagnostic data to the extent it’s needed to complete a repair. The safety and security of that data is an obligation the automakers have in their compliance with safety standards.

On July 18, Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS, spoke about the criticism in an exclusive interview with Autobody News.

Q:What is the response to the ACA and CAR Coalition’s concerns about the pact?

A:Last week was an announcement between repairer organizations and automakers, who provide information and data necessary for repairs, that established independent repair facilities should have access to the same information available to

A:[The pact] is meant to be in recognition of our members’ needs. I can tell you the independent repair facilities we represent are not coming to SCRS saying they are struggling to gain access to tools or data needed to fix these vehicles correctly. What they are struggling with is downward pressure through insurance claims practices and others, that place challenges on them and their consumers and discourage the use, in many cases, of the available repair data.

It’s interesting because many of those proponents of the REPAIR Act don’t often act in the marketplace as if they support the use of OEM information in the process of repairs.

That’s part of the challenge here—you’ve got this scenario where automakers have really worked closely with SCRS and the independent collision repair community to develop repair

Q:ACA pointed out the pact is non-binding, doesn’t include some automakers, like Tesla, or compel any to join. What is the response to that?

A:It is an agreement. The nature of it, when you make public commitments, is that people are going to hold you accountable to them. It is true that agreement is between SCRS, ASA and the alliance, which has its direct members. SCRS only represents the collision group.

The agreement is not one we took lightly. It’s been under development. It’s one we all anticipate being held accountable to and one we all anticipate living up to as well.

I think the challenges of the authenticity of the agreement are just misguided to be frank. I certainly think that groups that truly believe there should be a right to repair for independent facilities should be championing it rather than casting aspersions at it.

Our interest as a representative of the collision repair group is to make sure our members have access to the information they need to perform those repairs properly. I would encourage talking to the alliance specifically about their concerns of safeguarding that information. It’s a pretty critical point of their conversations at the state level, making sure that info isn’t just open to anyone.

Relative to the SMART Act, there’s nothing in it that addresses safety concerns and that’s one of our biggest objections—vehicles are often one of a family’s biggest purchases, but the people who occupy it are irreplaceable. It’s important safety be prioritized in these conversations because consumers expect proper repairs, which are not a given. But to consumers, a collision repair should assure their vehicle is restored to the same condition as before that accident, and the safety systems will operate the same.

I think there’s just a lack of focus on how we restore the consumer, and much of the initiative is how we protect the companies that would otherwise benefit from consumers being pushed to cheaper, imitation parts.

Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS, is seen here speaking at an SCRS board meeting earlier this year.

Hollyann Lampkin Wins Car Painting Competition At WorldSkills Barbados

Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) student Hollyann Lampkin made history at the WorldSkills Barbados (WSB) 2023 Competition by becoming the first woman to win the maledominated Car Painting skills competition, using products from NOROO Paint Barbados.

Lampkin is now eligible to compete at the upcoming International WorldSkills competition in France in 2024.

Lampkin was one of 22 students who competed in the sixth edition of the biennial WorldSkills Barbados Competition, which took place June 20-22 and 24-25. The closing awards ceremony took place June 29 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), Two Mile Hill, St. Michael.

The SJPI Vehicle Body Repair student took the gold medal with a score of 81%, followed by silver medalist Shaquon

Walthrust with a score of 77% and Shaquon Harewood , who took the bronze with 74%.

The final score for each competitor is a combination of the scores awarded by judges during the competition and the scores earned from the Competitors Development Programme prior to the competition. One element of the competition is paint mixing, where competitors are judged on accuracy and wastage.

Hollyann Lampkin winner of the WorldSkills Barbados (WSB) 2023 Competition

ASE Instructor Training Conference a Huge Success

The 2023 ASE Instructor Training Conference, held in July in Concord, NC, welcomed hundreds of high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs nationwide, where they had the opportunity to participate in a wide array of sessions conducted by the transportation industry’s leading trainers and instructors.

“This year’s instructor training conference was a huge success, from the instructional sessions to the networking opportunities to the informational resources that instructors can integrate into their automotive programs,” said Mike Coley, president of the ASE Education Foundation. “The attendees heard from experienced OE and aftermarket trainers, enjoyed a keynote speech by Eric Chester and learned about ‘Revving up Diversity in the Classroom’ from Bogi Lateiner.”

Hosted by the ASE Education Foundation, the four-day annual conference is the largest of its

kind. In addition to training and motivational sessions, attendees had time to network with their peers from across the country and share best practices.

Also on the agenda was Chester’s keynote speech, “Building Rockets That Fly: Ensuring the Success of our Graduates,” focused on ways to help graduates of automotive educational programs to succeed in their careers. In addition, Lateiner shared ways to enhance diversity in automotive programs with a standing-roomonly audience.

“Being together under one roof gave the attendees the opportunity to learn, interact and focus on the future,” said Coley. “We want to thank the subject matter experts who shared their knowledge and expertise with the instructors and the conference sponsors who helped make this exceptional educational event possible.”

Source: ASE Education Foundation

Colorado Springs Auto Repair Shop Gifts Car To New U.S. Citizen

By Rachel Saurer FOX21 News

A new U.S. citizen received a vital tool to help her pursue her American dream.

“I’m so excited. They changed my life,” said Adela Martin On Aug. 9, Adam & Son auto repair in Colorado Springs, CO, presented Martin with a used car.

“We are helping somebody get into transportation. So, she can keep her job, stay employed versus losing her job,” said Dan Adam, founder and owner of Adam & Son.

Martin moved to the U.S. when she was 16 to find work to help support her three brothers and sister who came with her, as well as send money back to her parents still in Guatemala.

“I have two jobs and I do school, and I support my family,” Martin said.

Through the Stranded Motorist Fund, Adam & Son has donated 12 vehicles and given back

$150,000 in services since 2020.

“This project is a huge joy and passion of mine,” Adam said. “It gives me a sense of purpose, rather just than being just a business owner that owns an auto repair shop, and we conduct business by doing this. I feel like I can make a difference in somebody’s life.”

Adam said they are one of the only social impact auto repair shops in the nation.

“It’s so great to have employees that have a sense of purpose in coming to work every day and knowing what they do has an impact on our community,” Adam said.

Now, the impact has extended to Martin, who just became a U.S. citizen and is ready to pursue her American dream.

“I want to finish my GED,” Martin said. “And that is my plan. And they give me this car now and I have more chance.”

www.autobodynews.com

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

COLORADO NEW MEXICO TEXAS

Mike Maroone Honda

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888-431-0294

719-785-5045

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

Mile High Honda Denver

800-548-4730

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

Honda of Harvey Harvey

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Walker Honda Alexandria

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AutoNation Honda

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

Honda of San Marcos San Marcos

866-392-1313

512-392-1313

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

McDavid Honda Irving Irving

800-492-4464

972-790-6003

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

Northside Honda

San Antonio

800-727-8705

210-340-0831

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

Rusty Wallis Honda Dallas

877-466-3272

214-328-3891

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

COLORADO

Mile High Acura

Denver

800-548-4730

303-369-7800

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

Acura of Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

866-733-2861

225-756-6166

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

Walker Acura

Metairie

800-359-8555

504-465-8555

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

Autonation Acura League City

800-749-6227

713-371-4700

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

Hiley Acura Fort Worth

888-454-0947

817-809-7762

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

Sterling McCall Acura Houston

713-596-2337

713-596-2338

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

Team Gillman Acura

Houston

833-738-3637

281-209-4200

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

Jody Wilkinson Acura

Salt Lake City

800-234-0875

801-323-0492

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

Mike Hale Acura

Murray

800-292-4595

801-263-0202

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

TEXAS LOUISIANA

New Report Shows Full-Size Trucks Have Highest Theft Rate

According to analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the insurance industry’s association dedicated to predicting, preventing and prosecuting insurance crime, vehicles with the highest theft rate last year were full-size pickups. These vehicles made up more than 25% of the thefts reported in 2022, a decrease from a high of 33% in 2021.

While vehicle theft rates have been soaring since the start of the pandemic, recovery rates have also risen. More than 85% of passenger vehicles reported stolen in 2022 were subsequently recovered by law enforcement or other means, with 34% recovered within a day of the vehicle being reported stolen.

“Approximately one motor vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds, which adds up to more than 1 million vehicles stolen last year,” said David J. Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB. “Vehicle theft disrupts lives, causes financial hardship, and undermines community safety. Addressing this problem is not just the responsibility of law enforcement agencies; it requires a partnership between vehicle

owners, community members, as well as federal, state and local governments.”

Vehicle theft rates for sedans, including Honda, Hyundai and Kia, followed those of full-size pickups, with recovery rates for Hyundais and Kias between 87% and 95%. Social media trends were a likely factor in their high theft rankings in 2022.

“There are some commonsense steps to keep cars from being stolen. First, remove valuables from the vehicle or lock them out of sight. Next, lock the doors, roll the windows all the way up, and don’t leave your keys or key fob in the car,” Glawe said. Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles by 2022 Total Thefts

1. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size), 49,903

2. Ford Pickup (Full Size), 48,175

3. Honda Civic, 27,113

4. Honda Accord, 27,089

5. Hyundai Sonata, 21,707

6. Hyundai Elantra, 19,602

7. Kia Optima, 18,221

8. Toyota Camry, 17,094

9. GMC Pickup (Full Size), 16,622

10.Honda CR-V, 13,832Source: NICB

Carvana Launches Same-Day Vehicle Delivery in Arizona

By Autoremarketing Staff

Buying a car is not like ordering a pizza. But for some Carvana customers, the delivery time might be getting close.

The nation’s largest online used-car retailer has launched same-day delivery to select customers who order a vehicle in Arizona, with plans to expand the service to select markets nationwide in the coming months.

“Carvana’s new same-day vehicle delivery option is just one example of how we’re constantly evolving to deliver an even better auto retail experience,” Carvana Senior Director of Finance Matt Dundas said in a news release.

“Customers have already come to expect the ease, transparency and convenience of online ordering and financing from Carvana,” Dundas said. “Now many can also expect same-day delivery speed on thousands of vehicles in their area. It’s now possible to have a vehicle in your

driveway before your Amazon order arrives.”

Carvana said the service is possible because of its extensive infrastructure—including a nationwide network of inspection and reconditioning centers and a strong logistics fleet— combined with its digitally native purchasing and underwriting that has simplified and accelerated important elements of the online car-buying process.

The company said its new same-day process allows customers to make a vehicle purchase, get pre-qualified and approved online in as little as two to three minutes and have the new car dropped off—and the old one taken away if the customer is selling or trading it in—in a matter of hours.

SRSSIDEAIRBAG COUSSINGONFLABLELATÉRAL (SRS)

VEHICLEEMISSIONCONTROLINFORMATION

Conformstoregulations:2016 MY California: Not for sale in states with California emissions standards.

U.S.EPA:T2B4 LDV

TWC/HO2S/WR-HO2S/CAC/TC/DFI

2.3L-Group:GFMXV02.3VJW

Fuel:Gasoline ABZ

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Evap:GFMXR0125NBV

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andcargoshouldneverexceed352kgor776lbs.

Aug. 7 is the single deadliest day of the year to drive American roads, according to a new interactive crash map commissioned by Nextbase, the world’s leading dash cam brand.

The Nextbase Interactive Crash Map—which will debut Aug. 9 at nextbase.com/crash-map— brings to life the latest available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), allowing users to easily view fatal crash counts across the U.S. by locality (state, county, region) and time period (week, day, second), raising awareness of the dangers we all face when stepping into a vehicle.

“Our mission at Nextbase is to leverage information technology to make the world’s roads safer for everyone,” said Bryn Brooker, head of road safety for Nextbase. “The Nextbase Interactive Crash Map is a tool for data analysis and visualization that we hope will inspire more Americans to place greater focus and effort on safe driving.”

Nextbase’s analysis of the 39,500 crashes reported by

NHTSA during 2021 found 177 crashes occurred on Aug. 7, more than on any other day across all 12 months of that year. Although on-road dangers are frequently associated with major holidays and expected increases in drunk driving incidents, or with the treacherous conditions of winter snow and ice, five of the top 10 most deadly driving days on American roads occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the unofficial bookends of summer and the summer driving season.

Drunk, drugged, distracted and drowsy driving and, of course, speeding are all major factors that contribute to car crashes across the U.S., and NHTSA estimates traffic fatalities rose once again in early 2022.

Source: Nextbase

Traffic Deaths in Arizona Increase For 3rd Year in a Row

By Lauren Scott The Center Square

Traffic deaths in Arizona rose for the third consecutive year, increasing 8.6% in 2022 compared to 2021.

According to the state’s annual report on motor vehicle crashes on all roads, including local streets, there were 1,294 traffic fatalities across the state last year. Injuries from crashes totaled 52,411.

Figures show crashes associated with speeding resulted in most of the deaths and injuries.

“Pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcyclist deaths all increased last year,” according to a July 31 news release. “Overall, the 2022 traffic fatality total is the second-highest ever recorded in Arizona and only slightly behind the 1,301 deaths recorded in 2006. The number of traffic fatalities in the state has gone up every year since 2019.”

There was a 16.2 % increase in pedestrian deaths in 2022

compared to 2021, totaling 302.

There were 228 motorcyclist fatalities in crashes during 2022, a 36.5% increase.

“Nearly three times as many motorcycle crashes involved riders and passengers wearing helmets, yet 42% of the fatalities in which authorities could determine helmet use involved riders and passengers who weren’t wearing helmets,” according to the news release.

There were 223 fatalities and 3,538 injuries in crashes related to alcohol, accounting for 17.2% and 6.8% of the totals, respectively.

In 2022, a total of 119,991 crashes happened in Arizona, according to the 2022 Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report.

The Arizona Department of Transportation produces the annual Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report, which is a compilation of traffic crash reports provided by law enforcement agencies around the state, according to the news release.

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BMW Is I-CAR

Sustaining Partner

I-CAR announced July 21 that BMW of North America joined I-CAR’s Sustaining Partner Program, designed for partners to demonstrate advocacy and provide funding for I-CAR’s work executed across the industry, which have lessened the need for price increases in an era of high inflation.

The program was also established to provide partners access to the complete array of I-CAR’s relevant technical education and service resources and benefits OEM partners with talent engagement and cost mitigation for collision repair facilities adhering to network training requirements.

Sustaining partners help fund I-CAR curriculum and student fees in career and technical schools, which have become I-CAR fixed training sites; that funding exceeds $3 million since 2018. Sustaining partners also fund all Industry Training Alliance training credits since the end of 2019 for individuals who train with curriculum from approved Industry Training Alliance partners, amounting to significant savings plus the elimination of redundant training for those individuals and businesses.

Source: I-CAR

l CONTINUED FROM COVER

‘Uber Of Auto Care’

change among Erick and his brother, Timmothy, who co-founded TinMan Automotive in Denton, TX, alongside friend Adam Macias. The mobile auto repair company is hoping to bring transparency to the industry—TinMan mechanics use body cameras to document the diagnostic and repair processes from start to finish, with the footage and repair notes available digitally to customers. Customers enjoy a completely customizable experience, Erick said, with the ability to select their preferred technician and parts brand.

With customer satisfaction in the industry ranking among the lowest for the past two decades, Erick said trust is something TinMan is aimed at bringing back to the art of auto repair.

“The automotive industry as a whole has neglected consumers,” Erick said. “There hasn’t been a viable alternative to force them to start earning customers’ hard-earned money until now.”

Among the industry practices that create issues for consumers is a focus on speed over accuracy, Erick said, often leading to mistakes that create further issues for car owners. And

technicians are often encouraged to upsell, leading customers to feel uncertain as to whether a prescribed repair is really needed.

Since TinMan is mobile, technicians can take their time to diagnose and repair properly while customers wait in the comfort of their homes, according to Erick. The company’s mobile model also allows it to offer lower prices since there’s less overhead—prices are about 2.5 times lower than the national average, the company claims. But that doesn’t mean they’re shortchanging repair professionals, either; techs start at $51 per hour, earning more for luxury vehicle repairs.

With a model similar to services like Uber or Lyft, techs are independent contractors who choose which jobs to take based on their availability, expertise and location. Most are mobile mechanics

already, Erick said, so connecting them to TinMan’s system is seamless. Just as the company’s a la carte repair menu allows customers to get the experience they want, giving techs flexibility means burnt-out repair techs aren’t rushing through car care and making costly mistakes.

It’s all part of the company’s mission to make repairs less stressful, expensive and disruptive, according to Erick.

“Knowledge about vehicles isn’t a complicated thing so I think by putting that in the customer’s hands, they have the ability to have more power and protect themselves before a small issue becomes a big issue,” Erick said.

TinMan has technicians in Denton as well as major metro areas in Texas including Dallas, Austin and Houston. To schedule service, visit tinmanmto. com.

A

new study,

“Auto

Insurance:

The Uncertain Road Ahead,” released July 19 by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), revealed insurance claims inflation has continued to rise faster than the underlying consumer price index (CPI), far outpacing increases in auto insurance premiums.

The combination of rapidly increasing overall economic inflation and claims inflation has driven up auto insurance losses and combined ratios.

“In addition to inflation trends, the private passenger auto insurance sector is also experiencing several other trends such as increased frequency and severity of claims cost, riskier driving behavior by the public, cost increases for medical and hospital services, and outsized growth in lawsuit verdicts and legal system abuses, that are negatively impacting and pressuring the industry with increased losses,” said Robert Passmore , department vice president for APCIA and coauthor of the paper.

Key Data Findings

APCIA found that losses on underwriting in 2022 for private U.S. property casualty insurers were $25.6 billion, more than double the losses in 2021 and the worst result since 2011.

Private passenger auto insurance experienced the highest direct loss ratio among major lines of business at 80.2% (excluding loss adjustment expenses) in 2022, which represented an increase of 12.2 points from 2021 and 24.1 points from the low-water mark of pandemic-impacted 2020.

U.S. private passenger vehicle damage claim severity (i.e., the average cost per claim for property damage liability and collision) increased nearly 50% from 2018 to 2022, impacted by rising auto repair and labor costs, inflation and theft rates, among other things. Over the same period, average bodily injury claim severity increased 40%, reflecting an acceleration in medical inflation, legal system abuse and a sharp increase in deadly motor vehicle accidents.

Due To Inflation, Other

Property casualty insurers’ premiums for personal auto increased just 6% for the year, far below the 24% rate of escalating losses.

accelerating from May’s 4.5% increase. It was the sixth-straight monthly increase.

“All indicators suggest elevated auto repair and replacement costs will stretch well into 2023 and potentially beyond,” said Passmore. “Medical inflation is also accelerating. Although insurers continue to monitor the situation closely, as claim costs continue to rise, insurers may be forced to pass these loss costs along to policyholders.

The Motor Vehicle Insurance CPI compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics includes a basket of goods and services auto insurers require to settle claims, and the June figure was up 6% year-over-year,

“Given the trends, insurers are strongly encouraging drivers to minimize their risk by avoiding risky driving behaviors that may result in a loss,” Passmore continued. “Insurers are also advocating for better infrastructure, including reliable supply chains for critical auto parts and safer roads, which should result in fewer accidents and lower claims costs that help keep insurance premiums affordable for consumers.”

Source: American Property Casualty Insurance Association

“Insurers are also advocating for better infrastructure, including reliable supply chains for critical auto parts and safer roads, which should result in fewer accidents and lower claims costs that help keep insurance premiums affordable for consumers.” ROBERT PASSMORE

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BPG Announces ADAS

To address the industry-wide need for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibration in the automotive aftermarket, Burke Porter Group (BPG), a leading global supplier of OEM end-of-line testing solutions, on July 19 announced the creation of a new aftermarket business unit, expanding market opportunities for its ADAS calibration business.

Additionally, the company has appointed industry veteran Doug Kelly as president of the new division, to report to CEO Jeffrey Moss

An automotive and technology industry veteran of more than 20 years, Kelly will leverage his expertise as well as the company’s existing global OEM end-of-line leadership position, to establish strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders in the ADAS market segment. As car manufacturers increasingly look to innovate with new technologies and safety features, the complexity and challenge of servicing them increases exponentially.

Source: Burke Porter Group

Mitchell Report Details Collision Claim and Repair Differences Between EVs, ICE Vehicles

Mitchell, an Enlyte company, on Aug. 10 announced the availability of its Q2 2023 report: Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights.

The report highlights a continued increase in electric vehicle (EV) repairable claims frequency, which rose to 1.49% in the U.S. and 2.64% in Canada last quarter. It also documents the differences in claims severity, post-accident drivability and collision repair when comparing EVs to automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE).

“Not surprisingly, claims severity for repairable EVs is outpacing that of ICE alternatives,” said Ryan Mandell , director of claims performance at Mitchell. “However, the most recent data shows that EVs are less likely than ICE vehicles to be non-drivable following an accident. Despite greater interconnectivity between components, they have fewer moving parts. So, unless an EV gets hit from behind, it has a higher likelihood of drivability.

Differences like these will have a dramatic effect on the auto insurance and collision repair markets, given the recent growth in EV adoption.”

According to Cox Automotive, U.S. EV sales broke another record in Q2, with nearly 300,000 battery-electric vehicles sold, an increase of 48.4% over Q2 2022. While adoption may be slowing in Canada, the International Energy Agency predicts global EV sales of 14 million in 2023 with new purchases accelerating in the second half of the year.

In addition to tracking general EV collision claim trends such as frequency and geographic distribution, this quarter’s report includes up-to-date statistics on how EVs differ from ICE automobiles when it comes to:

Claims Severity: Average severity for all EVs was $963 higher in the U.S. and $1,328 higher in Canada than ICE alternatives. Those cost differentials jumped to $1,589 and $1,600 respectively when looking at Tesla models only.

OEM Parts Utilization and Percentage of Parts Repaired: Most EV parts are provided directly from the manufacturer, with 90.75% of repairable EVs using OEM parts as compared to 66.50% for ICE automobiles, a difference of 24.25%. Additionally, EV repairs include a lower percentage of parts repaired versus replaced: 13.49% versus 19.20% for ICEpowered options.

Average Refinish Hours: Labor hours for paint refinishing can be 40% of the total labor time for an average repair order— making them a key driver of collision claim expenses. In Q2, refinish hours for EVs averaged 8.51 compared to 8.02 for ICE automobiles.

To download the latest Plugged-In: EV Collision Insights report, visit www.mitchell. com. You can also subscribe to future issues or access previous reports online at www.mitchell. com/plugged-in.

Source: Mitchell

New Study Shows Disproportionate Effect of Credit Scores on Auto Insurance Rates

Consumer Federation of America (CFA) released a new report July 31 detailing the impact of auto insurers’ use of consumer credit information on good drivers with only fair or poor credit scores. Across the country, consumers with poor credit annually pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars more for the basic auto insurance coverage mandated by state laws.

The full report is available at consumerfed.org/wp-content/ uploads/2023/07/OfficialCFA-Credit-Score_2023-FINALREPORT.pdf

Auto insurance must, by law, be purchased by drivers in every state except New Hampshire. Therefore, policymakers and regulators have a special responsibility to ensure coverage is available and affordable and consumers do not experience unfair discrimination.

Since the 1990s, auto insurance companies have used consumer credit information as a factor in setting insurance premiums. The use of credit information in insurance pricing

results in significant differences in the cost of auto insurance, even when comparing otherwise similar customers with clean driving records and no history of claims.

For consumers with fair and poor credit, insurance premiums are often unaffordable due to the heavy emphasis most insurers place on the reported credit history of their customers.

The study focused on the impact of the use of credit on the prices charged to Americans with safe driving histories.

While CFA maintains the results of its evaluation of the pricing data should lead to legislative and regulatory reform of the auto insurance industry, the central finding of the report lies with the numbers themselves.

Namely:

• American consumers with clean driving records and excellent credit pay an average annual auto insurance premium of $470 for state-mandated coverages. If those same consumers instead have fair credit, their average

premium increases to $701, even if their driving records are perfect. Good drivers with poor credit face even higher premiums, averaging $1,012 for basic coverage across the country.

• In percentage terms, consumers with fair credit pay premiums that average 49% higher than the premiums paid by consumers with excellent credit. Consumers with poor credit pay 115% more than consumers with excellent credit and 44% more than those with fair credit.

• As credit impacts are generally uniform statewide but in-state territorial rates vary widely, often by ZIP code or census tract, drivers with fair and poor credit in higher priced urban communities face minimum limits insurance premiums that are often more than a thousand dollars higher than their neighbors with excellent credit.

Because credit history correlates to race and income, raising premiums on drivers with lower credit disproportionately harms low-income consumers and people of color.

In CFA’s conclusion, it argues state policymakers should prohibit insurers from using credit information in setting auto insurance rates as California, Hawaii and Massachusetts do currently. This ban, however, must be accompanied by additional protections that test for and minimize unfair discrimination to ensure the disparities driven by the use of credit are not maintained by the replacement of credit information with other underwriting and pricing tools that lead to similar results.

Source: CFA

Polyvance Reduces Price of Online Courses

Polyvance announced the immediate price reduction of its two paid online training courses, allowing more people to gain valuable knowledge about plastic repair. The PR-03 Headlight Repair Course is now $29 and the EPR-01 Estimating Plastic Repair Course is now $49.

The PR-03 Headlight Repair Course demonstrates the repair of broken headlight tabs using the nitrogen plastic welding system. It is about an hour long and demonstrates eight unique repairs.

The EPR-01 Estimating Plastic Repair course is designed to educate estimators on assessing the repairability of the numerous plastic components found on today’s vehicles. The course is divided into four modules and takes around two hours to complete.

The PR-03 and EPR-01 are available on Polyvance’s LMS, alongside the company’s two free Polyvance University training courses. More information on all Polyvance’s online courses can be found at polyvance. tortal.net or by emailing training@ polyvance.com.

Source: Polyvance

Next-Gen Chevrolet Bolt Confirmed, Will Use Ultium Tech

By Dan Mihalascu InsideEVs

The popular and affordable Chevrolet Bolt will live to see another day, as General Motors CEO Mary Barra confirmed a next-generation version of the Bolt is in the works.

This is a major announcement for the company and for fans of affordable EVs. Barra said the upcoming Bolt EV will be based on GM’s Ultium battery and drive technology and will continue to deliver what customers have come to expect from the nameplate: great affordability, range and technology.

“Our customers love today’s Bolt. It has been delivering record sales and some of the highest customer satisfaction and loyalty scores in the industry,” Barra said. “It’s also an important source of conquest sales for the company and for Chevrolet. We will keep the momentum going by delivering a new Bolt…and we will execute it more quickly compared to an allnew program with significantly lower engineering expense and

capital investment by updating the vehicle with Ultium and Ultifi technologies and by applying our ‘winning with simplicity’ discipline.”

Adopting various Ultium and Ultifi technological advancements will help GM bring the popular model back “on an accelerated timeline.” The automaker did not provide a launch timetable, but said timing and specific details about the next-gen Bolt will be announced at a later date.

General Motors did not say whether the future Bolt will offer two body styles as the current model does—hatchback (Bolt EV) and crossover (Bolt EUV). It did, however, release a teaser photo that shows a portion of the nextgen Bolt’s tailgate featuring the new badge for the nameplate with stylized lettering, including a lightning bolt on the letter O.

The shape of the tail light can also be detected from the shape of the stamped panel, and it looks like the next Bolt will get lower-set horizontal lamps at the rear.

The forthcoming Bolt will join Chevrolet’s growing lineup of all-

electric vehicles, including three launching this year: Silverado EV, Blazer EV and Equinox EV.

The official confirmation regarding the next-generation Chevy Bolt came after Barra in June hinted at the return of the Bolt entry-level EV in the near future.

“But, you know, Bolt is something that has built up a lot of loyalty and equity,” Barra said while speaking on NPR’s Marketplace podcast. “So I can’t say more because I don’t discuss future product programs. But, you know, it was primarily a move from second generation to third generation. But that’s [an] important vehicle in our portfolio.”

GM’s head honcho said the Ultium platform brings 40% lower battery costs compared to the second-generation battery used in the outgoing Bolt EV and EUV, which theoretically means the automaker could offer the next Bolt with a starting MSRP well below $30,000. The Bolt would therefore undercut the Equinox EV, expected to start around $30,000.

Honda Accord Shines, Other Midsize Cars Struggle in Rear-Seat Safety Test

The Honda Accord outperformed other midsize cars in the updated moderate overlap front crash test, earning a rare good rating in the new, challenging evaluation focused on rear-seat protection.

Among the other six midsize cars tested, the Subaru Outback earned an acceptable rating. The Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry were rated marginal. The Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5 and Volkswagen Jetta were rated poor.

“In most of the midsize cars we tested, the rear dummy slid forward, or ‘submarined,’ beneath the lap belt, causing it to ride up from the pelvis onto the abdomen and increasing the risk of internal injuries,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “In the three poorrated vehicles, measurements taken from the rear dummy also indicated likely injuries to the head or neck as well as to the chest.”

IIHS launched the updated moderate overlap front test last year after research showed in newer vehicles the risk of a fatal injury is now higher for belted occupants in the rear than for those in front. This is not because the rear seat

has become less safe. Rather, the front seat has become safer because of improved airbags and advanced seat belts that are rarely available in back. Even with these developments, the back seat remains the safest place for young children, who can be injured by an inflating front airbag.

To encourage manufacturers to improve rear-seat protection, the updated test adds a dummy in the back seat behind the driver. The driver dummy is the size of an average adult man. The rear dummy is the size of a small woman or 12-year-old child. IIHS researchers also developed new metrics that focus on the injuries most frequently seen in back-seat passengers.

For a vehicle to earn a good rating, there can’t be an excessive risk of injury to the head, neck, chest or thigh, as recorded by the secondrow dummy. The dummy should remain correctly positioned during the crash without submarining. The head should also remain a safe distance from the front seatback and the rest of the vehicle interior, and the shoulder belt should remain on the shoulder, where it is most

effective. A pressure sensor on the rear dummy’s torso is used to check the shoulder belt position during the crash.

As in the original test, the structure of the occupant compartment must maintain adequate survival space for the driver, and measurements taken from the driver dummy shouldn’t show an excessive risk of injuries.

All seven midsize cars provided good protection in the front seat. However, measurements indicated a slightly higher risk of injuries to the right leg or foot of the driver in the good-rated Accord.

The Accord provided stellar protection in the back seat. Measurements taken from the rear dummy showed no heightened risk of injuries, and the rear restraints did a good job controlling the dummy’s motion.

In contrast, submarining was a problem for the poor-rated K5 and Sonata, while in the Jetta the rear passenger’s head came too close to the front seatback. In all three poorrated cars, measurements taken from the rear dummy indicated likely injuries to the head or neck

and chest and excessive belt forces. In the K5 and Sonata, the rear shoulder belt also moved off the shoulder toward the neck.

In both the marginal-rated Altima and Camry, the rear dummy submarined beneath the lap belt, and the shoulder belt moved off the shoulder toward the dummy’s neck. In the Altima, injury measurements also indicated a moderate risk of head or neck injuries for the rear passenger.

Measurements taken from the rear dummy in the acceptablerated Outback didn’t show any elevated injury risks. However, the dummy submarined beneath the lap belt, and its head came close to the front seatback during the crash, increasing the likelihood of abdominal and head injuries. After impact, the dummy’s head also slipped between the side curtain airbag and contacted the rear window door trim as the dummy rebounded.

Source: IIHS

Cool Boss™ Releases Overhead Fans

Cool Boss™, a division of BendPak, expanded its product lineup beyond evaporative coolers with the new Tempest and Windstorm series of high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) industrial overhead fans, are designed to deliver optimized temperatures in large interior spaces while drastically reducing energy costs.

In commercial or industrial buildings, Cool Boss overhead fans create a more comfortable environment while maintaining low energy consumption. Running the fans counterclockwise in the summer provides the expected cooling effect. But it doesn’t stop there. In the winter, running the fans clockwise mixes heated air rising from below with cooler air sinking from above to provide an optimum temperature without running heaters as often—resulting in up to 30% energy savings.

Cool Boss HVLS fans are available in a range of sizes. Learn more at coolboss.com/large-hvlsindustrial-ceiling-fans or call (855) 2BE-COOL.

Source: Cool Boss

Car Insurance Rates Spike 17% in the First Half of 2023

The average annual cost of a car insurance policy surged $240 to $1,668 in the first six months of 2023, up from $1,428 in 2022. Prices will increase another 4% before the end of the year, according to Insurify’s latest auto insurance report. The report attributes these increases to insurers experiencing high losses as a result of soaring auto repair prices and the effects of climate change.

“Vehicle repair and maintenance costs have outpaced inflation and show no signs of slowing, leading insurers to increase auto insurance prices to keep up with the cost of higher claim payouts,” said Allie Feakins, Insurify’s senior vice president of insurance.

The report examines auto insurance price trends using Insurify’s own data of more than 79 million car insurance quotes, sourced directly from partnering insurance companies. It also reveals:

*Drivers are dropping coverage to keep car insurance costs affordable. The percentage of car insurance shoppers considering buying fullcoverage car insurance fell more than 50% in 2023, compared to 2022.

*Michigan still has the highest

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auto insurance costs in the country, with an average policy costing $231 a month. Michigan drivers spend about 4.4% of their household income on car insurance—the highest proportion of any state.

*Car insurance prices have climbed the highest in New Mexico, Nevada and New Jersey, with an average 34% increase in costs within the last six months

*Major insurers are pulling out of Florida and California, citing devastating hurricanes and wildfires that have led to heightened catastrophe risk and a high number of expensive claims.

In addition to impacting home insurance rates, climate change is now beginning to be a greater concern for auto insurers. As a result, drivers in California and Florida will see fewer options for car insurance as insurers begin pulling out of the state.

“The frequency and severity of natural disasters have led to some geographical areas experiencing different types of weather events from what they’ve seen before,” said Betsy Stella, Insurify’s vice president of carrier management

and operations. “More vehicles are being caught and destroyed in fires and floods, and ice is sticking around longer, increasing the likelihood of collisions. This has led to auto insurers paying a higher number of—and a higher price for—customer claims.”

Claims are also more difficult and expensive to fulfill, as the price of auto parts continues to surge, with the consumer price index for motor vehicle maintenance and repair showing double-digit increases every month since September 2022.

Given the high cost of auto repair prices and impact of climate change, insurers have experienced recordbreaking losses over the last year. The property and casualty insurance sector posted a net combined ratio of 111.8% in 2022, and drivers will continue to see higher prices as they renew coverage.

“Given the lag between regulator approvals and actual rate increases, consumers can expect rates to increase over the next 12 to 18 months. It’s more important now than ever to comparison shop,” Feakins said.

Source: Insurify

Crash Parts are close at hand from these quality

USDOT Proposes Updated Fuel Economy Standards

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on July 28 issued a proposal to update fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks. A 60-day public comment period will begin after the proposal is published in the Federal Register. As one of the range of options on which the agency is taking public comment, the preferred alternative in NHTSA’s proposal includes a 2% per year improvement in fuel efficiency for passenger cars, and a 4% per year improvement for light trucks, beginning in model year 2027 and ramping up through model year 2032, potentially reaching an average fleet fuel economy of 58 miles per gallon by 2032.

It also includes a 10% improvement per year for commercial pickup trucks and work vans (with gross vehicle weight ratings of more than 8,500 pounds and less than 14,001 pounds) beginning in model year 2030 and ramping up through model year 2035.

If finalized as proposed, the updated standards would save Americans hundreds of dollars at the pump, all while making America more energy secure and less reliant on foreign

oil. NHTSA estimates the combined benefits of its proposal exceed costs by more than $18 billion by:

• Saving consumers more than $50 billion on fuel over the vehicles’ lifetimes.

• Reducing U.S. dependence on oil by saving more than 88 billion gallons of gasoline through 2050.

• Preventing more than 900 million tons of CO2 emissions—the equivalent of taking more than 233 million vehicles off the road from 2022 through 2050.

NHTSA will engage with a broad set of stakeholders during the public comment period, including consumers, unions, automakers, states, environmental groups and others. The proposal would also drive fuel efficiency improvements for heavy-duty pickup trucks and work vans. “Better vehicle fuel efficiency means more money in Americans’ pockets and stronger energy security for the entire nation,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. NHTSA’s proposed fuel economy standards complement and align with the Environmental Protection Agency’s recently proposed emissions standards for

similar vehicle fleets. NHTSA will coordinate with the EPA to optimize the effectiveness of its standards while minimizing compliance costs, consistent with applicable statutory factors. With the release of today’s proposal, NHTSA invites comments from all stakeholders on how this goal can be achieved. The proposed rule sets targets that are consistent with Congress’ direction to conserve fuel and promote American energy independence and American auto manufacturing, while providing flexibility to industry on how to achieve those targets. Though NHTSA does not take electric and other alternative fuels into account in setting the standards, manufacturers may use all available technologies—including advanced internal combustion engines, hybrid technologies and electric vehicles—for compliance.

The new proposal also supports the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to cutting costs for Americans and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in communities near freeways and other heavily trafficked roads, which are disproportionately low-income communities of color.

Since the lowest-income households spend nearly 20% of income on transportation fuels, which is three times the average U.S. household, this proposal is consistent with the administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice.

“CAFE standards have driven the auto industry to innovate in improving fuel economy in ways that benefit our nation and all Americans,” NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson said. “The new standards we’re proposing today would advance our energy security, reduce harmful emissions, and save families and business owners money at the pump. That’s good news for everyone.”

The proposal also models a range of additional alternatives. NHTSA requests comment on the full range of standards from the no-action alternative to the most stringent alternative modeled, including comment on combinations of standards that may not be explicitly identified in the proposal.

Read the proposal here. For more information, please see NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy page.

Source: NHTSA

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Crain Kia

Sherwood

501-542-5230

(501) 542-6133 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm

timhill@crainteam.net www.crainkia.com

LOUISIANA

All Star Kia of Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

5740 Siegen Lane

225-490-8000

(225) 490-8014 Fax

OKLAHOMA

Ferguson Advantage Imports

Broken Arrow

800-880-8815

(918) 317-6280 Fax

M-F 7am - 6pm

TEXAS

Ancira Kia

San Antonio

210-509-2197

(210) 509-2198 Fax

M-F 8am-6pm Sat 8am-3pm

tstewart@ancira.com www.ancirasa.com

Archer Kia Houston

1-888-983-1425

(281) 983-1437 Fax

M-F 7am-6pm Sat 9am-2pm www.archerkia.com

Bob Utter Kia Sherman

903-892-5967

(903) 891-7304 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm Sat 7:30am - 1pm

Mike.martin@bobutterford.com www.bobutterford.com

De Montrond Kia Houston

281-877-3060

281-872-3909

(281) 872-3914 Fax

M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 7:30am-3pm www.demontrondkia.com

Fredy Kia

Houston

800-883-1933

(713) 947-8053 Fax

M-Sat 8am-6pm parts@fredykia.com

Huffines Kia McKinney

McKinney

469-525-4354

M-F 7am-7pm

brian.chadduck@huffines.net

brydan.reid@huffines.net

UTAH

Findlay Kia

St. George

435-817-4245

(435) 634-1229 Fax

M-F 8am - 6pm Sat 8am - Noon

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

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

Gas Prices Are Stuck in Neutral, But For How Long?

By Andrew Gross AAA

The national average for a gallon of gas has been hovering around $3.82 for the past 10 days as of Aug. 10, a noteworthy length for price stability. This lack of price movement came despite an uptick in gas demand and rising oil prices approaching the mid$80s per barrel.

“We appear to be at a fork in the road when it comes to which direction gas prices will take—up or down,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “The summer heat that kept people home and suppressed refinery production has eased for now, so we have to look at the cost of oil to determine if the recent price climb is ending. More expensive oil will likely lead to higher prices, so stay tuned.”

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand jumped from 8.84 to 9.30 million b/d over the preceding week.

Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased from 219.1 to 216.4 million bbl. Higher demand, amid tighter supply, has helped to keep pump prices elevated. If gas demand remains high, alongside increasing oil prices, drivers should brace for increases in pump prices.

The Aug. 10 national average of $3.82 is 28 cents more than a month ago but 19 cents less than a year ago.

Since Aug. 3, these 10 states have seen the largest changes in their averages: Ohio (+13 cents), Arizona (+11 cents), Alaska (+7 cents), Florida (+7 cents), Wyoming (+6 cents), Idaho (+6 cents), California (+6 cents), Hawaii (+5 cents), Tennessee (+5 cents) and Kansas (+4 cents).

The nation’s top 10 most expensive markets: California ($5.09), Washington ($5.01), Hawaii ($4.77), Oregon ($4.67), Alaska ($4.46), Nevada ($4.34), Utah ($4.09), Illinois ($4.05), Idaho ($4.05) and Arizona ($3.99).

Source: AAA

INSIST ON GM GENUINE PARTS

Arizona

Courtesy Chevrolet PHOENIX

602-248-7710

601-604-3025 Fax

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

Parts@CourtesyAuto.com

Colorado

Emich Chevrolet LAKEWOOD

800-274-1127

303-986-2245

303-989-3490 Fax

M-F 7am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 4pm gmcollision@emichauto.com www.emichchevrolet.com

John Elway Chevrolet ENGLEWOOD

800-525-5096

303-761-5161

303-789-6737 Fax

M-F 7am - 6pm; Sat 8am - 4pm wholesaleparts@elwaydealers.net

Garcia Cadillac GM Parts ALBUQUERQUE

800-432-6944

505-884-9054

505-889-2950 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 5:30pm Sat 9am - 2pm parts288126@garciacars.com

Quality Buick GMC ALBUQUERQUE

505-348-1234

505-247-7490 Fax

M-F 7am - 5:30pm Parts@qualitydeal.com

Oklahoma

Bob Howard Parts

OKLAHOMA CTY

800-888-3827

800-946-7278 Fax

M-F 8am - 5:30pm

sales@bhpdc.com www.bhpdc.com

Marc Miller Buick GMC TULSA

800-456-4700

918-828-7070 Parts Direct

918-828-7094 24 Hr. Fax

M-F 8am - 5:30pm

jerad@marcmillertulsa.com

www.marcmillerbuickgmc.com

Texas

Atzenhoffer Chevrolet VICTORIA

800-627-3501

361-575-0171

361-578-8082 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm rick@atzenhoffer.com

Classic Elite Chevrolet Sugar Land SUGAR LAND

281-494-7273

800-800-7278

M-F 8am - 6pm; Sat 8am – 3pm rbattles@classicchevysugarland.com

Lawrence Hall Chevrolet

Buick GMC Cadillac ABILENE

325-692-3590

325-698-7310 Fax

M-F 7:30am - 6pm dgarner@lawrencehall.com

Northside Chevrolet SAN ANTONIO

833-691-1440

210-308-8683 Fax

M-F 8am - 6pm Sat 7am - 4pm

emartin@mynschevy.com www.mynschevy.com

Utah

Ken Garff Buick GMC RIVERDALE

800-821-8797

801-627-6762

800-390-1317 Fax

M-F 8am - 6pm

New Mexico

@GMParts.ACDelco GM Genuine Parts & ACDelco @GMParts_ACDelco @gmparts_acdelco

EPA Targeting Companies For Bypassing Vehicle Emission Controls

By Shirleen Guerra The Center Square

In the last two years, the Environmental Protection Agency has fined companies millions of dollars across the U.S. for installing illegal mechanisms that bypass vehicle emission controls known as “defeat devices.”

One manufacturer, Sinister Diesel, agreed on Aug. 1 to pay the $1 million after pleading guilty to conspiracy and the manufacturing and selling of illegal defeat devices over the last 10 years.

“More than 500,000 diesel pickup trucks in the United States—approximately 15% of U.S. diesel trucks that were originally certified with emissions controls—have been illegally deleted,” according to the EPA. They estimate that tampering with one heavy duty motor vehicle is equivalent to putting about 280 new vehicles

on the road.

In July, an Oregon company, Pure Addiction Diesel Performance LLC, was penalized more than $148,000 for violating the Clean Air Act. In the same month, a company in Alaska, Doyon Associated LLC, was fined $117,000 for the same violations.

“The manufacture, sale and installation of defeat devices is against the law,” Ed Kowalski, EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance assurance director, said in a news release.

PARTS iD Inc. and PARTSiD LLC, based in New Jersey, paid a penalty of nearly $500,000 in October 2022 for selling devices across the country.

Some of the biggest fines were levied in 2022 in Michigan, where two companies— DieselOps LLC and Orion Diesel LLC—were fined $10 million for selling the same “diesel defeat” aftermarket devices.

Baldwin Subaru Covington

(888) 310-9605

(985) 338-2598

(985) 273-3273 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 8-3 lrose@baldwinmotors.com

(844) 378-9875

(623) 232-7202 Local

(623) 232-7303 Fax

Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-5 WholesaleWest@ShopSubaru.com

Flatirons Subaru Boulder

(303) 443-2919

(303) 442-1342 Fax

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 8-5 parts@flatironsimports.com

Five Star Subaru Grapevine (877) 308-9055

Direct (817) 438-1732 parts@subarugrapevine.com www.subarugrapevine.net

Huffines Subaru Corinth (888) 928-2978

(940) 321-2679

(940) 497-2920 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-7; Sat. 8-5 les.hickman@huffines.net

Tesla, Rivian Head To Court in NDA Battle

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Tesla is heading to court against former employees who joined rival automaker Rivian in a lawsuit claiming they breached nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) related to trade secrets.

On Aug. 2, the former Tesla and now Rivian employees attempted to have the suit thrown out via a summary adjudication ruling. However, a state court judge tentatively denied their request, so the lawsuit will be going forward.

The judge did grant the employees’ request for a ruling on Tesla’s claim they accessed company computers illegally to copy and steal important data, according to Bloomberg.

If that ruling is approved, it would allow the breach of contract issue and the claim Tesla made against Rivian that it violated California’s trade secret laws to head to a trial.

Tesla opened the lawsuit in late July 2020, stating it had seen an “alarming pattern” of poaching

ARIZONA

Audi Arrowhead Peoria

877.358.8165

623.561.4750

623.561.4703 Fax

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

Audi Gilbert Gilbert

877.412.2925

480.855.8101

480.346.9201 Fax

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

TEXAS

Audi Dallas Dallas

866.327.2318

214.438.0894 Fax

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

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

employees and taking secrets.

Tesla stated in the complaint, “Misappropriating Tesla’s competitively useful confidential information when leaving Tesla for a new employer is obviously wrong and risky.”

It also claimed Rivian had hired at least 70 former employees, some of whom were “caught red-handed” stealing information related to technology and nextgen batteries.

Additionally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in an interview in 2020 that Rivian was “doing bad things, so we sued them.”

“It’s not cool to steal our IP, and for people to violate their confidentiality agreements,” Musk added.

The trial had stagnated to an extent in December 2021, when Judge Peter Manoukian said Tesla had 30 days to produce documents relevant to the suit.

The case has moved forward with these latest developments, although Rivian has denied any wrongdoing and claims the suit is Tesla’s attempt to derail competitors in the EV sector.

Audi Fort Worth

Dallas/Fort Worth

817.632.6709

817.632.6747 Fax

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

sstallcup@audifortworth.com

oreyna@audifortworth.com www.audifortworth.com

Audi Grapevine

Dallas/Fort Worth

877.424.AUDI (2834) 817.553.2252/2258

M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm sstallcup@audigrapevine.com

cmartinez@audigrapevine.com www.audigrapevine.com

Audi Plano

Dallas/Fort Worth

214.452.3830

214.452.3855 Fax

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

gualotunao@autonation.com www.audiplano.com

Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers.

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

Publisher Jeremy Hayhurst

General Manager

Barbara Davies

Editor Abby Andrews

Contributing Writers

Mike Anderson, Ed Attanasio, Stacey Phillips, Cole Strandberg, John Yoswick

Advertising Sales

Joe Momber, Norman Morano

Office Manager

Kelly Cashman

Digital Marketing Manager

Bryan Malinski

Art Director

Rodolfo Garcia

Senior Designer

Vicki Sitarz

Accounting & HR Manager Heather Priddy

Permissions Editor Randi Scholtes

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.

©2023 Adamantine Media LLC.

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

TRUST FORD PARTS

CERTIFIED PARTS WHOLESALING DEALERS

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

Earnhardt

CHANDLER

480-763-6233

480-783-4655 Fax www.earnhardtford.com

MESA

480-530-9720

480-530-9708 Fax

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

Schomp Ford DENVER

800-876-0977

303-343-1396

303-361-9278 Fax

Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 7:30-3 fordparts@schomp.com

Bob Howard Parts OKLAHOMA CITY

800-888-3827

800-946-7278 Fax

Lakewood LAKEWOOD

800-332-3722

720-481-2460

303-991-4134 Fax

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

Hours: M-F 8am - 5:30pm sales@bhpdc.com www.bhpdc.com

TULSA

WHOLESALE DIRECT

800-800-9001

800-676-8509 Fax adodson@penskeautomotive.com www.fordparts.com/unitedford www.unitedford.com

Five Star Ford

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS WHOLESALE DIRECT

800-895-7827

817-577-2781

817-577-0558 Fax www.5starford.com

Helfman Ford STAFFORD

281-240-7628

800-634-8008

281-240-0642 Fax parts@helfmanford.com www.fordparts.com/helfman

Mac Haik Ford, Lincoln

GEORGETOWN/AUSTIN

877-969-3055

512-930-6260

281-598-4370 Fax parts@machaikfl.com

Tommie Vaughn Motors

HOUSTON

800-944-4415

713-869-4755

713-293-4309 Fax www.tommievaughnford.com

Town East Ford

MESQUITE

972-798-4529

972-682-1290 24 Hr Fax

Hours: M-Sat 7-5

jhalcomb@vtaig.com www.towneastford.com

Ford

Larry H. Miller Ford Mesa

Larry H. Miller Ford

United Ford PDC

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