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Auto Body Shops Asked to Submit Experiences with SRS Inspections by John Yoswick
I-CAR is seeking help from collision repairers as it reviews OEM safety inspections related to secondary restraint systems (SRS). Scott VanHulle, manager of I-CAR’s Repairability Technical Support and OEM Technical Relations, said the project grew out of a virtual summit the training organization held in March with 150 shops, insurers and automakers. The discussion centered around whether the industry had adequate information about what inspections
were required and when, what the inspections should “look like” and the “why” behind the inspections. The OEMs may not be aware of shortcomings in their procedures related to this, VanHulle said, because traditionally much of the feedback they receive is from dealership service departments that aren’t dealing with collision-damaged vehicles. I-CAR hopes to develop industry-vetted best practices related to the inspections, provide feedback to the automakers about any potential repair information improvements See SRS Inspections, Page 20
No Signs Microchip Shortage is Delaying Crash Parts by John Yoswick
PartsTrader’s Greg Horn said in May his company isn’t seeing any significant disruption in crash parts availability based on the global microchip shortage, which is impacting new vehicle production. He pointed to a number of data points that led him to that conclusion. Enterprise’s most recent “length of rental” data showed the average number of days replacement vehicles were in use in the first quarter of 2021 was “essentially flat” when compared to the same quarter in
2020. His company’s internal data showed the average quoted delivery times for parts going through PartsTrader across all model vehicles did not change significantly in the past 13 months. Looking at parts for just model year 2020 and 2021 vehicles showed even a modest improvement in April, compared to April of 2020. Parts on the system are also receiving the same number of bids or quotes on average over the past year. “As we look at all those components, we really don’t see any See Microchip Shortage, Page 22
39 YEARS
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 39 / Issue 7 / July 2021
Toyota Says It’s Still Too Soon to Focus on Electric Cars by Steven Loveday, Inside EVs
Toyota continues to assert its vehicle lineup will offer a variety of options over the next 30 years, a stance it reiterated at the company’s annual shareholders meeting.
Toyota has been pushing hybrids and hydrogen for years, and it still insists it’s not time to focus on
electric cars. An investor asked during the meeting why Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has a different view from that of Honda. The competing Japanese brand has set a goal to have a fully electric lineup by 2040. Toyota Director Shigeki Terashi, who joined the call from Toyota’s Aichi headquarters, reportedly replied, “It’s too early to concentrate on one option.” Terashi added between now and 2050, the brand needs to offer mulSee Focus on Electric Cars, Page 22
California to Resume Work Search Unemployment Requirement by Cole Lauterbach, The Center Square
Out of work California residents will soon have to prove they’re on the job hunt before receiving their weekly benefits. California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) announced, starting July 11, unemployed residents must start verifying they’re searching for work when they apply for weekly or bi-weekly funds. “This requirement applies to finding suitable work that is safe to return to and is comparable to the worker’s skills, experience, usual occupation, age and health,” EDD said in a release June 17. The agency listed what qualifies as seeking employment. Prepare for Job Searches―Set up an account on CalJOBS, participate in reemployment services, post a profile on various job search or networking sites. Expand Networks―Let friends, prior employers or community members know you are looking for work. Participate in networking, job fair
events or clubs. Apply for Suitable Work―Apply for positions with employers reasonably expected to have suitable openings matching skills and experience, including government jobs and exams. Participate in Training―Engage in permissible education and training opportunities that assist in obtaining employment and do not interfere with an ability to accept suitable full-time work. The requirement was in place until the state suspended it in March of last year, when the department suspended it amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that change, California has processed 20 million unemployment claims, sending more than $128 billion. “When claimants were asked if they had looked for work when completing their weekly certification for benefits, they could answer ‘No’ and maintain their eligibility for benefits. As California reopens, most claimants See California to Resume, Page 26
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