August 2023 West Edition

Right To Repair Pact Between Automakers and Repairers Draws Criticism

Organizations representing the country’s independent automotive repairers, collision repair experts and leading automakers announced July 11 they inked a landmark agreement on automotive right to repair, but two other organizations objected, calling it a thinly veiled attempt to confuse lawmakers and drivers.

The Auto Care Association (ACA), an original signatory to the 2014 MOU, said it was not consulted about, was not a party to and does not support the new pact. ACA said ASA and SCRS, who did not sign or support the 2014 MOU, represent a small fraction of the independent repair market and do not speak for the automotive aftermarket.

REGIONAL NEWS

Washington Hits Accelerator on Incentivizing Switch To EVs

By Brett Davis The Center Square

The commitment among the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) was meant to affirm a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on automotive right to repair, stating “independent repair facilities shall have access to the same diagnostic and repair information that auto manufacturers make available to authorized dealer networks.”

“The agreement between the AAI, ASA and SCRS is a thinly veiled response by the automotive OEMs to HR 906: the REPAIR Act,” ACA said. “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.”

The CAR Coalition also questioned the impetus behind the pact and reiterated its support for the SMART and REPAIR acts.

In a letter to Congress outlining the pact, ASA, SCRS and AAI wrote: “This commitment was created with our mutual and valued customers in mind: vehicle owners. It affirms that consumers deserve access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle [and] it is built to

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The Washington State Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee has been updated on a draft final report on encouraging high consumption fuel users, or HCFUs, to switch to electric vehicles.

The committee was tasked last year by the Legislature to assess opportunities to encourage HCFUs to switch to EVs as part of the state’s overall plan to go green in fighting climate change.

HCFUs are defined as drivers that burn 1,000 gallons or more of fuel per year, approximately 6.3% of motorists.

“It essentially is wanting to collect

REGIONAL NEWS

data and probe the question of first of all whether or the extent to which there are high-consumption fuel users—sometimes referred to as gasoline super-users—in Washington and what is their prevalence,” said Jeff Doyle, project manager for engineering and construction firm CDM Smith, at the June 20 presentation at the Spokane Convention Center in Eastern Washington. “How many gallons of fuel do they consume? Would it be in their benefit price-wise to switch to electric vehicles? And what policies, including charging infrastructure, might be important to incentivize them to try to switch or transition to electric vehicles?”

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Hayden Named Best Auto Body Shop in 2023 Idaho’s Best Awards

CARSTAR

CARSTAR Hayden has been named Best Auto Body Shop in the Panhandle region in the 2023 Idaho’s Best Awards, an annual program intended to uplift and acknowledge the contributions of businesses and organizations in Idaho. The judging for the awards is divided into four regions: Central Idaho, Eastern Idaho, the Panhandle and Treasure Valley.

CARSTAR Hayden, owned by Greg Solesbee, joined the CARSTAR family in the spring of 2018 and

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Columnist Mike Anderson: Creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience Before, During and After Collision Repairs

Columnist Abby Andrews: How to Use ‘Blue Sky Thinking’ to Bring Innovative Ideas Down

Columnist Stacey Phillips: Solving the Tech Shortage: Toby Chess Helps Body Shop Owners Start Mentorship Programs

Columnist John Yoswick: PartsTrader Webinar Examines

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According to the draft final report, the top 10% of all drivers burn 26% of the fuel in the state. That translates into the top 10% of drivers burning through more than 434 million gallons of fuel, as compared to the bottom 50% of drivers going through nearly 388 million gallons of fuel.

“The main takeaway there is that HCFUs primarily are driving heavier, larger vehicles,” Doyle said, referring to SUVs, pickup trucks and vans.

The draft final report found HCFUs are willing to pay more for an EV than the average driver and that HCFUs are as knowledgeable about EVs as other drivers, although they do have concerns about EV performance when it comes to considerations like hauling and towing capabilities.

“But overall, I think the important takeaway is that the same policies that’s effective for the other 93% of drivers is also effective for HCFUs, and largely those are policies that already exist in Washington.”

The draft final report recommends four policy options tailored to HCFUs: an “electric miles” lease incentive, an HCFU vehicle trade-in incentive, vehicle loaner programs that allow

occasional use of a gas-powered vehicle and rebates for home chargers and installation.

John Kiser, senior vice president of automotive and mobility at marketing research company Ipsos Inc., was optimistic about the future of EVs in Washington state and the U.S. as a whole.

“Electric vehicle prices have actually been being reduced,” he told the committee. “We saw Tesla reduce their prices multiple times through the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.”

Tesla’s price cutting caused other manufacturers of EVs to do the same, Kiser added.

He credited the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, with its tax credit of up to $7,500 when buying a new EV, for the price drop, but said more work remains to be done to mainstream EVs.

“About 6% of all vehicle sales in 2022 [were] a battery electric vehicle,” Kiser said. “That’s increasing, it’s growing. But it’s still only 6%, so we still have a far way to go in order to get to those conversions so having price reductions so that that gap in price isn’t as strong is certainly going to be advantageous.”

Baxter Shandobil, transportation planner with CDM, gave an example

of how consumers could save money with an EV.

Per the draft final report, he pointed to comparing the total cost of ownership between a Toyota Camry Luxury Edition gas-powered automobile, which costs $27,315, and the Tesla Model 3 rear-wheel drive EV, which costs $41,630.

“However, in the super-commuter segments, despite an MSRP that’s $14,000 higher, the Tesla Model 3 is cheaper to own than the Toyota Camry by the second year of ownership because of lower operating costs, the Model 3’s eligibility for a partial federal tax credit as well as a Washington sales tax exemption on the first $15,000 of the purchase price,” Shandobil explained. “Including trade-in value of the vehicle, the total cost of ownership of the Tesla is about $10,000 less than the Camry after five years of ownership.”

Kiser noted there will be more choices in EVs in the future that will be more attainable for more people.

Some lawmakers on the committee expressed some skepticism.

“For example, to illustrate, I have a local elected in my district who is definitely a high-consumption user,” said Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen. “Purchased an EV. Ended up leaving

it in the garage and uses the older beater truck to do his business because he says it’s more reliable in bad weather. He feels safer, especially in the winter, driving it on country roads. And it’s preferable because of what it can do, particularly in a rural environment, particularly in adverse weather conditions.”

Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane, pointed out he wouldn’t be able to drive to Olympia on a single charge of an EV.

Kiser admitted more work remains to be done in terms of building infrastructure for the planned mass adoption of EVs, as well as keeping the public informed about advances in technology that make them more appealing and accessible to the average person.

“Consumers still don’t know,” he said.

Last year,  Gov. Jay Inslee said Washington will follow California’s lead and ban the sale of new gaspowered automobiles in the state by 2035.

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CAA Glendale/Foothill Chapter Meeting Focuses on SCRS Blend Study, Networking

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

Members of the Glendale/Foothill chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) recently came together at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills, CA, to network, learn from one another and hear about topical issues impacting the collision industry.

Part of the June 20 event included a presentation from Aaron Schulenburg, executive director

from the information providers is important to collision repair professionals all over the industry.”

Schulenburg said there has been a lot of interest in the specifics of what SCRS performed and what the ongoing conversations have looked like.

“Many collision repair businesses are actively evaluating how they address their own practices and reflect them in their repair plans,” explained Schulenburg. “The presentation is designed to help gain a better understanding.” He said no one needs to feel alone in this industry.

the meetings and sharing ideas with other shop owners and vendors.

“The CAA and its chapters are always looking to host meetings on the topics most relevant to body shops in California,” said CAA Executive Director Rick Johnson “Chapter meetings are a great opportunity for shop owners and employees to be kept up to date on the issues that most affect our industry.”

different perspectives on running my business,” said Hillery. “My fellow owners want to improve the industry while making a profit and we tend to share best practices when asked.”

of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). Schulenburg shared insight on the SCRS Blend Study Report: A comparative analysis between full refinish and blend operations.

The event was supported by Annex Automotive & Industrial Finishes and 19 Industries Collision Repair Equipment.

More than 90 people were in attendance, representing 35 different collision centers, as well as vendors and other collision repair professionals.

Similar to other CAA chapters, Glendale/Foothill periodically holds board meetings where attendees discuss potential topics and the state of the industry.

During a May board meeting, CAA Glendale/Foothill Chapter President Juan Martinez suggested inviting Schulenburg to discuss the SCRS blend study since it was becoming a hot topic industrywide.

“Following the decision to invite Aaron, CCC changed their position due to the blend study, which ignited a lot of buzz,” said Martinez. “The timing was right.”

“The CAA saw importance in the topic and wanted to make sure their members had exposure to the newest information on the topic,” said Schulenburg. “Exposure to the details of the project, the results and ultimately, the developing responses

“There are a lot of organizations working to improve the industry, and it’s made possible through direct involvement,” Schulenburg noted. “Being a part of the association— locally and nationally—is being a part of a larger voice, a more recognizable community. So many of the initiatives we are involved with in the industry are made possible by reinvesting our members’ dollars back into industry resources that benefit repairs.”

Chuck Bistagne, treasurer of the Glendale/Foothill chapter and past chapter and state president, said he was impressed by the presentation.

“It was great to see so many shops in attendance,” said Bistagne. “Aaron did a great job presenting the research and showing it in a way that was not biased towards shops

For more than 50 years, the CAA has represented auto body shops and their interests and is currently the only association dedicated to protecting and advocating on behalf of the collision repair industry

“Our collision repair industry continues to change at a rapid pace and understanding the impact that these changes have on our businesses is critical,” said Daniel Panduro, director of operations for CARSTAR Sun Valley in Sun Valley, CA.

Panduro said being associated with local and regional associations is one way shop owners and managers can educate themselves proactively

or paint manufacturers. It was done in a way that we can explain to the insurance companies why there is such a drastic change in labor times.”

One of the benefits of belonging to an association like CAA, according to Bistagne, is the networking aspect of

in California, according to Cindy Shillito, CAA Southern California representative for the Glendale/ Foothill, San Diego and Los Angeles/ Orange County chapters, and the meeting coordinator.

CAA’s chapters are comprised of individual and independent businesses in the collision repair industry. The organization’s mission is to enable the auto body industry to survive and prosper by helping members produce a quality repair for the consumer at a fair price for a fair profit.

Jay Flores, owner of Tony’s Body Shop in Oxnard, CA, said being part of CAA has many benefits, including education and providing resources.

“When we have a CAA meeting, it always has a lot of substance and what we learn can be used in our businesses,” said Flores. “I like to attend the meetings because I come back educated and ready to continue the journey of being in business in the body shop industry.”

Flores encourages other shop owners and managers to get involved in their local association. “People will complain about our industry, yet they won’t get up out of their chair and go attend a meeting and get educated,” he said. “By yourself, the ocean can come and sweep you away, but as a group, we stand a chance.”

Scott Hillery, owner of Auto Park Collision in Escondido, CA, said it’s tough growing alone in Southern California and associations like CAA and SCRS help keep shops informed about what matters in their businesses.

“Being active in CAA gives me

instead of being forced to react to issues that affect their teams and families.

“It’s our responsibility as leaders in our businesses and industry to be the driving force of change so that the effects of it positively impact what we do and who we are, rather than simply wait for things to happen to us,” said Panduro. “As our friend and mentor Mike Anderson of Collision Advice often says, ‘Be the wind that blows that flag in the direction that you want it to go and not the flag that sits idle waiting for the wind to blow it in a certain direction.’”

Martinez said future plans include hosting meetings that are important to the industry. “Most of us are ‘in the saddle’ and see firsthand the issues plaguing our industry,” he said. “The CAA is an excellent resource for the latest issues, and they provide value by fighting for us little people. Whether it be legislative issues or value items like access to the labor rate surveys, the CAA is always at the forefront.”

To download the Blend Study Report: A comparative analysis between full refinish and blend operations, visit www.scrs.com/ blendstudy.

For more information about CAA, email info@calautobody.com or call 916-557-8100 ext. 1.

Pictured, left to right, are Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS; Kris Burton, Rosslyn Auto Body; Richie Seaberry, Decisely; and Gene Lopez, Seidner’s Collision Centers

Cindy Shillito, left, CAA Southern California representative for the Glendale/ Foothill, San Diego and Los Angeles/ Orange County chapters, and Chuck Bistagne, right, treasurer of the Glendale/ Foothill chapter and past chapter and state president

Jay Flores, left, Tony’s Auto Body, and Anthony Guinn, right, Elite Body Shop Solutions

“By yourself, the ocean can come and sweep you away, but as a group, we stand a chance.”

— CAA MEMBER JAY FLORES OWNER OF TONY’S BODY SHOP

AkzoNobel Adds Facilities in

AkzoNobel is using advanced technologies to create step-change improvements in its North America industrial operations with the addition of a pilot manufacturing plant in Huron, OH, and a new regional research and development center in High Point, NC. The company is shaping the future through advanced technologies and delivering innovated solutions to customers. Huron’s new pilot plant is one in a network of pilot plants globally and supports AkzoNobel’s Packaging, Marine and Automotive businesses. The state of Ohio serves as AkzoNobel’s largest footprint in North America, with locations in Huron, Strongsville, Springfield and Columbus. The company’s community of North America R&D Centers supporting the Performance Coatings businesses includes—in addition to High Point— laboratories in Troy, MI, Strongsville, OH, Houston, TX, Flying Hills, PA, and Lancaster, SC. AkzoNobel’s R&D Centers are transforming the company’s investment in science and technology while giving customers direct access to sustainable product development.

First U.S. Porsche Studio Opens in Portland, OR

With great anticipation and energy, the first Porsche Studio in the U.S. celebrated its grand opening in Portland, OR.

“We are thrilled to bring the Porsche Studio concept to Portland,” said Joe Lawrence, executive vice president and COO of Porsche Cars North America (PCNA). “The Studio concept offers our customers a warm, inviting, and convenient new place to engage with Porsche, whether configuring their new dream car, taking delivery or just stopping by for an espresso.”

Porsche Studio Portland is in the heart of the city’s fashionable Pearl District, a former warehouse district, known for its art galleries, microbreweries and the iconic Powell City of Books. As part of the festivities, the legendary rock band Foreigner performed at the studio for around 1,000 guests.

“We feel honored and excited to open the first Porsche Studio in the United States,” said Frank Geary, executive vice president of Sunset Imports, which also owns Porsche Beaverton. “We believe in the brand, product and community,

and could not pass up the opportunity to introduce Porsche in such a vibrant part of our city.”

In honor of the grand opening, a 2003 911 Targa restored by technicians at Porsche Beaverton as part of last year’s Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge was auctioned off for $61,000. The proceeds went to the Dougy Center, whose mission is to provide support to families dealing with grief.

The new contemporary, boutique-like facility features a 12,920-square-foot studio space over two floors. Guests can comfortably immerse themselves in Porsche’s heritage while learning more about its future direction. An inviting bar and lounge area features regional cuisine and beverages including locally roasted artisan coffee. The work of local artists is also on display among a rotating selection of vehicles.

In the configuration space, customers can look through the inspiring list of options and configure and order the vehicle of their dreams. As an option for existing clients, drivers can drop-

off and pick-up their vehicle at the Studio for service at Porsche Beaverton. The Studio will also offer courtesy vehicles and rideshare transportation options. Test drives are also available.   Plans are in place to host events and activities for Porsche enthusiasts and the local community including yoga days and wellness weeks.

Porsche Studio Portland is located at 1432 NW Johnson St., Portland, OR 97209. For information, call 503-7186040 or visit www.studio. porschebeaverton.com.

Source: Porsche Cars North America

Source: AkzoNobel

Stacey

Phillips — Solving the Tech Shortage

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

This is part one of a two-part series. Check out the September 2023 issue of Autobody News 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.

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.

common for body men to bring in relatives to the shop as helpers who eventually became technicians.

“Toby, having a good heart, suggested we hire some people, give them tools and train them,” recalled Nouri.

Nouri reached out to friends and relatives who knew of unemployed individuals and hired four as helpers to be mentored by his more experienced technicians.

“I gave each technician a helper and Toby gave them toolboxes and trained them,” said Nouri. “They are going to be body men within a year or two.”

Zamir has a close relationship with several local tech schools and is often asked to speak with students about the “real-world experience.”

“Because I invest so much in equipment and training and am personally knowledgeable in various aspects of the shop, I can take a student out of tech school and offer them a career,” he said. “This includes

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

“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 first three shop owners had to say.

Anthony’s Body & Paint

While working as a tow truck driver in the mid-1970s, Eddie Nouri admired how vehicles were repaired at the body shops he visited and eventually opened Anthony’s Body & Paint in Santa Monica, CA, in 1979. Since then, Nouri has purchased about 10 other shops, built them up and sold them.

Currently, he operates a facility in Inglewood in addition to his Santa Monica location. They have a total of about 50 employees and 10 OEM certifications.

As a result of the pandemic, Nouri found they were shorthanded.

He said 20 or 30 years ago, it was

He encourages other body shops to do the same and help develop the next generation of technicians.

Nouri has known Chess for many years and is appreciative of the training and assistance he has provided.

“I consider myself a successful and happy person and I owe Toby a lot of gratitude because he has taught me a lot,” said Nouri. “I noticed that every technician loves Toby and wants to improve themselves after working with him.”

ongoing training and immediate overthe-shoulder guidance while they’re doing the work.”

Zamir and Chess have been friends for many years. “He travels across the country to support shops that are willing to train their staff,” said Zamir. “He is a true friend of the industry, and like many true friends, he doesn’t seek nor get the appreciation he deserves.”

Scandinavian Coachcraft

Scandinavian Coachcraft was established in 2001 by Ole Vandborg, who learned the trade in Europe as an apprentice and has lived in Los Angeles for 37 years. The collision repair facility focuses on quality repairs and has five structural certifications, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mazda and Volvo.

To retain technicians and new talent, Vandborg recommends having upto-date equipment, and offering continual training and good pay.

Collision Consultants Auto Body & Paint Shop

Founded in 1989, Collision Consultants Auto Body & Paint Shop is owned by Sam Zamir and his partners. Over the years, the company has built a reputation as a high-end specialist, being among the first in Los Angeles to do aluminum repairs and work on electric vehicles (EVs) and new technology in cars. The business is certified by Maserati, MercedesBenz, Porsche and a few other manufacturers, and is I-CAR Gold Class.

“We take part in all of the I-CAR training available and our technicians are aluminum- and steel-certified welders,” said Vandborg. “The paint crew is certified as well and we send a couple of our employees to Europe every year for training.”

Over the years, Chess has done a lot of training at the facility, which has 30 employees. “They all know him and what he expects from them,” said Vandborg. “He has done a fabulous job moving an average tech to a super tech… he is a saint for all his dedication to the collision industry.”

Pictured, left to right, are Toby Chess, Alfredo Jimenez, Byron Duarte Jr., Eddy Nouri, Ezmin Medrano and Miguel Rodriguez of Anthony’s Body & Paint

Sam Zamir, center, with two technicians at Collision Consultants Auto Body & Paint Shop

“It’s critical to find ways to motivate these young people and keep them engaged or they won’t stay.”

TOBY CHESS

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If you are interested in joining the Axalta Business Councils, please reach out to your Strategic Account Manager or contact namarketing@axalta.com and request an application today!

Gas Prices Drift Lower As Drivers Prepare For July 4th Travel

By Andrew Gross and Devin Gladden AAA

Drivers hitting the road for the Fourth of July holiday will find the gift of lower gas prices across most of the country. AAA forecasts more than 50 million people will celebrate the nation’s birthday by traveling, with a record 43.2 million going by car.

The national average for a gallon of gas fell four cents since June 22 to $3.54 as of June 29.

“Gas prices are $1.30 per gallon less this year than last, but they are still high compared to historical averages,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “The previous record average high price for gas on July 4 was $4.10 in 2008, while the low was $1.39 in 2001. Yet despite currently elevated prices, drivers are not cutting back on travel this summer.”

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand decreased slightly from 9.38 to 9.31 million b/d over the same

week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks increased by 600,000 bbl to 220 million bbl. Lower gas demand amid increasing supply has helped to limit pump price increases. If demand remains low, pump prices will likely continue to decline through next week.

The June 29 national average of $3.54 is four cents less than a month ago but $1.32 less than a year ago.

Since June 22, these 10 states have seen the largest decreases in their averages: in their averages: Arizona (-16 cents), Ohio (-11 cents), Indiana (-11 cents), Wisconsin (-11 cents), Illinois (-9 cents), Kentucky (-6 cents), Nevada (-6 cents), Georgia (-6 cents), Utah (-6 cents) and Florida (-5 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets: Mississippi ($2.97), Louisiana ($3.08), Alabama ($3.10), Tennessee ($3.10), Arkansas ($3.11), South Carolina ($3.17), Texas ($3.18), Oklahoma ($3.22), Georgia ($3.23) and North Carolina ($3.25).

Source: AAA

CARSTAR Hayden

has been providing the North Idaho community with operational excellence ever since.

This is not the first time CARSTAR Hayden has been honored in Idaho’s Best Awards. In 2020, CARSTAR Hayden ranked in the statewide top three and received the Best of Panhandle award. In 2021, the team’s determination earned them the same honors for the second year in a row. Then, in 2022, CARSTAR Hayden received the Best of Panhandle award for the third year.

“It feels great to have been chosen for this honor!” said Solesbee. “It’s all real people voting and so rewarding to see the impact we have made both in the shop and in the community. I love getting to interact with friends or customers out in public and hearing about the positive experiences they have had with my family and our

shop team. It’s so humbling to see the growth that has come from the struggle.”

CARSTAR Hayden, an I-CAR Gold Class facility, describes its specialty as OEM proper car repair. With certifications that include Tesla, Rivian, Ford, FCA, Subaru, Nissan and Kia, it’s no wonder that the community regards CARSTAR Hayden as the best in the business. This facility also holds an Assured Performance Certification, a recognition earned by stores that hold themselves to the highest standards of collision repair.

Solesbee has been in the automotive industry his entire life and looks forward to continued growth, relationship-building in the community and supporting customers with a positive attitude and a seamless repair process. For more information on CARSTAR visit CARSTAR.com.

Source: CARSTAR

Toyota Renews Commitment To Rebelle Rally For 2023

Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced June 23 the renewal of its commitment to Rebelle Rally, the premier womenonly, off-road navigation rally.

For 2023, Toyota will have a total of 12 people join for six groups to compete in the annual event, doubling last year’s number. Toyota representatives will come from differing areas of the company, including CALTY design, manufacturing, production engineering, and research and development. Additionally, Toyota will once again serve as presenting sponsor of the event’s live webcast.

“This is an important event and beneficial opportunity to the women of our company,” said Kristen Tabar, group vice president, advanced mobility research and development at Toyota Motor North America. “The Rebelle Rally is a unique and empowering experience that aligns with our values of pushing boundaries, learning by doing and fostering a supportive and inclusive culture. We believe that our team members will not only have a lot of fun and learn a lot from the adventure, but

also bring back valuable insights and skills to their work and their teams.”

Running from Oct. 12-21, Rebelle Rally is an eight-day endurance event that covers more than 1,200 miles of challenging terrain across the deserts of California and Nevada. The rally is unique in requiring competitors to navigate using only a map and compass, without the use of GPS or electronic devices.

As Silver Sponsor and the Presenting Sponsor of Rebelle Rally’s live webcast for the second consecutive year, Toyota supports the broadcast of the event on the event’s website, YouTube and Facebook. Coverage will include format review, standings, competitor interviews, live hits from the course, highlights and an inside look at team planning and strategy.

“We are thrilled to renew our commitment to Rebelle Rally by becoming a Silver Sponsor and continuing as the official Presenting Sponsor of the live webcast. Not only does this sponsorship allow us to showcase

our exceptional Toyota trucks, but it also enables us to support our team members’ remarkable endeavors,” said Lisa Materazzo, group vice president of Toyota division marketing at Toyota Motor North America. “Being associated with such an empowering event is truly an honor, and we are eager to contribute to an unforgettable experience.”

Follow Toyota’s teams and track their progress along with other participants as they navigate the extreme terrain of the desert at www.rebellerally.com/live.

More details on the Toyota teams competing in Rebelle Rally will be announced at a later date.

Source: Toyota

AkzoNobel Expands Kindig Partnership

AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinish

North America announced the expansion of its partnership with Dave Kindig. Originating in November 2016, the partnership now expands to June 2027.

Kindig is now brand ambassador for AkzoNobel’s flagship Sikkens brand in North America, in addition to the Modern Classikk by Kindig line.

Launched in 2017, the Modern Classikk paint line is based on the Sikkens platform and has grown from an initial pallet of 26 colors to 40 eye-catching colors with the same modern classikk vibe as Kindig himself.

AkzoNobel’s John Griffin, regional director, automotive and specialty coatings, Americas, shares Kindig’s enthusiasm for the continuation of the partnership. “Everything about Dave Kindig exudes talent, quality and excellence,” Griffin said. “We are confident that continuing with him as spokesperson for our Modern Classikk and Sikkens brands will be mutually beneficial.”

Source: AkzoNobel

As a family owned and operated dealership since 1909, Glenn E. Thomas Dodge has proudly been serving Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram customers for 105 years.

We have a long history of providing great service with honesty and integrity.

CIC Speakers Focus on Collision Industry Preparedness For EVs

By John Yoswick Autobody News

Back in 2019, when Jeff Peevy was chairman of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), he started placing an empty chair on the stage as a reminder to attendees of an important industry constituent not generally represented at the meetings: the consumer.

“Those families who ride in the cars that our industry repairs should be at the forefront of our thoughts,” Peevy said at one CIC meeting that year.

Now the vice president of technical products, programs and services for I-CAR, Peevy said the lack of interest he sees in getting technicians trained to work on electric vehicles (EVs) has him concerned for more than just consumers.

“I see our industry standing on the tracks looking at a freight train coming full speed at us, and we’re just staring at the light,” Peevy said

reason that even the country’s largest multi-shop operation is taking a conservative approach to gearing up for EV repair. Jeff Brewer, director of EV strategies and OEM certifications for Caliber Collision, said as of this spring, just 21 of the company’s more than 1,700 locations were specifically trained and equipped for EV repair.

“Of those, there’s a few that that’s all they work on,” Brewer said at CIC. “We’re still drinking from the fire hose. We started two years ago and there’s still much we don’t know. It’s really evolving. We have a lot of strategic partners—fleet accounts, insurance accounts or OEM accounts—that would like to see us tool up quicker. We just can’t. We’re taking a very conservative slow approach to it, first and foremost focused on employee safety.”

Space is another consideration, he said. Go to your shop’s back lot, he suggested, and map out the 50 feet of space you’ll need around an EV towed in with significant damage that needs to be quarantined.

“But at the end of the day, it is manageable, it is doable,” Brewer said. “And we don’t really have a choice. I will tell you, when you get to the point—and I imagine a lot of you are already there—that you hang a sign up that says you’re EVready, get ready, because you will be swamped. It’s less than 20% of the industry that’s really proactively going after this, creating the solutions.”

echoed by another speaker at CIC, Mark Quarto of Quarto Technical Services. Earlier in his career, Quarto spent 28 years with General Motors developing propulsion and battery pack systems. He said particularly

a scope can be used to detect lithium-ion battery off-gassing that cannot be seen with the naked eye in addition to ongoing temperature scans to determine if there is an upward trend. A four-gas meter should also be used within 4 feet of the EV to detect carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Zartman said fire codes “are never going to catch up with how fast this industry is evolving,” so shops may not be able to get a lot of helpful guidance from fire marshals about how to set up space for EV repair or storage. Insurance underwriters may be a better resource, he suggested.

from the floor of CIC this spring. “When we look at the number of those in the industry—regardless of whether it’s repairers or insurers— who have expressed any interest in educating themselves on EVs, it’s shameful, to be honest with you. I think we’re going to need to put another chair up there [on the CIC stage] to represent those who are involved in the repair of electric vehicles, because I’m not sure the technicians and those laying hands on the vehicles have any idea of the danger they are being put in.

“My question is: How many shops are going to turn an EV away when they see it as a job they can do? Yet they may have no idea what they are getting into. I think as an industry we need to search our soul, and become honest about getting educated.”

One MSO’s EV Approach

Employee safety was cited as a key

He said with past vehicle technologies, the industry had the luxury of a slow roll-out, a tendency to “fake it until you make it.” He pointed to vehicle scanning as an example of a technology the industry was able to adapt to over time. EV repair is not like that, he said.

“This is not a technology that we can slow roll,” he said. “Our company has decided this is not a situation where we can just teach the average collision repair technician another trick.”

Like it or not, he said, EV repair requires a collision repair business “to very quickly be in the mechanical business.” He said this is particularly true for those working with new EV entrant automakers, such as Rivian and Lucid, which require certified body shops to be “full service” in terms of both body and mechanical repair.

“Eighty percent of the industry still doesn’t get that,” Brewer said.

Careful Diagnosis Needed

That need for expansion beyond traditional body and paint work was

with electric vehicles, collision repair businesses will need a thorough intake system that includes looking at more than basic scans and diagnostic trouble codes.

“That data is good, but there are some situations which there won’t be a trouble code but there’s going to be something that’s nearing failure,” Quarto said at CIC. “Sometimes knitting some of the data together helps someone to know how close something is to a failure. So knowing what data to look at, how

“I would encourage you to look at the spaces where you are operating on the vehicles and have really strong protocols for rapid removal of vehicles,” he said. “If a vehicle starts going through a thermal runaway, have a practiced, planned process in place about how you protect your personnel, and how to remove the fuel source from the building.”

He also recommended making wherever EV batteries are stored “very fire resistant” and isolated from the rest of a shop’s structures.

“Because the reality of every sprinkler system on the planet is it’s going to be designed to protect the building but it is not going to put out a battery fire if you have one and have multiple battery packs in a space,” Zartman said. “You will lose all the contents of that room.”

Importance of Billing Consistently

to look at it, and how to knit some of that together can be helpful. I know in the collision industry, the high voltage electrical stuff especially has not been in the DNA. But it’s going to have to be. You’re going to have to evolve into it.”

Dalan Zartman of the Energy Security Agency said a single thermal image scan of an EV is often insufficient to determine if the battery pack is experiencing thermal runaway. There is often too much between the outer layer of the battery pack enclosure being scanned and the actual battery cells, he said.

A thermal imaging camera with

As at every CIC, the agenda included a variety of topics. During one panel discussion for example, a shop owner discussed seeing differences in what some insurance companies will pay for versus other companies. Ohio attorney Erica Eversman offered a caution about billing consistently no matter who is paying for the vehicle repairs.

“If you have a good company, so to speak, that pays, you want to keep that good company paying well,” Eversman said. “They need to see that you are always demanding the same thing no matter who the carrier is. Because they’re going to be looking at documents in subrogation,” and you don’t want them to see, “Oh, well, you charged us for this but you didn’t charge that other insurance carrier for that.”

Apply the same business and billing practices across all customers, irrespective of whether the job is self-paid or paid for by any insurer, Eversman suggested.

Mark Quarto said collision shops need to develop a good intake system for electric vehicles

Dalan Zartman said shops should perform more than just a single thermal image scan of electric vehicles in for repair

“My question is: How many shops are going to turn an EV away when they see it as a job they can do? Yet they may have no idea what they are getting into.”

JEFF PEEVY VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR I-CAR

5880LB/2667KG

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From One Generation To the Next, Idaho Body Shop Builds a Legacy

Following Father’s Day, CARSTAR is highlighting a family-focused facility that exemplifies what it means to be a member of the CARSTAR family.

CARSTAR Hayden, located at 1770 W. Hayden Avenue in the city of Hayden, ID, opened its doors in 2018 and has been positively impacting the community ever since. From stellar customer service to industry-leading collision repair, the CARSTAR Hayden team has been a staple for those in the area.

Greg Solesbee, owner of CARSTAR Hayden, comes from a long history of vehicle repair. As the youngest of seven, Solesbee grew up surrounded by the automotive industry. Now married with four kids of his own, Solesbee and his wife, Rachelle, set out to open their own collision repair facility.

“My dad actually started a collision repair business back in 1969, and there was a moment where his business almost failed,” said Solesbee. “So, I asked him what he thought, and when that next customer came in, he thought, ‘Oh boy.’ I asked him how he treated that customer and he told me, ‘Man, I

treated them like gold.’ I grew up with that principle and incorporated it into my working style. At CARSTAR Hayden, we view our customers as gold and believe people should be treated as such. On top of car repair and making sure that the vehicle is repaired the way it should be, we also want to make sure the customer is treated the way they should be treated. Correct car repair is no accident here!”

Solesbee is continuing the legacy of family values and works alongside his son, Zachry, in the shop. Zachry is a parts extraordinaire and supports CARSTAR Hayden by logging, checking and verifying that the parts for repairs are accurate and performing at quality levels. His second oldest son, Colin, assisted with hands-on mechanical and diagnostics work before leaving for a mission trip.

“When working with your immediate family, there is a level of assumed trust,” said Solesbee. “You can count on them to show up and be present. However, wellexplained expectations, goals and boundaries are all incredibly important to pay attention to.

I always tell my children that because they hold the family name, they’re held to a higher standard for our community and our team.”

The entrepreneurial spirit also extends to the two youngest Solesbee children, Asher and Paisley, who assist with janitorial work, lawnmowing and car washing at the shop. Asher has a small business he calls Asher’s Eggs and has a team of 30 chickens who keep him busy. Most recently, Asher built and sold a chicken coop he made from recycled pallets. Paisley has her own business as well, Paisley’s Rocks, where she sells custom-painted rocks.

Their passion for resolving negativities in the repair process is felt throughout the Hayden community as evidenced by their nearly perfect online reviews. From employment to customer service and of course the repairs themselves, CARSTAR Hayden is here to expertly repair cars according to manufacturer standards and to create a positive environment while doing it.

For more information on CARSTAR visit CARSTAR.com.

Source: CARSTAR

ASE President and CEO Tim Zilke and Senior Vice President of Communications Trish Serratore have announced their plans to retire Dec. 31.

Zilke joined the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in 1991 and was promoted to president and CEO in 2008. Serratore joined ASE in 1988 and was promoted to senior vice president of communications in 2008. She served six years as president of the ASE Education Foundation from 2012 to 2017, before rejoining ASE as senior vice president.

Dave Johnson has been named ASE president and CEO designate effective July 12. Johnson will assume the title and responsibilities of ASE president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2024, upon Zilke’s retirement.

Donna Wagner has been named as the new vice president of industry and media relations for ASE. She will be responsible for both new and existing company relationships along with representing ASE to consumer, corporate, government and technician audiences.

Source: ASE

MINIMIZE LOSS

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1Collision Summit Includes I-CAR Tour, Insight from Industry Experts & Networking Opportunities

A tour of the I-CAR Chicago Technical Center, insight from industry experts and networking with body shops and vendors were all part of the two-day 1Collision Summit, June 8-9 in Chicago, IL. The 58 attendees included 1Collision location owners and managers, sponsoring vendor partners, and 1Collision staff from the U.S. and Canada.

“1Collision conferences have always been very well received by the 1Collision location owners,” said Jim Keller, president and COO of 1Collision. “During the pandemic, we were only able to connect virtually with the shops and vendor partners as a group. We are grateful for the partners and speakers that supported the event with their very informative and relevant presentations.”

On day one of the event, there was a behind-the-scenes tour of the I-CAR Chicago Technical Center, which opened nearly a year ago. Attendees had the opportunity to see the latest collision repair technologies and education.

“The Day at I-CAR event was a dynamic and valuable experience for all in attendance,” said Keller. “Special thanks to Bud Center, Lisa Ferguson and the entire I-CAR and Chicago Technical Center leadership and staff for a memorable experience.”

“We’re proud to aid 1Collision in their collective objective. The Appleton and Chicago Technical Centers are investments in our industry’s technical infrastructure,” said Associate Vice President of Collision Repair Terry Ticel. “With advanced technology impacting all corners of the industry, I-CAR’s role is to support every collision repair professional so that they’re armed with the resources, knowledge and skills to survive and thrive the Technical Tsunami™.”

Following a technical presentation from Center, I-CAR’s director of technical products and curriculum development, Brandon Eckenrode, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), discussed CREF’s efforts to support collision school programs and showcased how businesses can get involved with local schools.

Ideas included volunteering on advisory boards, encouraging students, schools and instructors to take advantage of CREF scholarships and tool grants and sponsoring Cintas uniforms for students. He also urged shops to donate parts to schools through CREF, participate in

career fairs, present to schools and host field trips.

“Collision industry businesses engaging with their local schools, students and instructors is crucial to help ensure these classrooms are full but also are graduating properly trained entry-level staff for industry employment,” said Eckenrode.

Hopkins, MN, and Collision Center 1 in Golden Valley and Prior Lake, MN, received the Growth Award.

The Community Involvement award was given to Denisse Barragan, J & R Auto Body & Paint in California, and Steve Fishe from Plan B Auto Body received an award for Most Improved Shop.

MSOs increase gross profit on parts and improve the parts procurement process. Adler shared tips with conference attendees on how to increase gross profit with the parts procurement process. He also discussed the results from 1Collision’s pilot program and how locations have improved their bottom-line.

Bob Stansfield, senior manager, field operations, Collision Repair Network (CRN) for OEConnection (OEC), discussed the importance of ensuring quality and safety and the significance of OEM certification in the collision repair industry.

“It indicates that a repair facility meets certain standards and has the necessary equipment, tools and training to repair vehicles properly,” he noted.

Greg Peeters, CEO of  Car ADAS Solutions, and Frank Terlep, vice president of collision and ADAS services at Opus IVS, then shared information about setting up and operating calibration centers.

Peeters talked about overcoming the hurdles of building a thriving ADAS calibration business. “With new vehicles now required to have a calibration post-collision repair, is it critical for collision repair facilities across the country to decide how they will meet this increasing demand,” said Peeters. During his presentation, Peeters addressed the current and future need to conduct ADAS calibrations and shared the requirements to set up an OEMcentric calibration center.

Terlep discussed what Opus IVS is doing to enable ADAS service, calibration and validation businesses to open, operate and succeed.

“Today, no company is able to provide an existing or future ADAS service, calibration and validation business a complete diagnostic tool, software and mobile app solution to properly identify, diagnose, calibrate, validate, document, manage and invoice for ADAS services, calibrations and validations,” said Terlep, who helped shops understand what will be required in the future.

During that evening’s dinner, 1Collision presented four awards to network body shop owners/managers.

Raffi Avetyan and Ellie Adri from All Magic Paint & Body in California were named Promoters of the Year for their help with recruiting new locations. Jerald Stiele and Jake Moser from Hopkins Auto Body 1 in

Keynote speaker  Caleb Spitler, founder of Restio, then shared insight on avoiding burnout and the science of having more energy.

“Everyone wants to increase productivity, have lots of energy, feel good and take their organization to new heights, but last year the No. 1 reason people quit their jobs was due to burnout,” Spitler noted. “If we expect a high level of output from ourselves and our teams, we must become experts at restoring our physical and emotional well-being.”

The following day, 1Collision strategic partners presented on topical industry issues. Enterprise representatives Tristina Egloff, business solutions manager in the Enterprise Replacement & Leisure Division, and Andi Dachel, director of sales and business development at Entegral, were also available to answer questions about Entegral services.

Dan Risley, vice president of quality repair and market development for CCC Intelligent Solutions, talked about the future of CCC and technology.

“As Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) continue to evolve and become more commonplace, industry trends are materializing surrounding scanning and calibrations,” said Risley.

Risley talked about the root causes of these emerging behaviors, how they can affect business, and solutions to help shops owners and manager better manage their collision repair facilities.

As the national account executive at PartsTrader, Mark Adler has been working at the company for 10 years, focused on helping shops/

OEC Director of Collision Sales Nicky Woerner provided an overview of current and future trends, including the inefficiencies and confusion they create for repairers. Woerner educated shops on what it takes to get to a predictable outcome and how OEC is committed to helping solve the complexity of repairs.

Keynote speaker  Mike Jones, founder and president of Discover Leadership Training, finished the event with messages centered around leadership.

Jones encouraged attendees to get out of their comfort zone yet realize that failure must be an option. “The person who truly perseveres is the one who got up, dusted himself off and got into the game and went for it again,” he said.

“Meeting everyone at the summit, along with all the information, speakers and I-CAR tour, was very worthwhile,” said Greg Anderson from Crossroads Collision in Salina, KS.

“My team and I walked away with a new, invigorating drive to be the best we can be at what we do,” added Ernie De Loera from Collision Service Center in Schaumburg, IL.

Moser, who received the Growth Award, said going to the I-CAR facility was “awesome.”

“We were able to see what they are up to and learn about some of the new products they are working on,” he shared. “It was great to see that they were doing testing on aftermarket scanners to see if they could pass OEM standards, which would help the body shops a ton.”

Moser said he was able to learn from all the presenters who spoke. “Best of all, it was about the people meeting one another and learning from each other,” he said.

I-CAR hosted 1Collision Summit attendees for a tour at the Chicago Technical Center in Illinois.

Bryce Boyer Joins CIECA Board

The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) announced June 30 that Bryce Boyer, business partner lead consultant for Allstate Insurance Company, joined CIECA’s Board of Trustees, effective immediately.

As part of an auto team that focuses on virtual estimating, one of Boyer’s major focal points is navigating how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are transforming how Allstate and the industry conduct the estimating business.

Boyer said he is excited to understand and learn how CIECA standards effect the way the industry operates, the far-reaching ways the organization helps to push for efficiency and digging in on the impacts of emerging technology.

Boyer has worked in the insurance industry for more than 25 years. The majority of his roles have focused on automotive. In 1995, he started in Daytona Beach, FL, as a personal lines adjuster and moved into the automotive sector with a year.

Source: CIECA

Battle Ground, WA, Auto Body Shop Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary

By Cade Barker The Reflector

Elite Collision Center in Battle Ground, WA, celebrated its 20-year anniversary on June 7 with a public celebration featuring a hot dog bar and other refreshments.

Company President Kevin Morse said his dad started the company in 1991 with a mechanical shop.

“We had a piece of property here and we decided to invest back into Battle Ground,” Morse said. “We’ve been around for a long time, and businesses come and go, but there’s a reason why we’ve stayed in business for 20 years and we’ve got a great community here that’s been here for you through thick and thin through the pandemic.”

Elite Collision Center provides a full-service, AAA-approved mechanical shop, a quick lube oil change facility and a AAA collision repair facility.

“It’s taking care of the customer and we’re a consumer advocate shop. We’re a lot different than a lot of body shops,” Morse said. “We’re one of the last ones that

are non-DRP. We don’t have any contracts signed with the insurance company. Our philosophy is really simple: We want to do a safe and proper repair and that means doing it the way that the manufacturer wants to do it.”

Elite uses factory original parts and uses environmentally friendly paints. They use waterborne paints rather than solvent-based paints.

“By eliminating up to 96% of the volatile organic compound emissions compared to solventborne base coats, we are protecting our employees and the environment,” Elite’s website states. “This commitment has lowered our generation of hazardous waste material, it has eliminated the flammability hazard associated with solvent-borne base coats and we use less material to cover more area.”

Morse has always taken into consideration what his father once told him, “you either got to be the biggest or the best.”

Morse said he knew they weren’t going to be the biggest company, so they needed to do right by their customers, which is evidenced in Elite’s Google rating of 4.8 out 5

stars after 286 reviews over the years.

Morse thanked his employees and especially his wife, Deana

“You know you got to have a good support staff that makes everything kind of glue together and work. A lot of it comes down to my wife,” Morse said. “I mean, honestly, we’ve been working together for 20 years and she kind of gave up her career path to make my dream a reality of owning this body shop and running this body shop, and you know, I couldn’t have done it without her and without the staff.”

Elite Collision Center in Battle Ground is located at 1701 W. Main St. in Battle Ground. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The business can be contacted by email at elite. collision@teammorse.com or by phone at 360-687-8755.

For more information, go online to elitecollisionbg.com. The website also includes a pre-repair questionnaire.

www.autobodynews.com

Right To Repair

last because it anticipates changes in automotive technologies and market evolutions.”

The signers of the pact said the agreement addresses independent repair facilities’ access to diagnostic and repair information, including telematics data needed to diagnose and repair a vehicle if not otherwise available, for all vehicle technologies and powertrains, including gasoline, diesel, fuel cell, electric battery, hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric powertrains.

The pact also includes a pledge to work together on education and training programs so independent repairers know where and how to obtain repair information, and a forum to discuss future repairer needs as they develop with emerging

choice when it comes to repair options and the ability to have their vehicle serviced in well-equipped shops by well-trained technicians anytime, anywhere, anyplace.’”

OEMs only agree to give access if the data “is not otherwise available” through the OBDII port, meaning a shop could be forced to subscribe to multiple third-party tools to get access; and it fails to address the safety and security of the wirelessly transmitted vehicle data.

The REPAIR Act is a comprehensive and critical piece of federal legislation that preserves competition, affordability, accessibility and a vibrant supply chain, ACA said.

that yields the highest quality safety outcomes at a fair price for drivers.”

However, in its own press release objecting to the pact, ACA said the agreement is not only designed to create confusion, but also has

“ASA has been a steadfast advocate for the right of independent repair shops to vehicle service information since before the 2002 service information agreement it signed with automakers,” said Scott Benevidez, ASA Board chairman and owner of Mr. B’s Paint & Body Shop Inc. in Albuquerque, NM. “Since then, the cars Americans rely on have become increasingly sophisticated,

“While it is welcome news that the auto manufacturing industry acknowledges that ‘consumers deserve access to safe and proper repairs throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle,’ today’s letter... is nothing more than lip service and regurgitated platitudes,” said CAR Coalition Executive Director Justin Rzepka. “This pact masquerades as pro-consumer but, in reality, does nothing to expand consumer choices and give a vehicle owner access to repair data.

“Any new agreement touted in the letter is entirely unenforceable and nothing more than window dressing,” Rzepka continued. “This letter and agreement should be seen for what they really are---an attempt to prevent Congress from advancing consumerfocused legislation like the SMART

“ASA has been a steadfast advocate for the right of independent repair shops to vehicle service information since before the 2002 service information agreement it signed with automakers,”

SCOTT BENEVIDEZ

ASA

BOARD CHAIRMAN AND

OWNER

OF MR. B’S PAINT & BODY SHOP INC

Creating an Extraordinary Customer Experience Before, During and After Collision Repairs

In my July 2023 column, I shared part of a conversation I had with one of my teammates at Collision Advice, Sheryl Driggers, about what she sees it takes to create an extraordinary customer experience at your auto body shop.

The customer experience is about more than just “customer service.” Those are individual moments, but are only part of the customer’s overall experience of interacting with your brand start to finish, not just during the time spent interacting with your employees. Our conversation was based on our belief that customers won’t really notice a “normal” experience with your shop, only an “extraordinary” one. Here’s more of what Sheryl and I discussed.

Mike: What else should go on during that conversation?

Sheryl: Talk to the customer about being their advocate throughout the claims and repair process. Give them a designated person to be able to contact. At our shops, we designated a person who was the contact for each customer, the one responsible for contacting that customer every other business day. The customer had that person’s email address and cell phone numbers so they could call or text if they had questions in between those updates.

Another one of the most important things that I think that shops often do not communicate clearly is the value of their shop’s warranty. Early on, talk about what that warranty includes, what that means for the customer. Often you hear insurance companies talk customers into going to their preferred network or their DRP shop because of the warranty. So it’s important that shops talk about their warranty early on, and explain even in that first in-person repair consultation what it means to the customer.

Mike: Sheryl, we talked previously about what goes into creating an extraordinary customer experience prior to them even arriving at the shop. Now let’s talk more about what else needs to happen prior to repairs.

Sheryl: Sure. So once we have the customer in front of us, in our office, how do we communicate the value of choosing our shop? No one likes to go somewhere and be “sold.” No one wants that pushy, aggressive salesperson just trying to sell them something. So I always say: We don’t have to sell; we just have to communicate the value of our shop to customers.

As I’d mentioned, talk about the shop certifications you have, and why that certification matters to them. Show not just that you have advanced training and equipment to repair the vehicle back to when it was when it was manufactured, but also explain how that helps maintain the vehicle warranty.

Mike: So after that is it just about fixing the car correctly?

Sheryl: No, there’s more to it. We want to treat customers as if they are our VIPs, so when we give them that extraordinary experience, they then become brand evangelists. Sure, you have to fix the car the way that the manufacturer says it should to be fixed, using the repair guidelines from the manufacturer. But you’re supposed to do that. So that’s average. That’s normal.

You have to look for opportunities to be extraordinary. You have to look for opportunities to be generous with your customers, to do things that they do not expect. Maybe the customer’s car has a scratch on the other side of the vehicle that you are able to buff out. When you are generous with the customer, you help create an extraordinary experience.

Mike: What else do you see going into that process?

Sheryl: Well, one of the most important things that we can do with that customer during repair is always overcommunicate. Mike, you wrote a column once citing that quote from author Jon Gordon who said, “Where there is a void in communication, negativity will fill it.” So communicate to avoid those voids, even from the beginning, through the disassembly phase, through writing a complete repair plan. Keep the customer informed on what is going on. Even if you’re waiting for someone else—maybe on the bill payer to approve a supplement—make sure that the customer is in the loop during the entire process.

And you have to be responsive. We have to respond to the customer quicker than they expect. One of the things we asked our customer service team at our shops to do was to always have the customer updates done before 10 a.m. Because if a customer is expecting a phone call from you today, if they don’t hear from you before lunch, they’ll automatically assume you’re not going to call. So it’s important to always respond quicker than they expect.

Mike: So does that bring us to the vehicle delivery process after repairs?

Sheryl: That’s right. We’ve got to finish strong. And so one of the things that we did was we set up delivery appointments in order to make sure we were prepared and had the time we needed to spend with that customer. The first thing that we did at the delivery

appointment was review the repairs with the customer at the car. We were proud of the work that we did. We weren’t trying to hide anything. So we reviewed the repairs with the customer, while at the same time talked again about the warranty. We talked about the CSI survey that they’d be receiving in a couple of days, stressing that we value their feedback. And then after all of that is done, that is at the point where we will collect any kind of payment or insurance check that we needed from the customer.

Mike: Is there more about the payment process that can help create an extraordinary customer experience?

Sheryl: Yes, we would send the customer the final bill electronically, and offer them the option to pay electronically if they wanted. We could send them a link before they even showed up at the shop for the delivery appointment to take care of that, if they wanted. Some people want to do everything on paper, while others want to do everything electronically. So giving customers options is important.

Mike: Sheryl, I can’t thank you enough for sharing your expertise with me on creating an extraordinary customer experience—so that I can share it with the readers of my column. I’m proud to work with you.

So, readers, what goes into creating an out-of-the-ordinary experience for the customers at your shop? I’d really love to hear your ideas. Shoot me an email at mike@ collisionadvice.com!

Sheryl Driggers of Collision Advice.

Ford Best Selling-Brand in U.S. in Q2

Ford was America’s best-selling brand in the second quarter of 2023 on the strength of its trucks, EVs and new vehicle launches, posting sales gains of 11.2% for the quarter.

Ford is now the best-selling brand and has the best-selling truck in America for six consecutive months this year. F-Series has been the bestselling truck in America for 46 years in a row.

Ford truck sales accelerated in Q2, climbing 26.2% on the strength of the new Super Duty and improved inventory flow. This is the second straight quarterly gain for Ford and best Q2 sales performance since pre-COVID 2019.

Ford was the No. 1 selling truck manufacturer in Q2 and for the first half of the year. Sales climbed 26.2% in Q2. Through the first half of 2023, Ford’s overall truck sales totaled 549,625, up 23.1% and outselling GM’s trucks and vans by approximately 61,000 trucks.

Ford EV Sales Gain Momentum

Ford’s EV sales continue to grow building on the sales momentum of the F-150 Lightning and Mach-E, which achieved higher sales

through stronger inventory.

“Ford achieved both best-selling brand and truck for six consecutive months this year on the strength of F-Series, vans, our new Escape and F-150 Lightning,” said Andrew Frick, vice president, sales distribution, and trucks. “Our EV sales continue to grow. Improved Mustang Mach-E inventory flow began to hit at the end of Q2 following the retooling of our plant earlier this year, which helped Mustang Mach-E sales climb 110 percent in June.”

F-150 Lightning sales were up 119% in Q2 over year ago and a 4.1% gain from Q1. F-150 Lightning continues to attract new customers to Ford with 50% new to the brand, based on most recent conquest data. Year-to-date, Ford EV sales rose 11.9%. Ford’s overall EV sales were up 35.5% in June.

With the launch of Ford’s all-new Super Duty pickup and chassis cabs, F-Series sales increased 34% increase in Q2 on sales of 212,516 F-Series trucks. That’s up 24.7% from the first quarter. F-Series total industry share hit almost 36% in Q2—up almost 5 full percentage points over Q2 last year.

Through the first half of this year, F-Series remains America’s best-selling truck on sales of 382,893 trucks—outselling secondplace Silverado by approximately 118,000 trucks. Ford Maverick sales increased 7.8% in Q2 ahead of additional capacity coming online in July to meet continued strong customer demand.

Combined F-Series, Ranger and Maverick sales of 246,155 pickups outsold all of GM’s Silverado, Sierra, Colorado, Canyon and Hummer EV in Q2 of this year. Ford’s combined sales of F-Series, Ranger and Maverick were up 26.7% in Q2 over a year ago.

The strength of Ford’s vans continued to shine for the quarter. Transit continued as America’s bestselling van in Q2 on sales of 32,031— up 30.1%, compared to year ago. Ford E-Series vans increased 63.7% in Q2 and are up 55.7% this year. Ford was No. 1 in commercial sales, based on the most recent registration data through April. Ford’s U.S. Class 1-7 commercial trucks and vans share grew to 40.3%, up 1.0 percentage point from the same period a year ago.

Meanwhile, Lincoln closed the quarter with sales gains thanks to improved inventory. Navigator Q2 sales increased 20.1% on sales of 4,688 vehicles, while sales of the new Lincoln Corsair climbed 27% in June to end the quarter. Nautilus sales also saw a 58.5% increase in June at the end of Q2.

BlueCruise, Ford’s driver assist technology, continues to be a hit with customers. Customer usage has now surpassed 90 million hands-free driven miles, cumulatively, a 40% increase since the end of Q1. Ford’s latest version of the technology, BlueCruise 1.2, allows hands-free lane changes with the tap of a turn signal and delivers a more seamless driving experience. Ford will continue to improve the BlueCruise experience for its customers and deliver it through over-the-air updates.

Sales of the new Escape were up 28.7% in Q2. Forty percent of Escape Q2 sales are the new ST-Line series. Nearly half of the Escape Plug-in Hybrid customers are new to Ford.

Source: Ford

Stellantis on June 27 launched Free2move Charge, a 360-degree system that will seamlessly deliver charging and energy management to address all EV customer needs, anywhere and in any way. Managed by the new Stellantis Charging & Energy Business Unit, Free2move Charge addresses electric vehicle customer needs at home, in their business and on-the-go.

“As the pace of mainstream EV adoption accelerates, our customers need us to be more than just a mobility provider,” said Ricardo Stamatti, Stellantis senior vice president, Charging & Energy Business Unit. “We are taking the lead in establishing a dedicated business unit that will support our bold electrification strategy and act as a natural extension of our iconic brands. Free2move Charge is the first product rolling out, exemplifying our purpose of delivering performance, value, sustainability and electrified mobility freedom for all.”

e-ABC Promise: easy to Always Be Charged

Making it easy to Always Be Charged (the e-ABC Promise), Free2move

Charge also makes it smart, understanding users’ needs and optimizing overall energy management to improve efficiency, reliability and access, reducing the total cost of ownership and maximizing environmental benefits.

Working with a Free2move e-Genius team, customers will be able to create a personalized package they can change and adapt at any time during the ownership experience, allowing it to evolve and always be tailored to their needs. e-Genius support will be available first in Europe.

By removing barriers to battery electric vehicle ownership, including charging anxiety, Free2move Charge is a key tool to achieve the goals of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, including reaching a 100% passenger car battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales mix in Europe and a 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the U.S. by 2030.

Free2move Charge: Built on Three Pillars

Free2move Charge Home delivers private customers support with installation, financing and warranty

To Always Be Charged’

of home charging and other energy hardware and services. Options can range from AC charging cables and wall boxes today to Vehicle-2Home, Vehicle-2-Grid and complete energy management systems with cutting-edge features like touchfree wireless solutions and inductive robot charging under development for future releases.

Free2move Charge

Business tackles all hurdles as a onestop-shop platform with a full suite of charging and energy services: earlyon support, estimation of initial and future running costs, right-sizing of charging infrastructure, installation, maintenance and public charging access while on the go.

Free2move Charge GO guarantees seamless access to the largest possible curated network of public charging points through partners in North America, Europe and other regions to be announced soon. In addition to access, payment and 24-7 support, Free2move Charge GO will progressively launch leading features like Plug and Charge, reservations, loyalty programs, subscriptions, prepaid packages, single invoice/billing and

even deliver a charge to a requested location when needed.

Free2move Charge will harness the power of the Stellantis Energy Cloud, seamlessly integrating with vehicle-branded mobile apps and the state-of-the-art STLA SmartCockpit platform launching in 2024 to deliver fast, intelligent routes and charging recommendations to customers based on their actual usage and needs. Free2move Charge will guide Stellantis customers through an onboarding process to understand their individual needs, allowing for deep personalization and using AI learning to constantly improve its knowledge about the most convenient individual charging experience.

Free2move eSolutions, a Stellantis tech company, will continue to develop and provide industry-leading charging hardware and software that supports the Free2move Charge ecosystem, as well as non-captive customers, and work with other industry leaders to bring more EV charging solutions to market.

Learn more at free2movecharge. com.

Source: Stellantis

CIF Continues Legacy of Service, Providing Emergency Relief and Connecting Collision Repair Industry

By Stacey Phillips Autobody News

At any moment, someone in the collision repair industry could be impacted by a natural disaster or other catastrophic event.

“If that were to happen, the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) ensures that others in our industry will be there in support,” said CIF President Michael Quinn, who is also president of AirPro Diagnostics. “We help each other, we look after each other, and we connect the industry.”

Prior to the creation of CIF in 2001, members of the collision industry rallied donations and volunteers to perform works that would benefit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House. Although their efforts were successful, Quinn said they were the result of the work of a small group of people and required a substantial personal investment in time and administration.

CIF project leaders discussed building a foundation to coordinate fundraising, create committees, gather volunteers and brainstorm. At the time, volunteers had committed to raising $500,000 toward constructing a medical center for Camp Make-A-Dream, a free camp for children with active cancer. They realized it was no longer possible for a handful of volunteers to coordinate a project of such enormity.

individuals with suppliers or other industry providers, and/or lending a hand to rebuild or retool.

Since its inception, CIF has managed the funds donated to support charitable and educational causes in the collision industry. They are disbursed after trustees, selection committee volunteers and leaders review the projects. Due to the complexity of some projects, CIF funds the foundation’s administration.

of assistance. Quinn said this differed from past disasters or catastrophic events that were tied to a particular geographic area or location. CIF had not dealt with a situation of this magnitude.

CIF used the reserves in the Disaster Relief Fund to make an initial commitment of $100,000 to assist those impacted by COVID-19. The organization also put out a call to the industry for donations. The outcome was raising an additional

“We could not fulfill our mission without our entire network of donors, volunteers and supporters,” added Ann Gonzalez, CIF vice president. “No words can express the depth of our thanks to this industry for allowing us to do this work on their behalf. Speaking for the CIF board, we thank our CIF community from the bottom of our hearts.”

In 2022, the annual fundraising gala was held after being on hold for nearly two years due to the pandemic. “This event provided the opportunity to bring industry individuals together as well as raise additional funds through event ticket sales, raffles and silent auctions,” said Quinn. For 2023, the event is going to be held during its usual timeframe on Jan. 18 in Palm Springs, CA.

Typically, raffle and auction items are donated to CIF so all proceeds from those sales go directly to the Disaster Relief Fund.

As a result, they formed CIF, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated April 26, 2001. CIF’s founders include Mark Claypool, Glen Funk, Dan Greenwald, Marco Grossi, Jeanne Silver, Charles Sulkala and Doug Webb

The organization’s mission is to provide emergency relief by securing and distributing donations to collision repair professionals who have experienced significant losses due to natural disasters or other catastrophic events. That assistance can be monetary, connecting

In the early years, CIF worked closely with the National Auto Body Council (NABC), whose members suggested worthy causes. Some of the charitable projects funded by CIF have included donations to local causes, including children’s hospitals and abused women’s outreach programs; donations to sponsor student participation at the 2005 WorldSkills competition and fund the purchase of a handicapped accessible school bus for Camp Make-A-Dream; and The Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Fund for collision industry victims. Following Hurricane Rita, the Disaster Relief Fund was created to aid industry victims of any natural disaster.

Until 2020, CIF coordinated fundraising to raise money for specific disasters. Members of CIF’s Board of Trustees typically reach out to organizations that have donated in the past or they feel would be good candidates. The CIF Gala, typically held annually in January, has been a major fundraiser for CIF since 2010.

During the pandemic, the need for assistance was widespread across the country due to layoffs and reductions in work hours at collision repair shops. Hundreds of individuals found themselves in need

$150,000 that was dispersed to individuals in need. CIF Trustees vetted each request and responded to more than 700 requests for assistance from 38 states.

Through the pandemic, CIF implemented new methods of fundraising. These included online events, such as a magic show and a silent auction.

In addition to the call for pandemic assistance, in 2020, CIF participated in Giving Tuesday, a national day of philanthropic support. Forty donors contributed to these efforts. The organization has continued to participate in Giving Tuesday for the past two years.

The CIF Annual Donor program was introduced in 2021 so it would be easier for industry organizations to make an ongoing commitment to CIF, streamlining the donation process for CIF and supporting organizations. There are currently 36 donors, up from 23 annual donors in 2021.

“Our annual donor commitments make it possible for CIF to provide assistance to our industry brothers and sisters in times of crisis,” said Quinn. “We appreciate their generosity and ongoing support and are honored to conduct work on their behalf.”

At the July 2022 gala in Pittsburgh, PA, CIF was proud to present a check for $15,000 to Bryan Miller, an individual from the collision industry who displayed heroic bravery and resiliency despite suffering thirddegree burns over most of his body. Miller hopes to find a new role in the industry and continue working in a shop. Numerous donations of money, as well as training, equipment, etc., have allowed him to plan his next steps.

Unfortunately, Quinn said there will always be another disaster like the record flooding in Kentucky or wildfires in Oregon, or another health care emergency like COVID-19. “It is our intention that CIF will always be there—reaching out through our distribution channels, seeking to identify individuals in need, and providing whatever assistance we can,” he said.

Future plans include expanding the annual donor program and gaining visibility with additional industry organizations. CIF is increasing the number of trustees on its board to fill the seats with leaders from various industry segments and building closer connections with other nonprofit organizations.

“People who become connected with CIF do so in support of our mission and vision, with a desire to contribute and serve,” said Quinn. “We are part of an industry that looks after our own, who have big hearts and take generous actions. Whatever the need, CIF is there and will be there, continuing our legacy of service.”

The CIF Board of Trustees includes, pictured left to right: Scott Walton, SherwinWilliams; Treasurer Dan Risley, CCC Intelligent Solutions; Secretary Petra Schroeder, “Collisionista;” Jeff Wildman, BASF; Jim Ocampo, Axalta; Frank LaViola; Yvette Burke, Enterprise Holdings; Vice President Ann Gonzalez, NAHQ; Cheryl Boswell, DCR Systems; Bryan Robinson, PPG; Kelly Broderick, Sherwin-Williams; and President Michael Quinn, AirPro Diagnostics. Casey Steffen, Saint-Gobain Abrasives, and Jordan Hendler, Admin Concepts, are not pictured.

“We could not fulfill our mission without our entire network of donors, volunteers and supporters. No words can express the depth of our thanks to this industry for allowing us to do this work on their behalf.”

ANN GONZALEZ CIF VICE PRESIDENT

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

Barber Honda Bakersfield

661-396-4235

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5:30 bestchoice@barberhonda com

Capitol Honda San Jose

408-445-4412

Dept Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30-6; Sun 8-5 sbettencourt@penskeautomotive com

Concord Honda Concord

925-825-8016

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6 kevin valenzuela@concordhonda com

Galpin Honda Mission Hills

800-GO GALPIN

818-778-2005

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2 mteeman@galpin com

Honda of El Cajon

El Cajon

619-440-5851

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

Honda of Hollywood Hollywood

800-371-3719

323-466-3205

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6 parts@hondaofhollywood com

ACURA

CALIFORNIA

Acura of Concord Concord

925-680-4233

Dept Hours: Mon-Sat 7-6 keith�whisten@cacargroup�com

Acura of Fremont Fremont

888-435-0504

510-431-2560

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 mike ohare@acuraoffremont com

Acura of Pleasanton

Pleasanton

888-985-6342

925-251-7126

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-6 mitch cash@hendrickauto com

Honda of Pasadena Pasadena

800-433-0676

626-683-5880

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4

Honda of the Desert Cathedral City

760-770-0828

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-5 mpartridge@honda111 com

Keyes Honda Van Nuys

818-756-6549

Dept Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 malvarez@keyeshonda com

Larry Hopkins Honda

Sunnyvale

408-720-0221

408-736-2608

Dept� Hours: M-Sat 8-5 parts1@hopkinsdirect com

Metro Honda Montclair

800-446-5697

909-625-8960

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 7:30-4 wholesaleparts@metrohonda�com

Pacific Honda San Diego

858-565-9402

jgardiner@pacifichonda com

San Francisco Honda San Francisco

415-913-5125

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5 partsws@sfhonda com

Scott Robinson Honda Torrance

310-371-8320

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6:30; Sat 7-5 mluna@scottrobinson com

Selma Honda Selma

800-717-3562

559-891-5111

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-4:30 hondapartsmgr@selmaautomall com

Larry H. Miller Honda Boise

888-941-2218

208-947-6060

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5

Hinshaw’s Honda

Auburn

253-288-1069

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-4:30 rickb@hinshaws com

McCurley Integrity Honda Richland

800-456-6257

509-547-7924

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-4 hondaparts@mccurley net

South Tacoma Honda

Tacoma

888-497-2410

253-474-7541

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 bgregory@southtacomahonda com

AutoNation Acura Torrance

310-784-8664

310-539-3636

Dept Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 alvaradow1@autonation com

Bakersfield Acura

Bakersfield

661-381-2600

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 bakersfieldacuraservice@yahoo com

Marin Acura

Corte Madera

800-77-Acura

415-927-5350

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-4 parts@marinacura com

Metro Acura Montclair

800-446-5697

909-625-8960

Dept Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 wholesaleparts@metrohonda com

Acura of Honolulu

Honolulu

866-931-9086

808-942-4557

Dept Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4

Johara@lithia com

Tokuda@lithia com

RayleenGarcia@lithia�com

Hinshaw’s Acura Fife

253-926-3331

Dept Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-5 johnny@hinshaws�com

How To Use ‘Blue Sky Thinking’ To Bring Innovative Ideas Down To Earth

By Abby Andrews Autobody News

As automotive technology, like ADAS and electric vehicles, evolves at what feels like an unprecedented rate, it can be scary, but it’s also an opportunity to dream big.

That was the message in CEICA’s latest webinar June 29, “The Future Digital Landscape: Embracing Blue Sky Thinking,” with Chuck Olsen of AirPro Diagnostics.

buzzword,” Olsen said. “A lot of cool stuff happens.

“Genuine blue sky thinking needs to be open to any avenues of thinking,” Olsen added. “It needs to break free from any limitations, to solve problems and how we can move forward.”

It can be done individually or in a group—the point is that ideas beget more ideas.

“You don’t want to rule out any solutions, no matter how infeasible it might seem,” Olsen said.

“One person might come up with a blue sky idea that’s completely impossible, but it might inspire another. That’s where innovation takes place.

headlights, electronic fuel injection, air bags, seat belts, electric steering, remote start and cruise control.

Within the last few years, more ADAS features, electric and hydrogen power propulsion, and autonomous driving have been introduced or explored.

“All these [new] systems are dependent on things that happened before,” Olsen said. “As new ideas come into play, old ideas have to be accounted for, so we continue to build on them.

“Looking at those things and how we got there is important, so we can make solid decisions as we go forward,” he said.

The blue sky brainstorming stage is only the beginning, Olsen said.

some rules,” he said. “The only consistency in a business is continued change. Same thing with technology.”

The third and final step is bringing the idea down to the “brown ground.”

“The brown ground is where things are happening,” Olsen said. “When it comes down to it, sometimes you don’t have permission to do what you want to do. Those limitations are discovered on the ground.”

As a recent example, Olsen said Tesla overcame the microchip shortage that began in 2020 by reprogramming firmware in its vehicles.

“I’m sure there were several meetings to come up with the ideas to make that happen,” he said.

“Blue sky thinking” is open-minded brainstorming—developing ideas and possible solutions that might seem untethered to reality at first, but could spark something that can be put into practice.

“Blue sky is much more than just an executive management

“Every idea is a good idea in your head—you need to say it out loud to get others’ feedback,” he said. “It might be a bad idea after all, but it could lead to another better idea.”

The next step is bringing down an idea from the blue sky to the “green line,” where you start looking at how the idea might work—or not—with existing rules and regulations.

“This is where economics come

Companies are developing advanced lidar, Level 5 autonomous driving technology, new air bags and holographic displays.

“These are things of scientific fiction but they’re coming into reality,” Olsen said. “We have to figure out

Small Pickups Fall Short When It Comes To Rear-Seat Safety

Most small pickups fall short when it comes to protecting passengers seated in the rear, the latest crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show.

“Our updated moderate overlap front crash test proved to be challenging for small pickups,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “A common problem was that the rear passenger dummy’s head came dangerously close to the front seatback, and in many cases, dummy measurements indicated a risk of neck or chest injuries. All these things tell us that the rear seat belts need improvement.”

None of the five small crew cab pickups IIHS tested earns a good rating. The Nissan Frontier is rated acceptable. The Ford Ranger earns a marginal rating, and the Chevrolet Colorado, Jeep Gladiator and Toyota Tacoma are all rated poor. The ratings only apply to the crew cab versions.

IIHS launched the updated moderate overlap front test last year after research showed that 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

focus on the injuries most frequently seen in back-seat passengers.

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

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 sliding forward beneath the lap belt, or “submarining”. The head should also remain a safe distance from the front seatback and the rest of the vehicle interior. A pressure sensor on the rear dummy’s torso is used to check whether the shoulder belt is too high, which can make the restraint system less effective.

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 five small pickups provided good protection in the front seat. However, measurements indicated a slightly higher risk of leg or foot injuries to the driver in the Gladiator and Tacoma.

In the Colorado, Frontier, Ranger and Tacoma, the restraints in the back seat allowed the rear dummy’s head to come too close to the front seatback. That was not an issue for the Gladiator. However, its rear restraints do not include a side curtain airbag, increasing the risk of injury from a hard impact with the interior of the vehicle or even something outside it.

In the Ranger, the rear dummy submarined beneath the lap belt, causing it to ride up from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, which increases the risk of internal injuries.

Otherwise, injury measures taken from the rear dummy indicated a moderate or likely risk of both neck and chest injuries in the poor-rated Colorado, Gladiator and Tacoma and a moderate risk of chest injuries in the marginal-rated Ranger.

Source: IIHS

The 2022 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab was rated acceptable by the IIHS after undergoing an updated moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) is delighted Crash Champions joined the CIF Annual Donor Program at the Urgent Care (second highest) tier.

Introduced in 2021, the Annual Donor Program was designed to bring needed recurring resources to the foundation, so it can deliver on its mission to “Answer the Call” when those in the industry have been impacted by catastrophic events such as wildfires, hurricanes and flooding. Learn more about the tax-deductible donations for the program at www. collisionindustryfoundation.org/ uploads/1/2/0/0/120099486/ cif_ad_order_form2023-0313.pdf

For more than two decades through the generous support of corporations and individuals, CIF has been able to assist hundreds of collision repair professionals in need after disaster.

CIF is grateful for Crash Champions’ first time support of the Annual Donor Program.

Source: CIF

Tesla Driver in Fatal Model S Crash in CA Gets Probation

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

The driver of a Tesla involved in a crash in California in 2019 that caused the deaths of two people in another car has been sentenced to two years of probation, after pleading no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter.

The case is significant as it is believed to be the first felony prosecution in the U.S. involving a driver who was using a driverassist system like Tesla’s Autopilot.

At a preliminary hearing in March 2022, prosecutors said Kevin George Aziz Riad was driving the Model S when it ran a red light at Vermont Avenue in Gardena, CA, at 74 mph, resulting in a fatal collision with a Honda Civic. Riad was believed to be operating the Tesla on Autopilot when the crash occurred.

The crash resulted in the deaths of Gilberto Alcazar Lopez, 40, and Maria Guadalupe NievesLopez, 39. Relatives of the

victims said the couple was on their first date at the time of the crash. Riad and his girlfriend, who was a passenger in the Tesla, suffered minor injuries and were hospitalized.

As reported by the Daily Breeze, Riad entered a no contest plea June 22, and immediately received his sentence: probation, 31 days of work for Caltrans or another approved group, 100 hours of community service, 90 days of house arrest and participation in a hospital and morgue program.

Tatevik Tigranyan, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office,

said if Riad violates his probation, he could face a four-year prison sentence.

During the legal proceedings, the prosecution said Autosteer and Traffic Aware Cruise Control in the Model S were engaged at the time of the collision. A Tesla engineer who testified in the case noted sensors in the vehicle showed Riad had his hand on the steering wheel. However, crash data showed no brakes were applied in the six minutes prior to the accident. Tesla constantly reminds its customers to pay close attention to the road when using features like Autopilot or Full Self-Driving to avoid potential accidents.

Riad’s defense attorney, Arthur Barens, had previously argued for the charges to be reduced to misdemeanors, asserting any negligence by Riad would have resulted in a citation had the fatal crash not occurred. However, the judge disagreed with the defense attorney’s argument.

By John Yoswick Autobody News

PartsTrader data indicates parts delays have eased over the past 12 months, the company reported in a recent webinar. Across all part types—OEM, non-OEM, used and reconditioned—the median delivery time has been steady across the past year at just above one day, according to Greg Horn, chief innovation officer for PartsTrader.

But if nine out of 10 parts needed for a job typically all arrive promptly, Horn said, it’s the outlier that tells more of the story.

per non-OEM part had been trending below OEM parts until the fourth quarter of last year, when the average price of the two types converged because non-OEM parts prices had increased faster (about 9.4%) than OEM since the end of 2021. The average OEM part in May was just $3 more than the average non-OEM part.

But Horn also noted those comparisons include all parts that the OEMs produce, including lower-cost parts such as clips and emblems that non-OEM parts manufacturers don’t offer.

So he ran the same data looking

last year. He pointed to the rapidly increasing number of EV models available, from fewer than 50 in 2021 to 125 or more this year, and more than 150 by 2026.

If you think about the owners of electric vehicles, if you look at the demographics, they are generally in cities, highly-populated areas. The density creates more likelihood of accidents as opposed to being in the countryside.”

PartsTrader data shows the average price per non-OEM part had been trending below OEM parts until the fourth quarter of last year, when the average price of the two types converged because non-OEM parts prices had risen faster than OEM

“Averaging dilutes the impact of that one part out of 10 that is significantly delayed,” he said. “By looking at the median plus two standard deviations, you capture 95% of the population.”

That number stood at 11.9 days in May, according to PartsTrader data, Horn said. That’s down significantly from 13.3 days in January, and from 14.7 days in mid-2022—even if it remains higher than the 7.4 days in the first quarter of 2021.

“It’s a good sign that we’re returning toward more on-time deliveries, fewer back-ordered parts,” Horn said.

Part Price Inflation Trends

Horn also shared some PartsTrader data on parts price inflation. The average cost per recycled part in May was $325, up 6.2% from the end of 2022, and up 12.8% from the average ($288) at the end of 2021.

Interestingly, the rise in new OEM parts and non-OEM parts has been significantly lower—and by one measure, the average price of the two types of parts is virtually identical. The average price per new OEM part in May ($189) was up just 3.2% from the end of 2021. The average price

only at top volume parts—bumpers, doors, fenders, lamps and hoods— often available in both OEM and non-OEM versions. That comparison shows both a significantly larger difference in average part price between OEM ($534 as of May) and non-OEM ($316), and more of a difference in parts price inflation between the two.

The average price for those highvolume OEM parts is up 16.8% since the end of 2020, including increases in 2021 (4.8%), 2022 (7.7%) and in the first five months of this year (3.5%). By comparison, the average of those types of non-OEM part price rose sharply (25%) from the end of 2020 until the end of 2022— but has remained basically flat this year.

Industry consultant Terry Fortner, who participated in the webinar with Horn, said that change is likely due to increased cargo costs to import non-OEM parts during the worst of the supply chain issues, which have eased more recently.

EV Sales Accelerating

Turning to the topic of EVs, Horn said EVs accounted for 7% of new car sales in the first quarter of this year, up from 4.6% during the same period

“Mercedes-Benz alone launched seven new models of full EVs,” Horn said. “You see price reductions from Tesla. You see more and more vehicle types. So now the share of EVs in the U.S. car [fleet] is 3.69 million. That’s roughly about 1%.”

By 2030, EVs are expected to account for 28% of new car sales, and 8% of the U.S. vehicle population.

A 2022 study by European insurer AXA found EVs in that market are involved in 50% more traffic accidents than internal combustion passenger vehicles.

“But think about how fast EVs are,” Fortner said on the webinar. “If you own a Tesla or have driven one, they are rocket ships. And

Horn said the weight of EVs is likely to cause more damage than lighter vehicles in crashes. While the average passenger car is about 3,700 pounds, he said, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Tesla Model 3 are more than 4,600 pounds, the Rivian R1T is 7,148 pounds, and the Hummer EV is more than 9,000 pounds.

“That’s quite a fulcrum when it hits another car,” Horn said.

He also shared photos found on social media of what appears to be a light hit involving a Toyota rearending a Rivian R1T.

“It looks like it was just an impacted rear bumper,” Horn said. “But [the owner] took it to a certified Rivian shop—you can see a full teardown here, including removing the entire bed—and they came up with $42,000. The initial estimate that was done with photo-based estimating… was $1,600. The insurance triaging seems to have missed the mark by a bit.”

“It’s a good sign that we’re returning toward more on-time deliveries, fewer backordered parts.”

GREG HORN

CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER FOR PARTSTRADER

States Enact Legislation Related to OEM Procedures, Labor Rate Studies

By John Yoswick Autobody News

With this year’s legislative session wrapping up in many states, here’s a round-up of some the new laws impacting the collision repair industry.

fail to agree on the amount of a loss.

Rhode Island lawmakers also passed a bill (H 6027) requiring insurers covering a claim in which the insured’s vehicle is a total loss to extend rental car coverage for an additional week after the insured receives the total loss payout. That law became effective without the governor’s signature.

Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law legislation (HB 3297) eliminating that state’s vehicle safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles as of Jan. 1, 2025.

to which an automobile insurance company controls or influences repair work done” for customers at body shops, and the impact of direct repair programs on both shops and consumers.

Florida

those repairing or replacing glass on a vehicle equipped with ADAS to inform the customer if a recalibration is required and has been performed to meet OEM specifications.

Virginia

Rhode

Island

Gov. Daniel McKee signed into law legislation (S 925) making it an unfair claims practice for an insurer to refuse to compensate a shop for “documented procedures identified as necessary by the original equipment manufacturer [or] paint manufacturer… when requested by the repairer.”

The new law also limits what insurers can negotiate if they fail to meet the existing state requirement to perform supplemental reviews within four business days after requested by a body shop, and adds an appraisal provision into state law, spelling out the process if a consumer and insurer

Vermont

Just prior to the close of the legislative session, an amendment tacked onto a 122-page otherwise-unrelated bill (S 95) calls for the state’s commissioner of financial regulation to conduct a study of collision repair labor rates, “the use of aftermarket parts, [and] market conditions,” making a report of findings and recommendations” by November 2024.

The bill, signed into law May 31 by Gov. Phil Scott, said the study should look at labor rates in surrounding states as well, and determine whether Vermont should establish a minimum labor rate. It is to examine “the extent

Gov. Ron DeSantis in June signed into law a bill (SB 7052) that gives state regulators there greater authority to investigate insurance companies and levy heavier fines for misconduct. He also signed into law a bill (SB 1002) that prohibits a policyholder from entering into an assignment of proceeds agreement for an auto glass claim under a policy issued after July 1.

Oregon

Lawmakers passed a bill (SB 256) that prohibits the manufacture, sale or installation of any counterfeit supplemental restraint system, or the installation of any part or device that prevents a vehicle from failing to warn the driver that the airbag system is not functional.

Maryland

Gov. Wes Moore signed into law legislation (HB 920) that prohibits an insurer from steering a glass claim to a particular vendor, and requires

Carrying auto insurance is no longer optional in Virginia under legislation (SB 951) signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin; drivers previously could pay a $500 fee to register a vehicle without insurance, but that option is now repealed.

Maine

Both chambers of the legislature passed a bill (LD 1661) that mandates that liability insurance policies cover the costs of towing and storage of certain vehicles.

Minnesota, Arkansas and New Mexico

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed into law legislation (HF 30) increasing the record-keeping requirements for scrap metal dealers purchasing a detached catalytic converter. Similarly, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law an Arkansas bill (HB 1365) aimed at curbing catalytic converter theft, as did New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (SB 133).

By Eric Loveday InsideEVs

Once considered an EV startup, automaker Tesla has progressed far beyond that status now, recently landing the top four spots in Cars. com’s 2023 American-Made Index ranking.

According to the index, the top 10 most American-made cars are:

U.S. manufacturing workforce and location of final assembly,” Cars.com said. “Though the other factors are accounted for in scoring, without people on the ground in plants to build them, a car’s not making the list no matter the rest of its credentials.”

and ultimately lifted the Model X and Model S, lagging of yesteryear, to complete the sweep,” Cars.com said.

With Tesla capturing the top four spots, there’s no doubt it’s the most American-made automaker out there. Volkswagen grabbing the sixth spot with the ID.4 is a bit of a surprise. Initial production of the ID.4 for U.S. consumption was based in Germany. However, VW started producing the U.S. ID.4 in Tennessee, enough to place it sixth on the list.

Labeling Act and therefore won’t make the rankings.

Lucid presumably didn’t make the cut due to its small workforce here in the U.S. However, the Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV also didn’t make the cut. Looking at the criteria, it seems both were disqualified due to the fact they are being discontinued.

A few more EVs made the top 100 American-Made list: the Ford F-150 Lightning came in 38th, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is 92nd and the Nissan Leaf is 93rd.

Cars.com explained the criteria for making the list and it’s a bit more complex than you might think:

“The AMI’s criteria for judgment include percentage of domestic parts content and country of origin both for engines and transmissions, but arguably its most important are

Tesla got further boosted in this year’s rankings due to Giga Austin coming online and producing vehicles in volume.

“A substantial year-over-year boost in employment at its plant in Austin, TX—where the No. 1-ranked Model Y is produced—aided all Teslas in our workforce calculations

If you’re wondering why Rivian didn’t make the cut—in fact, it’s not even on the list of the top 100—that’s because the weight of the R1T and R1S put both outside of the light-duty vehicle category. Likewise for the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck and SUV. The upcoming Tesla

Looking at automakers as a whole, the top three for share of U.S. light-duty sales from domestic assembly for the 2023 Model Year are Tesla Inc. with 100%, Ford Motor Co. with 77.5% and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. with 73.1%. Tesla again leads by a wide margin and will likely retain that 100% figure for the foreseeable future.

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1. Tesla Model Y

2. Tesla Model 3

3. Tesla Model X

4. Tesla Model S

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7. Honda Odyssey

8. Acura MDX

9. Honda Ridgeline

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New-Vehicle Quality Taking a Back Seat To Innovation As Problems Reach a Record High

New vehicles are becoming more problematic, evidenced by the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) rising a record 30 PP100 during the past two years. According to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), released June 22, the rise in problems is 12 PP100 greater than in 2022, which follows an increase of 18 PP100 in 2022 from 2021. In 2023, the industry average is 192 PP100. A lower score reflects higher vehicle quality.

The continuing decline in quality can be attributed to multiple factors such as greater usage and penetration of technology; continued integration of known problematic audio systems into other new models; poor sounding horns; cupholders that don’t serve their purpose; and new models with 11 PP100 more than carryover models.

“The automotive industry is facing a wide range of quality problems, a phenomenon not seen in the 37-year history of the IQS,” said  Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. “The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future. From persistent problems carrying over from years past to an increase in new types of problems, today’s new vehicles are more complex— offering new and exciting technology--but not always satisfying owners.”

The U.S. Initial Quality Study, now in its 37th year, is based this year on responses from 93,380 purchasers and lessees of new 2023 model-year vehicles who were surveyed early in the ownership period. The study is based on a 223-question battery organized into nine vehicle categories: infotainment; features, controls and displays; exterior; driving assistance; interior; powertrain; seats; driving experience; and climate. The study is designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and to drive product improvement. The study was fielded from February through May 2023. While problems with driving experience are flat year over year, quality declines in all other categories. The largest year-over-year increase in the number of problems is in the features, controls and displays category (+3.2 PP100), followed by infotainment (+2.3 PP100).

Key Findings of the 2023 Study

Vehicle basic door handles are increasingly problematic: Opening a door was once a non-discussion point— an aspect of a vehicle that had been examined, engineered and mastered. The basic touch point of door handles is now a percolating problem area as manufacturers attempt to redesign them. Owners are having issues with high-tech approaches to this

basic function; seven of the 10 most problematic models in this area are battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

Safety systems causing problems: More than three-fourths (80%) of owners say their new vehicle includes all four of the primary driver assistance features—forward collision warning, lane keeping assistance, lane departure warning and blind spot warning. However, problems owners encounter in the driver assistance category have increased 1.8 PP100 year over year. The most problematic areas are lane departure warning/lane keeping assistance (7.2 PP100) and forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking (5.0 PP100) for those that have these features.

Owners increasingly happier with apps: Manufacturer smartphone apps improve 0.4 PP100 this year as the market penetration rate grows to 76%. BEV owners in particular use their app at least 68% of the time, primarily to monitor the charging process and to view their vehicle’s available range. The higher usage and unique BEV use cases translate to more problems experienced using the app in comparison to those with an internal combustion engine vehicle. Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS) issues: A 21.5 PP100 gap exists between vehicles that have an Android Automotive OS without Google Automotive Services (51.1 PP100) and those vehicles that don’t have this system (29.6 PP100). This is only for the operating system for in-vehicle infotainment, not for the smartphone mirroring systems of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Smartphone charging becomes most deteriorated problem: Across all 223 problems measured in the study, wireless charging pad not working properly has increased by a sizable 1.1 PP100 and is driven by both increased penetration and more usability issues with the technology. Users are experiencing several problems, including poor location, phone overheating and intermittent charging, if at all. “This is the area where manufacturers really have the opportunity to delight customers with this convenience, but instead are creating a problem for them,” Hanley said.

Biggest movers and shakers: Brands that show the largest year-over-year improvement are Maserati (73 PP100 improvement), Alfa Romeo (68 PP100 improvement) and Ram (45 PP100 improvement).

Unofficially ranked automakers fill bottom spots: Tesla Motors, with 257 PP100, increases 31 PP100 year over year, while Polestar (313 PP100) improves 15 PP100 year over year. Lucid Motors (340 PP100) and Rivian Motors (282 PP100) are included in the industry calculations for the first time but have

too small a sample size to be award eligible. These automakers are not officially ranked amongst other brands in the study as they do not meet ranking criteria. Unlike other manufacturers, they do not grant J.D. Power permission to survey its owners in states where authorization is required. Nonetheless, a score was calculated based on a sample of surveys from owners in the other states.

Highest-Ranking Brands and Models

Dodge is the highest-ranking brand overall in initial quality with a score of 140 PP100. Among mass market brands, Ram (141 PP100) ranks second and Buick (162 PP100) ranks third.

Among premium brands, Alfa Romeo ranks highest with a score of 143 PP100. Porsche (167 PP100) ranks second and Cadillac (170 PP100) ranks third. The parent corporation receiving the most model-level awards is General Motors Company (seven awards), followed by Hyundai Motor Group (five) and Toyota Motor Corporation (four). Among brands, Chevrolet and Kia receive the most segment awards (four).

General Motors Company models that rank highest in their respective segments are Buick Encore GX, Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac XT6, Chevrolet

Camaro, Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet Tahoe.

Hyundai Motor Group models that rank highest in their respective segments are Genesis G80, Kia Carnival, Kia Forte, Kia Rio and Kia Stinger.

Toyota Motor Corporation models that rank highest in their respective segments are Lexus GX, Lexus IS, Toyota Camry and Toyota 4Runner.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has the highest-ranking model overall, the Nissan Maxima with 106 PP100, and the Nissan Murano ranks highest in its respective segment.

Plant Quality Awards

Toyota Motor Corporation’s Tahara Lexus, Japan, plant, which manufactures the Lexus IS, Lexus LS and Lexus NX, receives the Platinum Plant Quality Award. Plant quality awards are based solely on defects and malfunctions and exclude design-related problems.

General Motors Company’s plant in San Luis, Potosi, Mexico, which produces the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for North/South America. BMW AG’s plant in Born, Netherlands, which produces the MINI Cooper and MINI Countryman, receives the Gold Plant Quality Award for Europe and Africa.

Source: J.D. Power

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Ford Motor Company, the Ford Fund and Team Rubicon on June 20 announced Team Rubicon Powered by Ford, a new disaster relief initiative that will serve the growing number of communities across the U.S. impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires.

According to studies, 90% of U.S. counties experienced a federal climate disaster between 20112021. Ford’s investment—which includes a fleet of vehicles, a $2.5 million philanthropic donation, and a commitment to deploying employee volunteers—greatly expands Team Rubicon’s ability to provide no-cost services to vulnerable communities in the wake of these disasters and crises.

“At the heart of Ford is our commitment to help out our communities in times of need and make it possible for our employees to volunteer their time and talent to help others,” said Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford Motor Company. “The reality is weather-related disasters in the U.S. are becoming more frequent and more severe. That is

why we are significantly expanding our relationship with Team Rubicon, donating a fleet of vehicles and deploying volunteers where they are needed most.”

Hurricane Harvey in 2017 to the Texas ice storms in 2021 to deadly storms in eastern Kentucky in 2022, Ford has shown up for communities in need by deploying vehicles to provide emergency transportation and power, delivering essential goods and funding direct service providers.

with first responders, medical professionals and technology solutions, Team Rubicon aims to provide the greatest service and impact possible.

Team Rubicon Powered by Ford builds on nearly 25 years of disaster relief efforts by Ford. The company has invested in disaster relief efforts since 1999, when a catastrophic earthquake struck Turkey, and Ford mobilized vehicles, volunteers and other lifesaving aid in the region.

Since then, Ford has consistently supported disaster relief efforts in communities across the country and around the world. From

Over the last few years, the Ford Fund has donated $7 million to disaster relief efforts globally, including $1.5 million in previous investments to Team Rubicon.

Team Rubicon is a veteranled humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during and after disasters and crises. Founded following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the organization has grown to more than 160,000 volunteers across the U.S. and has launched more than 1,100 operations domestically and internationally. By pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans

“It starts with shared values— Team Rubicon and Ford both embrace the ethos of service, a vision of creating and strengthening communities—we’re committed to service,” said Art delaCruz, Team Rubicon CEO and retired U.S. Naval officer. “This Ford fleet and its innovative technology, in addition to the Ford Fund investment, exponentially increases our ability to reach those who have been impacted by disasters and crises. We are thankful for the longtime support and generous investment from the Ford Motor Company and the Ford Fund, and look forward to showcasing the possibilities that can happen when purposedriven companies team up with humanitarian organizations.”

Source: Ford Motor Company

Ranger Introduces TruSensor

Universal

Ranger Division of BendPak, a leader in wheel service equipment, introduced its TruSensor universal TPMS solution for diagnosing and programming tire pressure monitoring systems on import and domestic cars, SUVS, vans and trucks.

Offering 98% global vehicle coverage, the new TS58R kit includes a portable diagnostic and programming tool, metal stem sensors, snap-in rubber sensors, USB interface cable, OBDII cable and power cord, all packaged in a durable, padded carrying case.

The Ranger TruSensor TS58R tool can test tire pressure, temperature and battery life. It can read and clear TPMS diagnostic trouble codes, reset warning lights and accurately diagnose car key remotes and fobs. Technicians can control all operations through the 4.3-inch color touchscreen or by using soft-touch buttons.

Learn more at bendpak.com/ trusensor or call 805-933-9970.

Source: BendPak

Estimated Traffic Fatalities Drop in First 3 Months of 2023

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its first projections for traffic fatalities in 2023, estimating 9,330 people died in traffic crashes in the first three months of the year. This represents a decrease of about 3.3%, as compared to 9,645 estimated fatalities during the same time in 2022.

The first quarter of 2023 represents the fourth straight quarterly decline in fatalities after seven consecutive quarters of year-to-year increases in fatalities, beginning with the third quarter of 2020.

“After spiking during the pandemic, traffic deaths have been on a slow but consistent decline for the past year,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This is an encouraging sign as we work to reverse the rise in roadway deaths, but there is much more work ahead to reinforce this downward trend and make it permanent.”

The projected decrease occurred alongside a 2.6% increase in vehicle miles traveled.

The estimated fatality rate for the first three months of 2023 decreased to 1.24 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, down from the projected rate of 1.32 during the same time in 2022.

“This is very good news, but we know that far too many people are dying on our roadways in preventable crashes,” said NHTSA Chief Counsel Ann Carlson. “We are taking significant action to reduce traffic fatalities, including moving forward on new vehicle standards to make cars even safer, investing millions of dollars to improve infrastructure and roadway safety, and working with our state and local partners to help drivers make safe decisions on the road.”

NHTSA estimates that for the first three months of 2023, fatalities decreased in 32 states, while 18 states and Puerto Rico have projected increases in fatalities as compared to the same period in 2022. The District of Columbia remained unchanged.

Last January, Buttigieg unveiled the department’s National

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Roadway Safety Strategy to address the national crisis in traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The NRSS adopts the safe system approach and builds multiple layers of protection with safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds and better postcrash care.

The NRSS is complemented by unprecedented safety funding included in President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including the new Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. In February, the department announced more than $800 million in grant awards for more than 500 communities to help carry out projects that can address high-crash areas. DOT also launched the next phase of the NRSS, its Call to Action campaign, and released a one-year progress report and accompanying data visualizations that highlight the extent and magnitude of the U.S. roadway safety problem.

Source: NHTSA

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Audi, Volkswagen Donate Damaged Vehicles To Collision Repair Educational Programs

Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), Audi of America and Volkswagen of America are proud to announce they have partnered to donate 78 Audi and Volkswagen vehicles to collision repair programs throughout the U.S.

These donations will enhance the education of thousands of collision repair students and support the next generation of the automotive workforce. In a rapidly changing industry, it is critical students have access to the latest vehicles and technology.

dealerships and collision centers near the various schools, to ensure there is support for both the students and the schools by providing career opportunities for students and sourcing parts and addressing any technical questions for the school.

“Audi and Volkswagen are giving back to the industry and the communities they work in by connecting their certification programs to the donation. They aren’t just donating the cars; they are also connecting local dealerships and national training staff to the schools

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hands-on instruction for 480 students across four CTE [Career and Technical Education] campuses throughout Oakland County,” said Christopher Vraniak, campus dean for OSTC Southwest. “The donated vehicles that are assembled and equipped with the newest technology provide our students with the opportunity to train on the cutting edge of the industry. Moreover, the EVs will put our students well ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest industry trends. This is greatly important; our advisory committee has shared that the industry is rapidly moving towards EVs, so the donation of four EVs to our campuses was a very significant donation for which we are very, very grateful. This is one of the largest donations we have ever received and will be a foundation for our students moving forward.”

The donated Audi and Volkswagen vehicles were damaged during shipping to the point that they could no longer be sold to customers. Upon evaluation, a group of Audi and Volkswagen employees knew this wasn’t the end for these vehicles as they were still functioning and intact.

The CREF team got to work with Audi and Volkswagen on how these vehicles could serve a new purpose. Months of planning, coordinating and reviews among this dedicated group of Audi and Volkswagen employees, CREF and schools resulted in the donation of these vehicles to automotive training programs throughout the country.

“We want to advance the next generation of technicians, and we’re committed to a more sustainable future,” said Mark Allen, manager of collision, equipment and EV aftersales service at Audi of America. “This was an opportunity where creativity and an open mind enabled us to live our sustainability values and map out a new way to help our industry.”

Allen partnered with Tony Russo, Volkswagen Group of America damage prevention and port policies senior specialist, to reimagine the use of many vehicles damaged beyond reasonable repair. The Audi and Volkswagen team worked directly with CREF to help facilitate the donation of these vehicles.

Allen and Russo also coordinated with Audi and Volkswagen

receiving the donations to ensure the sustainability of these programs,” said CREF Director of Marketing and Project Management Amber Ritter “The foundation is incredibly grateful for this donation, and we are looking forward to seeing how the donation of both ICE vehicles and EVs benefit students’ ability to better prepare for industry careers.”

The donated vehicles range from large SUVs like the Audi Q7 to comparatively smaller cars like the Audi A3. There is also a mix of both ICE vehicles and EVs, including the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi e-tron.

The schools benefiting from these Audi and Volkswagen donations include the following:

Maryland

Center of Applied Technology North, Severn

Center of Applied Technology South, Edgewater

Gaithersburg High School, Gaithersburg

Michigan

Oakland Community College, Rochester Hills

Oakland School Technical Campus (OSTC)

OSTC Southeast, Clarkston

OSTC Northeast, Pontiac

OSTC Southeast, Royal Oak OSTC Southwest, Wixom

New Jersey

Leaders from the various schools emphasized the importance of their students having the opportunity to work on newer vehicles with current technology. Having this access will put their students in a position to become higher skilled entry-level technicians when they graduate.

“The donations will have a major impact on providing engaging,

“It is important to always be ahead and prepared for what is coming in the industry as our graduates are employed by companies throughout Tennessee and the nation,” said Cris Perkins, associate vice chancellor for strategic advancement and executive director of the Foundation for the College System of Tennessee, which supports the public Tennessee

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Audi, Volkswagen Donate

Colleges of Applied Technology and the state’s community colleges.

“This partnership and donation helps further the mission of the Foundation for the College System of Tennessee to continually look for ways to bring in equipment and funding to help train our students as they learn at our colleges and make great employees.”

“All of these programs are often underfunded, so finding parts and cars is the hardest aspect these instructors face when reviewing their budgets. They operate on a shoestring of funds, making it incumbent on the instructor’s ability to trade, buy and sell cars or have fundraising events to fund their program,” said Tim Pfeifle of Tysons Corner Collision Center in Vienna, VA. “This donation will help many local programs, and I am so proud my supporting manufacturer is making this very generous donation, which will pay dividends to our industry for years to come.”

Audi and Volkswagen also recognize the need for students to receive the proper training on these modern vehicles, especially at a time when the nation is experiencing a major shortage of collision repair specialists. These donations further

the goals of Audi and Volkswagen to attract and educate technicians on state-of-the-art vehicles.

“We have paired these learning institutions with local Audi Authorized Collision Center or VW Certified Collision Centers as well Audi and VW dealers. These relationships will provide opportunities for mentoring and opportunities for future employment,” Russo said. “The schools will use the vehicles for both technical and collision classes until the vehicles can no longer provide any additional training value.”

Once the vehicles can no longer provide value to classrooms, learning institutions will contact their local first responders who will use the vehicles for further training. First responders look for the latest equipment to use during training, allowing them to learn the cut points and other hazards when conducting extrication drills. The remains will then be sent off for recycling.

Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs can contact us to learn about the many ways to get involved. Monetary donations can be made online.

Source: CREF

Tesla’s Price Cuts Nearly Wipe Out Autonomy Subscription Service

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Tesla’s price cuts have helped the automaker find new customers and grow its sales throughout the U.S. and other markets. But for companies that have made a business out of renting Teslas to customers on a subscriptionbased platform, it spells disaster.

Autonomy, a company that has quickly become the “Tesla” of its respective sector, nearly became a victim of these price cuts.

Scott Painter, CEO of Autonomy, has made Teslas and other EVs available to people in a subscription, paying an up-front price and then a monthly rate more flexible than leasing and less expensive than a long-term rental.

The fleet of Tesla vehicles Autonomy has accumulated over the past few years has a value, and when the EV maker’s price cuts took effect, that value diminished significantly.

“Instead of having an $85 million fleet, we suddenly had a, say, $56 million to $57 million fleet in one day,” Painter said to Bloomberg. “We were very vulnerable to our lenders in that moment.”

The cuts affected Autonomy’s business so much it went through a forbearance process to gain $12 million in new capital and shrunk its workforce significantly from 120 to 45.

Painter and Autonomy initially planned to have 23,000 EVs ordered, but goals announced last year were pushed aside due to the depreciation of its fleet. Autonomy has 1,300 cars currently and will need roughly 1,700 more to break even, Painter said. This will require $20 million more in funding, which will likely unlock $100 million in borrowing capacity.

Autonomy continues to expand into new markets, making its subscription service available to customers across the U.S.

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

Nissan Foundation To Award $1.2 Million in Grants

The Nissan Foundation is awarding $1.2 million to 39 nonprofits that share and celebrate diverse cultural perspectives, experiences and voices to communities across the country—the first time it is awarding more than $1 million during its annual grant cycle.

The grant recipients are based in communities surrounding Nissan facilities in Southern California, Middle Tennessee, Central Mississippi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Southeast Michigan, New York City and Atlanta.

Fresh off its 30th anniversary, the Nissan Foundation has awarded nearly $16 million to approximately 150 nonprofits since its founding in 1992. The Nissan Foundation was created as a direct response to the civil unrest that followed the Rodney King trial verdict. At that time, Nissan’s then U.S. sales headquarters was based just blocks from the riot’s epicenter.

The 2023 grantees include museums, public television stations, libraries and other nonprofits.

Source: Nissan Foundation

New Cars Are Getting More Expensive To Fix, But Don’t Blame EVs Just Yet

By Sam D. Smith CarScoops

The cost of new car repairs has been steadily rising over the years. Increased complexity, new components and a trend towards non-repairable energy-dissipating elements mean if you’re in a collision in a new car, you’re likely going to have to pay more than ever to get it back to showroom condition.

Predictably, the rise in average repair costs—an increase of 36% since 2018—is having a knock-on effect on insurance premiums. According to Mitchell, a company that tabulates data from insurance and auto repair, insurance rates are up by 17% in the last 12 months through May.

“The modern digital architecture is so advanced that systems beyond point of impact are being disrupted,” said Ryan Mandell, director of claims performance for Mitchell, speaking to The New York Times. “Getting a car back to pre-loss condition is harder than at any point in history and will only become more challenging.”

But despite various incidents

highlighting the sometimes excessive repair quotes for EVs, such as when a rear-ended Rivian R1T was given a $42,000 repair estimate, the data could tell a different story. In fact, while the average repair costs of an EV following an accident are indeed higher, they’re not markedly so over their ICE counterparts.

while premium segment vehicles are roughly equal in their repair costs.

There are other factors at play too. According to the data, 18% of combustion vehicles involved in crashes have to be written off, while only 6% of EVs are totaled. Meanwhile, according to evidence from the Highway Loss Data Institute, for models that are available in both electric and ICE variants, such as the Hyundai Kona and the Volvo XC40, the EVs are just 2% more expensive to fix.

At first glance, Mitchell’s results show EVs cost $2,400 more, on average, to fix than combustion vehicles after an accident. However, 75% of electric cars involved in accidents are classed as luxury models, which cost between $40,000 and $110,000 new. Fixing a more mainstream EV—such as those from Nissan—costs only $800 more than its ICE equivalent,

Although a damaged battery pack is still going to jack up repair costs, automakers are working on ways to minimize the financial burden of such replacement. BMW‘s EVs allow for the modular replacement of battery elements identified thanks to crash sensors. GM is developing a similar method to allow dealerships to replace individual battery modules, and the Ford Mustang Mach-E can swap overall components into a new battery tray.

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Average New-Vehicle Price in June Posts Smallest Annual Gain in Nearly 4 Years

The average price Americans paid for a new vehicle in June was 1.6% higher than one year ago, the smallest year-over-year price increase since the start of the global pandemic.

According to Kelley Blue Book, a Cox Automotive company, the average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle in June was $48,808, a month-over-month increase of 0.3% ($150) from an upwardly revised May reading of $48,658. Compared to the start of the year, however, transaction prices are down 1.7%, or $865, the largest January to June tumble in the past decade.

“The fact that average transaction prices are up a meager 1.6% year over year in June is notable,” said Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive. “A year ago, the industry was looking at transaction prices that were consistently up 10% to 12% year over year. With no inventory in place, it was inflation gone wild. Now, as inventory has been consistently building and supply and demand are finding a balance, the price gains seem to be well under control. In fact, average transaction prices are down from the start of the year. That’s good news for shoppers.”

For comparison, in June 2022, new-vehicle transaction prices were up 12.4% year over year. In all of 2022, the smallest year-over-year gain was in October, when prices were higher by only 4.2%. A year earlier, in October 2021, prices were up 14% year over year as inflation raged in the new-vehicle market.

Meanwhile, auto manufacturers’ incentive spend increased for the ninth consecutive month in June to the highest level since October 2021, averaging $2,048, or 4.2%, of the average transaction price. One year ago, average incentive

spending was 2.3% of ATP.

In June 2023, the average price consumers paid for a new vehicle fell to $345 below manufacturers’ suggested retail price (MSRP), or sticker price. For comparison, a year ago, the average ATP was $698 above MSRP.

Supported partly by improved pricing, new-vehicle sales in June by volume were the highest since May 2021. Sales into fleet and increasing incentives contributed to the 20.7% year-over-year volume gain. Compared with May, new-vehicle sales were up 0.5% in June.

Average Prices for Non-Luxury Vehicles Essentially Flat in June

The average price paid for a new, non-luxury vehicle in June was $45,291, up only $17 compared to May. Year over year, non-luxury prices increased by 2.5%. Since January, though, non-luxury vehicle prices have held remarkably steady. Six months ago, the non-luxury ATP was $45,555.

The average incentive spend was 4.0% of ATP in June in the nonluxury segment, up from 2.4% one year ago. Mainstream brands with particularly tight inventory continued to keep incentive spending down in June, with Toyota, Kia and Honda all well below the industry average in incentive spending.

Average Luxury Prices Down Year Over Year, Driven Mostly by Tesla Price Cuts

In contrast to the non-luxury segment, luxury vehicle prices in June were down more than 2% year over year. The average luxury buyer paid $63,977 last month, up $305 from May. Since the start of the year, luxury prices have declined by more than 4%. Tesla, the luxury

GM Acquires Battery Software Startup

General Motors Co. announced June 30 it acquired substantially all the assets of Israel-based battery software startup ALGOLiON Ltd. for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition was led by the newly formed Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) organization, a group within GM.

ALGOLiON, which received early support from the Israeli Innovation Authority, was founded in 2014. The company has developed sophisticated software that uses data streams from EV battery management

systems to help identify anomalies in cell performance to ensure proper vehicle health management and provide early detection of battery hazards including thermal runaway propagation events.

ALGOLiON’s software, coupled with GM’s internal capabilities and vast experience in delivering best-inclass products at scale, can greatly accelerate time-to-market of a costeffective early hazard detection system for the benefit of millions of GM’s customers worldwide.

Source: GM

market leader, has slashed prices by more than 11% so far in 2023. In June, according to Kelley Blue Book estimates, the average Tesla buyer spent $55,106 for a new vehicle, down from more than $62,000 in January.

Overall, the luxury segment continued to deliver strong results in June. The luxury share of the U.S. market was 18.8% last month, up from 18.4% in May. Luxury share in the first half of 2023 peaked in January when it hit 19.1% of the market.

New Electric Vehicle Prices Down 20% From One Year Ago

EV prices continue to fall, again led by market leader Tesla. In June, the average EV ATP was $53,438, down from a revised $54,528 in May and down from more than $61,000 in January. Incentives for EVs in June were 7.1% of ATP, behind only luxury vehicles.

EV ATPs are down nearly 20% from their recent peak of $66,390 in June 2022. The price declines in the EV segment follow inventory increases experienced by some automakers in 2023. Overall, as measured by days’ supply, the EV category is well above the overall industry. At the end of

June, the EV segment days’ supply was 103 days, while industry days’ supply stood at 53.

“The steep drop in average EV prices this year, led by Tesla price cuts, has been a key driver of overall, industry-wide price moderation,” added Krebs. “A year ago, the average EV price was above the average luxury vehicle price. Today, as inventory and availability build, EV prices are moving closer to the industry average.”Auto Incentives Offered by Manufacturers Reach One-Year High

Incentives averaged $2,048 in June to reach the highest point in a year, increasing to 4.2% of the average transaction price compared to 4.0% in May. While June incentives increased by $102 month over month, they remain historically low. For comparison, Kelley Blue Book estimates incentives averaged 6.4% of ATP in June 2021 and 10.0% in June 2019.

The luxury car segment had the highest incentives in June 2023 at 7.4% of ATP, followed by electric vehicles at 7.1%. Meanwhile, incentives on vans remained at the lowest level at only 0.3% of ATP.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

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By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

A 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 owner who was riding in the front passenger seat of the truck was killed May 13 when the Takata airbag inflator exploded in a crash.

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has issued a “DO NOT DRIVE” warning for 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks that have not had their Takata airbags replaced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the fatality was caused by a ruptured passenger-side Takata airbag inflator, and it involved one of 385,686 trucks recalled in 2015.

Like several automakers involved with Takata airbag recalls over many years, Chrysler said owners continue to ignore the importance of the Takata recalls.

“Six recall notices were sent to this customer’s home address. All went unheeded,” FCA said.

At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by exploding Takata airbag inflators in various models from several automakers, but it’s the first fatality in a Ram truck.

“The company extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the customer whose life was lost in the May tragedy. It is the fourth such incident known to involve an FCA-brand vehicle,” Chrysler said.

of dying or being seriously injured because of a defective, recalled Takata airbag. These repairs are absolutely free and could save your life.”

NHTSA is correct, and there is no reason any of these trucks should not have been repaired long ago.

Automakers involved in the Takata airbag disaster have taken extreme measures to convince vehicle owners to keep occupants safe by having their vehicles repaired. In some cases, manufacturers have sent teams of representatives to the homes of owners across the country in an attempt to convince customers to have the airbag inflators replaced.

free repairs.

The owner loaned the Chrysler 300 to a family member who was killed when the driver’s airbag exploded.

The “do not drive” warning for 2003 Dodge Ram trucks joins stopdriving warnings for 2005-2010 Dodge Magnum, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles with unrepaired recalled Takata airbags.

According to FCA, it will provide free alternative transportation to assist customers with getting to and from dealerships.

NHTSA said if a recalled Ram truck has not been repaired, occupants are “at grave risk of serious injury or death.”

“The older a defective Takata air bag inflator gets, the more dangerous it becomes,” said NHTSA Acting Administrator Ann Carlson “Please, get your airbag replaced now for your sake, and for the sake of those who love you. Don’t put yourself or someone you love at risk

In 2022, it was confirmed a Chrysler 300 driver was killed by a Takata airbag even though the owner asked FCA about the airbag recall in 2018. However, the Chrysler owner declined to have the airbag inflator replaced and the automaker continued to send warnings about the airbags.

According to FCA, the company tried “114 outreach attempts” during a period of seven years but the vehicle was never brought in for

If you own one of these recalled vehicles or believe you know someone who does, call the Fiat Chrysler Takata call center at 833585-0144 or visit www.mopar.com/ en-us/my-vehicle/recalls/takatarecalls.html

Progressive Using Mitchell Estimating Platform

Mitchell, an Enlyte company, on July 11 announced Progressive Insurance has implemented Mitchell Cloud Estimating TruckMax to help better manage appraisals of collision-damaged light-, mediumand heavy-duty trucks.

The carrier first selected Mitchell’s cloud-based estimating solution in 2019 for claims involving personal autos and motorcycles.

Available in the U.S. and Canada, Mitchell Cloud Estimating TruckMax makes it possible for insurers and collision repairers to write estimates on the most common commercial trucks on the road today. It includes more than 57,000 unique configurations for medium- and heavy-duty trucks along with lightduty trucks and vans.

Mitchell Cloud Estimating TruckMax features integrated aftermarket parts pricing directly from suppliers, detailed exploded diagrams, in-house authored procedure pages, extensive labor data and intuitive paint refinish calculations.

Source: Mitchell

‘Who

Pays’

Survey Finds Shops Increasingly Billing, Being Paid For Seat Belt Inspections

The percentage of shops getting paid for the labor involved in inspecting seat belts and their associated components has more than tripled since the question about it first began to appear annually in the “Who Pays for What?” survey series in 2016.

This not-included repair operation—for which every OEM has a very specific procedure— is a necessary and required part of a safe collision repair, said Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, adding he will not be satisfied until 100% of shops are performing it.

“I know I have been saying this for years, but of the 100-plus not-include’ repair procedures we cover in the surveys each year, this is the one that keeps me awake at night,” said Anderson, who conducts the “Who Pays” surveys with CRASH Network. “Anything less than 100% on this question is very concerning because it indicates to me that too few

shops are researching OEM repair procedures and are thus not aware of this requirement.”

The industry does appear to be headed in the right direction on the procedure. In 2016, 63% of shops acknowledged they had never included it on a final invoice—that’s fallen to about 33% today—and of those who had in 2016, more than half (56%) said insurers would never pay for it. Today, one-third still believe insurers won’t pay them for the procedure, even while 44% of the shops that do charge for it say they get paid all or most of the time by the eight largest national insurers, and another 27% are paid at least sometimes.

“I am glad to see the big improvement, but more is needed,” Anderson said. “As an industry, we must accept responsibility for researching and following the requirements for this on every single vehicle we repair.”

The latest quarterly “Who

Pays for What?” survey is now open through the month of July. It focuses on notincluded frame and mechanical labor operations. Shops can take the survey at https:// www.surveymonkey.com/ r/8CRPC28

Survey participants receive a free report with complete survey findings along with analysis and resources to help shops better understand and use the information presented.

The survey can be completed in less than 15 minutes by anyone familiar with their shop’s billing practices and the payment practices of at least some of the largest national insurers. Each shop’s individual responses are held in the strictest confidence; only aggregated data is released.

The results of previous surveys are also available online at https://www.crashnetwork. com/collisionadvice.

Source: CRASH Network

By Iulian Dnistran InsideEVs

Rivian will reveal the first model in the smaller, more affordable R2 range in early 2024, according to the company’s CFO Claire McDonough, who spoke with Emmanuel Rosner during Deutsche Bank’s Global Auto Industry Conference Call.

McDonough said she saw the clay model teased recently during a Q&A session with CEO RJ Scaringe and the whole team is “incredibly excited about the differentiation of the products.”

Rivian’s first R2-based model will be a mid-size SUV crossover which could have a starting price of around $40,000 and a maximum retail price of $60,000, slotting right under the flagship R1T pickup, which starts at $73,000, and the R1S SUV that has an MSRP of $78,000.

In other words, we can expect the upcoming R2S SUV—the name

hasn’t been confirmed, but it will likely follow the same scheme as the R1 lineup—to have a similar size and price to the Ford Bronco.

Production of the R2 SUV is set to begin two years after its reveal, so sometime in 2026, when the company estimates it will have increased production of the R1-based vehicles to 85,000 units per year, up from 65,000, while production of the Amazononly electric delivery van (EDV) will go down from 85,000 to 65,000 units yearly.

With this being said, the total capacity of the assembly facility in Normal, IL, will remain at 150,000 units per year in 2024, with a second factory yet to be built in Georgia set to take over the manufacturing of the R2 models.

During the conference call, McDonough hinted at the possibility of the R2 platform reaching a global audience and not being restricted to North America only, as the R1-based

vehicles are.

“So we talked a little bit about, right, where we were in 2018, 2019, relative to the work that we’ve been conducting over the course of the last two years to get those material costs down,” McDonough said. “I hear we’re starting from a very different position of negotiations as it pertains to the R2 platform and the size and skill that that platform will become over time for Rivian. I’m not just [talking] in North America, but globally as well.”

First Rivian R2 Model To Be Revealed in 2024, Priced from $40,000 FOLLOW

PPG on June 26 announced the appointment of Alisha Bellezza as vice president, global automotive coatings, effective July 17. Bellezza, who will report to Kevin Braun, PPG senior vice president, industrial coatings segment, succeeds Vincent Robin, who has announced his intent to retire, effective July 31.

Bellezza will support PPG’s continued focus and innovation related to improving sustainability for automotive customers while also driving expansion and success in the mobility sector and contributing to growth at PPG.

Bellezza joins PPG from Chemours, where she most recently served as president, thermal and specialized solutions, and was also a member of the executive team. In her more than eight years with Chemours, Bellezza also served as vice president, global sales, commercial operations, and supply chain, from 2018 to 2020, and vice president, treasurer and head of investor relations, from 2016 to 2018.

Source: PPG

Share of Car Buyers Taking On $1,000+ Monthly Payments Hits Another Record in Q2

The cost of financing a new vehicle remains at an all-time high as car shoppers search for a new ride this summer, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds.

New vehicle transaction data from Edmunds revealed the recordbreaking financing figures from Q1 were unyielding in the second quarter: The share of consumers who financed a vehicle with a monthly payment of $1,000 or more reached a new all-time peak of 17.1% in Q2, up from 16.8% in Q1 2023 and 4.3% in Q2 of 2019.

Average monthly payments also reached a new record high of $733 in Q2, up from $730 in Q1 and $678 in Q2 2022. The average annual percentage rate (APR) ticked up a tenth of a percentage point to 7.1% in Q2, compared to 7.0% in Q1 and 5.0% in Q2 2022. 7.1% is the highest APR since Q4 2007. The average amount financed remained above $40,000 for the fifth straight quarter, settling at $40,356 in Q2, slightly below Q1 2023’s mark of $40,468 and $40,602 in Q2 2022.

“The double whammy of relentlessly high vehicle pricing and daunting borrowing costs is

presenting significant challenges for shoppers in today’s car market,” said Ivan Drury, Edmunds’ director of insights. “The Federal Reserve’s recent pause in interest rate hikes unfortunately didn’t offer much relief for consumers, and hints at further raises later this year mean auto loan rates could even continue to increase.”

Edmunds analysts conducted a deeper dive into the makeup of $1,000+ new-vehicle monthly payments and discovered not all four-figure auto loans look the same. Of the consumers who agreed to a $1,000+ monthly payment in Q2, there are two distinct subgroups:

64.5% signed up for an average loan-term range of between 67 and 84 months and an average APR of between 8.5% and 9.6%. Edmunds analysts say this group is made up of consumers who are paying thousands of dollars toward interest vs. principle and could find themselves upside down on their auto loans down the road.

15.6% signed up for loan term lengths between 31 and 48 months and a 2% to 4.8% APR. Edmunds analysts note this latter group is

likely made up of savvy consumers who are taking advantage of subsidized finance offers, which typically consist of lower-rate but shorter-term loans. On a typical $40,000 loan, consumers with a 2.9% APR over 36 months can expect to save $8,500 in finance charges compared to those with a 7.9% APR over 72 months.

“There are better ways and worse ways to spend $1,000 per month on a car note,” said Drury. “Consumers who are paying large amounts of finance charges could be in jeopardy of falling into a negative equity trap, so it’s critical to come to the table with a comprehensive budget and a feel for the financing elements of a car purchase beyond the monthly payment, including the APR.

“For those with plans to replace their vehicle over the next few months, you may have to reset any expectations of the summer discounts of old. But, on a positive note, trade-in values remain elevated compared to prepandemic times, so shop around to ensure you get top dollar for the asset you own.”

Original One Parts, Headlights Depot Merge

Original One Parts, LLC, a portfolio company of private equity firm Kinderhook Industries, LLC, announced its merger with Headlights Depot.

Serving the auto collision industry, Original One Parts operates out of two warehouse and remanufacturing facilities in Texas and Maryland. With its nine strategically located distribution centers supplying business and consumer customers, Headlights Depot adds to Original One’s capability to deliver a robust product line of reconditioned, recycled and aftermarket headlights and taillights to both collision professionals and consumers anywhere in the U.S. quickly and affordably.

Headlights Depot’s owners Eric and Jay Tannenbaum will both continue working with the newly merged business. Jay Tannenbaum will perform the duties of COO and Eric Tannenbaum those of president.

Source: Original One Parts

AAA: Prioritize Roadway User Safety Before Raising Speed Limits

By Andrew Gross AAA

Drivers desiring faster commutes might view a higher speed limit as a boon, but is it always the safest choice? And what about the safety needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and others?

A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found raising posted speed limits may do little to save time and increase traffic flow but could lead to more crashes, injuries and deaths.

The AAA Foundation’s research results varied across all 12 roadway sites examined. All had new posted speed limits—six raised and six lowered—and included various road types. Raising posted speed limits was associated with increased crashes on two interstate highways. At the same time, the study also found that lowering posted speed limits led to fewer crashes in many cases examined. But the likelihood of speed limit violations increased after lowering posted speed limits, suggesting the need for better public awareness education tied to these changes.

AAA urges transportation officials to apply a “holistic” approach when setting or changing posted speed limits and prioritize safety over speed and capacity.

“Our study analyzed before and

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 42,000 traffic deaths in 2021 and again in 2022, the highest levels in 16 years. NHTSA reported speeding was a factor in nearly 29% of the fatalities in 2021 and 27% in 2022.

Key Findings

The foundation study found:

must be carefully implemented to maintain community support, prioritize equity and consistently drive improved safety.

after data on a dozen roadways that raised or lowered posted speed limits and found no one-size-fitsall answer regarding the impact of these changes,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation. “However, it is critical to consider the safety implications when local transportation authorities contemplate making changes with posted speed limits.”

Speeding is a critical factor in vehicle crashes across the nation.

NHTSA Asks Tesla For Updated Data Amid Autopilot Probe

By Simon Alvarez Teslarati

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has asked Tesla for updated data related to an ongoing investigation into 830,000 Tesla vehicles and the automaker’s Autopilot driver-assist system.

The NHTSA is investigating Tesla’s driver-assist system after it identified more than a dozen crashes involving the feature and emergency vehicles. The agency is also investigating whether Autopilot adequately ensures drivers are paying attention while it is operating.

The safety agency sent a letter to Tesla on July 3, requesting updates to inquiries it had made in 2022. A copy of the letter made public by the agency indicated it is demanding answers by July 19, Reuters reported.

The new letter also seeks data on the number of vehicles equipped with “Tesla Vision,” which solely relies on cameras

instead of radar. The agency had previously inquired about Tesla’s cabin camera, used to check driver attentiveness while Autopilot or FSD is engaged.

Tesla has not shared a comment about the matter as of writing.

Tesla’s Autopilot (AP) allows vehicles to automatically steer, accelerate and brake within their designated lane, while Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) provides Teslas with the capability to perform lane changes on highways.

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Beta allows vehicles to navigate inner-city streets. Despite these capabilities, Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and FSD Beta do not make vehicles fully autonomous.

In 2022, the NHTSA said nine out of 11 vehicles in prior crashes exhibited no driver engagement, visual alerts or audible alerts until just moments before a collision occurred. Four vehicles did not receive any visual or audible alerts at all during Autopilot’s final use cycle.

Raising posted speed limits was associated with increased crash frequencies and rates for two of the three interstate highways examined. Lowering posted speed limits was associated with decreased crash frequencies and rates for one of the two principal arterials examined.

Changes in travel times were small in response to both raised and lowered speed limits.

AAA recommends changes in posted speed limits should consider a range of factors, including but not limited to the type of road, surrounding land use and historical crash data. AAA supports automated speed enforcement, but programs

“The movement in statehouses to raise speed limits is happening across the country in at least eight states this year,” said Jennifer Ryan, director of state relations for AAA. “But the benefits are overrated, and the risks are understated. Increasing speed limits does not always yield the positive results envisioned by traffic planners.”

This study is the third phase of the AAA Foundation research examining the effect of posted speed limit changes on safety. In the foundation’s first study, traffic engineers were asked how posted speed limits are set and what factors they consider in changing them. In the second phase, crash testing revealed that small speed increases have severe and potentially deadly effects on crash outcomes.

Source: AAA

Toyota Auto Insurance Expands

Toyota Auto Insurance, the automaker’s branded insurance product, is now available to customers residing in the states of Colorado, Georgia and Oregon.

Introduced to select markets in 2021, Toyota Auto Insurance offers customers quality, customizable coverage at affordable rates. Now, Toyota Auto Insurance customers in the Centennial State, the Peach State and the Beaver State will be able to receive an immediate upfront discount and may be able to save even more with good driver, good student or multipolicy discounts.

Toyota Auto Insurance offers consumers a quick, easy and flexible policy purchase process via Toyota’s state-of-the-art mobile app, call center agents, participating Toyota dealerships and the ToyotaAutoInsurance. com website. The insurance may be applied to both Toyota and nonToyota vehicles in a customer’s household.

Source: Toyota Insurance Management Solutions

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By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

Hyundai IONIQ 5 ICCU (integrated charging control unit) failures have caused at least 30 complaints and a federal investigation opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 ICCU failure allegedly causes a loss of motive power, a loud pop noise and a warning on the dashboard.

NHTSA interviewed several 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 owners who confirmed the problems and said varying time intervals can occur from the time owners see warnings and when the SUVs lose power.

“I was doing a three-point turn in the driveway, and heard a pop sound from under the rear seats,” one complaint said. “A warning light came on in the dash, after a little bit of time the warning changed into an error that stated pull the car over and do not drive. OBD sensor reported codes P1A90 and P0C17. Car also went

into ‘turtle’ mode preventing it from being driven normally.”

The 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 owner said the vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it stayed for two weeks waiting for technicians to inspect the SUV.

“Once they got to it, they quickly determined it was a blown highvoltage fuse, and a fault in the ICCU (integrated charging control unit),” the complaint said. “Was told there is a national backorder on the ICCU and no ETA on delivery. I was also told I am one of three Ioniq 5s waiting for a new ICCU.”

Another 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 owner described the loud pop and the resulting loss of power.

“Driving car at 60 mph, we heard a bang from the rear of the car and lost power almost immediately,” the complaint said. “Car displayed warning ‘Check Electrical Vehicle System.’ We shut it off, then restarted in limp home mode, warning now said ‘Stop Vehicle and Check Power Supply.’ The 12-volt battery no longer

charges, the car will not accept a Level 2 charge. It was towed to Hyundai for repairs. Research suggests that the Integrated Charge Circuit Unit (ICCU) and the accompanying 450V/40 AMP fuse are both bad.”

Hyundai said the failure is caused by the ICCU, which is responsible for powering the hybrid vehicle battery and the lowvoltage 12-volt battery.

“Preliminary review indicates over-current within the ICCU... can damage transistors (FET) in the LDC (DC-to-DC converter) resulting in the inability to recharge the 12V battery,” NHTSA said.

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Volvo Adopts Tesla’s NACS Connector For EVs

By Joey Klender Teslarati

Volvo said June 27 it will adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), opting to use the connector for its EVs, making Volvo the latest major automaker to do so.

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Volvo will also gain access to 12,000 Tesla Supercharger locations across North America, just as Ford, General Motors and Rivian have by partnering with Tesla.

“As part of our journey to becoming fully electric by 2030, we want to make life with an electric car as easy as possible,” Volvo CEO Jim Rowan said. “Today, with this agreement, we’re taking a major step to remove this threshold for Volvo drivers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.”

Volvo said it also expects the 12,000 Supercharger access figure to increase “as Tesla continues to expand its Supercharger network in the

region.”

Volvo will also provide an adapter for current EV owners that “wish to continue charging in the Combined Charging System (CCS) of chargers.”

Tesla first opened its Supercharger Network to Ford, announced jointly in May by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Ford CEO Jim Farley. Soon thereafter, General Motors made the decision to adopt NACS, with Rivian following. Aptera, a solar EV company, adopted NACS before any other automaker.

Volvo drivers will gain access to Tesla Superchargers “from the first half of 2024,” the company said. Ford, GM and Rivian have all stated their customers will be able to access the Supercharger Network in the spring.

Earlier June 27, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) announced it will make the Tesla NACS connector a standard and plans to initiate an expedited process to get it to that point.

By David A. Wood CarComplaints.com

Tesla sudden acceleration incidents allegedly should be formally investigated by the U.S. government, something federal safety regulators declined to do in 2021.

In a new safety defect petition filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a consumer has requested safety regulators reconsider their 2021 denial of a Tesla unintended acceleration defect petition.

According to the petitioner, an estimated 1.8 million model year 2013-2023 Tesla Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X have defects that cause sudden unintended acceleration.

The petitioner, Ronald A. Belt, claims more evidence has come to light since NHTSA looked into acceleration incidents a few years ago.

The original Tesla sudden acceleration defect petition was announced in January 2020, when a petitioner alleged unintended

acceleration had caused 110 Tesla crashes and 52 injuries.

Tesla responded to the acceleration defect petition by saying event data recorders were analyzed and the evidence showed drivers were pushing the accelerator pedals instead of the brake pedals.

“In other words, the car accelerates if, and only if, the driver told it to do so, and it slows or stops when the driver applies the brake,” Tesla said at the time.

A year later, NHTSA announced investigators could find no evidence of defects that caused unintended acceleration in Tesla vehicles.

Tesla told NHTSA the vehicles were equipped with two independent position sensors and the motor shuts down if there are errors. Tesla also said its vehicles are designed for the brake pedal to override the accelerator pedal if both pedals are pressed at the same time.

NHTSA denied the Tesla unintended acceleration defect petition and determined a formal investigation was not necessary.

“There is no evidence of any fault

in the accelerator pedal assemblies, motor control systems, or brake systems that has contributed to any of the cited incidents,” NHTSA said. “There is no evidence of a design factor contributing to increased likelihood of pedal misapplication. The theory provided of a potential electronic cause of SUA [sudden unintended acceleration] in the subject vehicles is based upon inaccurate assumptions about system design and log data.”

Safety regulators are now asked to reevaluate their decision because new evidence allegedly shows there are design problems that can cause intermittent high electrical current demands on the 12-volt DC systems.

According to the newest defect petition, alleged problems have

been found with the inverter design of Tesla Model 3 vehicles.

“Design details include high resolution photographs of printed wire boards, electronic component part numbers, connections between various components, oscilloscope traces of various signals, and schematics of some of the key circuits involved,” the new petition said. “An analysis of this data has found a cause for sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) in Tesla Model 3s that increases the accelerator pedal percent readings in both the vehicle log and in the EDR report without the driver stepping on the accelerator pedal.” NHTSA will evaluate the new defect petition and either grant or deny the petition to investigate the alleged acceleration problems.