May-June 2012 Issue

M a s t e r ’s G u i l d Leaders in the sale of quality Mopar Parts.

State Farm Parts Bid Program Hot Topic of Discussion Throughout

the Country Pages 3-7

May - June 2012 In This Issue President Steve Hofer................................ 2 Education & Training Well Worth the Grumbling!.................... 9 Future Vision; Will Driving Become Too Safe to Insure?............................10-11 CT Association Launches Placement Program.................................12 Right to Repair Passes Senate in MA.. 13 Our Supporting Vendors..................14-15

Aftermarket Parts Return to State Legislation Pages 8-9

Thoughts from The Top...................16-17 2012 FenderBender Awards...................18 FenderBender/Ratchet & Wrench.......19 ADP.......................................................20-21 Chrysler Academy....................................22 Magneti-Marelli.................................23-25 OEConnection.....................................26-27 Reynolds & Reynolds..............................28 Rousseau Automotive..............................29 Dealer Tire.................................................30 UPS..............................................................31 TidBits..................................................32-33 2012 MMG Committees.........................34

The exchange of information by like size dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

Letter from MMG President With summer just around the corner and family vacations nearing, I could not help but to think about relationships and how they impact our personal and professional lives. By Webster’s definition, the root word relation is defined as: “the relation connecting or binding participants in a relationship”. Connecting or binding participants, I interpret this as two or more parties both engaged and participating to achieve a mutual goal or sharing a common bond.

Business relationships with focused goals, mutually agreed upon by all parties and communicated well, are strongest. By increasing communication we give ourselves the best opportunity to develop strong business relationships. Therefore, it becomes imperative that we maintain open dialog. This spirit of open dialog can also be found at the root of the Mopar Masters Guild motto “the exchange of information by like size dealers in a non-competitive environment”. Guild members have long built relationships with other members and businesses by embracing this motto.

Challenge yourself to look at the relationships you have with customers, guild members or vendors and ask yourself if you have taken steps to identify and communicate common goals. Are you getting as much from your customers as your staff is giving? Take the first steps to learn about the needs of others or reach out and share a challenge that may be facing your business.

“Business is not just doing deals; business is having great products, doing great engineering, and providing tremendous service to customers. Finally, business is a cobweb of human relationships.” Ross Perot Start weaving your web of personal and business relationships.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Mopar Masters Guild Magazine. I would also like to thank our Newsletter Committe for their continued effort in putting together a publication that so many enjoy.

Sincerely,

Steve Hofer Park Chrysler Jeep Burnsville, MN 55337 shofer@parkchryslerjeep.com

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State Farm Parts Bidding Program Draws Fire

State Farm launched an online parts bidding program with improved efficiency in mind, but shops involved with the pilot aren’t convinced of the program’s value.

ANDREW JOHNSON

State Farm Insurance Co.’s launch of a pilot online parts ordering and bidding process earlier this year has sparked controversy among shops in test regions. The program, which is being tested in Tucson, Ariz., Grand Rapids, Mich., Charlotte, N.C., and Birmingham, Ala., requires shops affiliated with State Farm’s Select Service direct repair network to source parts from vendors through a Web-based process facilitated by Parts Trader.

Repairers are required to submit parts orders through Parts Trader, and vendors bid for the sale by offering their lowest possible price quote.

State Farm says the program is anticipated to become the standard for all Select Service network shops across the country. Dick Luedke, media relations specialist for State Farm, says the parts bidding program is meant to curb problems with parts returns and cycle time by improving quality, part availability, process efficiency, order accuracy and competitive pricing.

“Our focus is to provide customers with a consistently remarkable experience. Efforts to improve repair efficiency and reduce delays within the repair process support that focus,” Luedke says. “We believe it is in our policyholders’ best interests to pursue initiatives that help promote a competitive marketplace. We believe that repair quality, efficiency and competitive price are all important aspects of our repair program. Anything that benefits our shared customers is good for repairers and good for State Farm.”

Luedke says State Farm analyzed the parts ordering process used by the industry, and identified an opportunity to reduce the amount of time and effort involved with searching, locating and sourcing all part types.

“We anticipate that the repair process will be enhanced as repairers gain the ability to see a larger selection of available parts to make their purchasing decisions,” Luedke says. “The electronic parts ordering application is another resource that can assist repairers in managing their overall performance.”

But some repairers in test regions have experienced different outcomes. A shop operator in one of the test markets, who has been using the program for two months and wrote a letter to industry professionals highlighting concerns, says the process is actually hindering efficiency and parts profitability (find a full version of the letter here). The shop operator declined to use a name to maintain relations with State Farm. (Find a rebuttal to the letter here.)

Here’s a breakdown of how the new program works: 1. Shops write a complete estimate with OEM parts listed in the database and save in preliminary status.

2. That estimate is exported to the shop’s EMS directory. The Parts Trader software pulls the parts listed in the estimate into the application automatically.

3. Within Parts Trader, the parts needed for a repair are forwarded to parts suppliers for price quotes.

4. Suppliers have a minimum of one hour to submit price quotes back to the shop. When the quote time expires, shops review the price quotes and order selected parts.

5. Shops update the original estimate with the part types and prices they selected.

6. Lock-in and upload the final estimate.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

George Avery, auto claims consultant—P&C Claims for State Farm, says the program is not intended to dramatically change repairers’ part selection processes. Shops do not have to alter the vendors they source their parts from, and are not forced to meet price requirements for parts.

Avery says State Farm visits each of its Select Service shops and asks for a list of suppliers they use. That list is submitted to Parts Trader, which contacts each of those vendors to set up them up with the program if they choose to participate.

“The system is populated with only those suppliers that repair facilities already use,” Avery says. “State Farm does not put any suppliers into the system, and does not take any off. It’s all a result of what repairers do.”

Although roughly 98 percent of suppliers within the test markets are involved with the program, Avery acknowledges there is a possibility that a repairer’s regular supplier could refuse to get involved.

“That is perfectly fine. There is functionality within the system to continue interacting with those suppliers,” Avery says. “Shops do not have to work only with suppliers who participate with the program.”

The bidding process is the first piece of the program that the anonymous shop operator found problematic.

The shop is experiencing delays ordering and receiving parts because the process requires a minimum delay of one hour to receive price bids, afternoon cut-off times for orders can be delayed until the next workday, and there are delays uploading estimates to State Farm.

“I can say with authority that [the program] is an administrative burden, which has created inefficiencies that have dramatically slowed down our time-proven processes by a minimum of 30 percent,” the shop operator says. “Before we were forced to use this bidding software to procure our parts, our repair center had the capability to estimate damage, disassemble the vehicle for inspection and blueprinting, and have parts ordered all in less time than it takes to receive quotes through this new ‘efficiency improvement’ process that State Farm has forced us to use.”

The shop says the program is hurting efficiency in two other ways as well. Once the shop receives price bids from vendors, it has to manually re-enter parts prices and information into the estimate before it can be finalized. It’s also cumbersome for the shop to capitalize on OEM price-matching offers for parts because it has to write new estimates and submit bids multiple times.

“We write an initial estimate with all OE parts and wait a mandatory one hour before quotes are available for review. Then the estimate needs to be re-written using those quotes and submitted to another program for price-matching options. After the second round of quotes are reviewed, the estimate is re-written again,” the shop says. “That means writing the same estimate up to three times and parts are still not ordered. How does that make part ordering easier and more efficient?”

Avery says those inefficiencies are mainly due to a lack of integration among all segments that participate with the program. The company is working on implementing improvements by integrating the program with industry information providers—CCC Information Services, Mitchell International and Audatex, a Solera Company— parts suppliers and shop management systems.

With the lack of those three levels of integration, the system does currently have some inefficiency. Right now, shops have to wait a period of time before price quotes come back. Integration will remove those problems,” Avery says. “By integrating with suppliers, for example, suppliers will be able to pre-price parts and functionality will be immediate.” However, State Farm does not have any timeline in place of when those improvements

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will be completed.

State Farm says the parts bidding program is meant to promote competition within the parts industry. Shops are able to obtain the lowest possible prices by enticing suppliers to compete.

But the test market shop says that competition is hurting profitability on the company’s parts sales because part suppliers reduce the standard list price.

For example, say the standard list price of a fender is $120. As vendors compete for the sale, one supplier might drop the standard list price to $100. If you typically aim for a 30 percent profit margin on parts, shops only obtain a 30 percent profit margin on $100 rather than $120.

In addition, according to documents provided by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), some parts dealers have recognized their reduced profits due to offering lower bids. So some have started raising repairers’ costs to purchase the part, which is shrinking profit margins by multiple percentage points.

Avery says the bids that suppliers offer are completely up to them. There is no requirement to offer any discount. “State Farm is not involved in the relationship between suppliers and repairers as it relates to paying for parts. We don’t have any business in that space,” he says. “State Farm could require discounts or concessions, but we don’t think that’s the long-term model down the road. Our focus is on competition.”

Avery adds that repairers also have full control over what parts they select and where they’re sourced. There is no requirement for repairers to select the lowest bid.

But the test market shop is wary of that claim because of State Farm’s scorecard system. Competitive price is one component that State Farm rates shops on, and the shop operator feels that failure to select the lowest bid could reduce the company’s score and tiering within the Select Service network. And as a shop’s scorecard rating and tiering is reduced, it receives fewer job referrals from State Farm.

State Farm says its Select Service shops do not need to worry about being removed from the program if they don’t select the cheapest bids.

“Using the program is a provision for repairers within the Select Service agreement. Repairer refusal to use the program would cause us to part ways,” Avery says. “But actual part selection will not be the basis for removal.

Over time, repairers might find the program actually helps improve their scorecard rating.”

Although neglecting to select the lowest bid for a part seemingly defeats the purpose of the program, State Farm’s Luedke says the program benefit is wrapped in that initial three-pronged approach: quality, efficiency and price.

“If we can quantify this in terms of points, if we can gain two points in quality, we’re willing to give up one point in price,” he says. “We want the best possible combination of those three elements.”

Source: www.fenderbender.com

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May - June ‘12

Parts dealer speaks out against State Farm parts bidding program Body shops aren’t the only segment of the industry opposed to State Farm’s new online parts bidding program. Parts dealers have concerns, too.

The program, which is being tested in Tucson, Ariz., Grand Rapids, Mich., Charlotte, N.C., and Birmingham, Ala., requires shops affiliated with State Farm’s Select Service direct repair network to source parts from vendors through a Web-based process facilitated by Parts Trader. Repairers are required to submit parts orders through Parts Trader, and vendors bid for the sale by offering their lowest possible price quote.

Marvin Windham, parts manager for Benchmark Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Birmingham, Ala., and co-owner of Overnight Parts Alliance, which distributes wholesale OEM parts for 31 franchises, says his company is choosing not to participate in the program.

Windham says the Parts Trader program—which State Farm says is meant to curb problems with parts returns and cycle time by improving quality, part availability, process efficiency, order accuracy and competitive pricing—does not provide any value to his operation. He cites three main concerns: First, State Farm has said that the repair process will be enhanced as repairers gain the ability to see a larger selection of available parts to make purchasing decisions. The electronic parts ordering application is another resource that can assist repairers in managing their overall performance. But Windham says his shop customers already have efficient means of submitting parts orders electronically.

“I’ve chosen not to use it because Parts Trader provides no value to us at all,” he says. “It’s ultimately just a portal for shops to send estimates to us. But they already have a way to send orders to us electronically without charge.”

Second, State Farm has said its new parts process should reduce the amount of time and effort shops spend searching, locating and sourcing all part types. But Windham says the program creates extra administrative work on the dealer side, and the program does not lend itself to productivity gains.

When parts come in for bidding, Windham says they have to look up and verify each part the same way they would if actually selling the order. They have to specify the order, input price information and send it back to the shop via Parts Trader. That process takes up to 15 minutes per order, without knowing whether the bid will even get selected. It ends up being all wasted time if the shop doesn’t select the bid, Windham says.

Third, State Farm has said its bidding program is designed to promote price competition within the parts industry.

Windham says his company already offers its lowest possible parts prices. And he wants to ensure that shops continue to benefit from any parts discounts offered.

“I want to give discounts to my shops, but this program gives discounts to State Farm. I don’t want to take part of my discount that I offer to body shops, which I have built relationships with over the course of 35 years, and turn around and give it to State Farm,” Windham says.

Windham says profit margins within wholesale parts operations are already very low, and high fixed costs don’t allow him to reduce the MSRP on parts and still offer normal discounts to shops.

“I can’t give my standard shop discount off of a discounted MSRP. I can only offer so many dollars off of a part,” Windham says. “If I give a 5 percent discount to State Farm, then I have to take 5 percent away from my shop customer. I’m not willing to do that. I have relationships strictly with the shops, not with State Farm.”

Windham says several wholesale parts dealers could be run out of business if State Farm’s program continues and becomes a national program. There are many wholesale dealers that provide additional services to shops, such as huge parts inventories, technical information for repairs, several delivery routes in operation, and customer service representatives that offer high levels of service.

Printed with permission from FenderBender - Visit them at www.fenderbender.com

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AASP expresses opposition to State Farm parts bidding program

May 16, 2012—The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) believes that State Farm Insurance Co.’s new online parts ordering and bidding process through PartsTrader is an unprecedented and uninvited intrusion into collision repair businesses, the organization said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Despite posturing from the largest national insurance carrier on what it believes to be positive attributes of the program, collision repair facilities, parts suppliers, parts manufacturers and interested parties around the country have been consistent in their perception that this type of activity will ultimately harm their businesses and the customers they serve,” AASP said.

AASP said that collision repairers are in the business of selling parts, labor and materials at a retail level—each of which are revenue sources that contribute to a shop’s overall success. The pursuit of a profitable return on investment is a core business principle, and one that collision repairers should not relinquish to other outside parties, the organization said.

Meanwhile, AASP said, insurance carriers are in the business of insuring risk and settling losses at market value when losses occur.

“As the payer of claims, insurers should not be ‘market makers’ for pricing of individual products and services that are components of final invoices,” AASP said. “To date, insurance pressure and influence over collision repair market pricing has driven average profit margins to low single-digit figures, despite the fact that the business of collision repair has a high cost of entry and requires ongoing capital investments to keep pace with automotive technologies.”

AASP said it has received feedback from industry professionals in other markets outside the U.S. who are familiar with insurer-mandated bidding platforms. The feedback indicated that State Farm’s parts procurement program is a losing scenario for shops—repairers stand to lose both profit and control of their business.

“The negative impact of this parts program has the very real potential to quickly spread beyond parts to other areas, such as paint, and beyond the boundaries of voluntary direct repair program (DRP) agreements to the industry at-large,” AASP said. “The collision repair industry has gradually transitioned from a proud trade of hard working owners and employees to a service provider that subcontracts to the insurance industry, working on net margins that it no longer controls and that jeopardize its ability to invest in its business and to attract and train qualified employees. AASP has grave concerns for its members’ future welfare if giant insurance corporations are permitted to trample on the free market philosophies that support a culture of small business success.”

Printed with permission from FenderBender - Visit them at www.fenderbender.com

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

Aftermarket Parts Return to State Legislation At least five states have already introduced bills involving aftermarket parts use, consent and disclosure.

After a fairly quiet 2011, at least five states this year have already introduced measures that affect the collision repair industry and aftermarket parts in particular. Most of the measures center on new consumer consent or disclosure requirements.

Oklahoma has introduced a bill that would require a car owner’s consent, in writing, before the use of aftermarket crash parts would be permitted in the repair of their vehicle. The bill states that no insurer shall specify the use of aftermarket crash parts until such consent is obtained.

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1458 also introduces a new definition for “Safety Part.” The term is defined as “parts or systems essential to vehicle operation, suspension, electronic control units (ECU), brake parts, safety systems, and supplemental restraint system (SRS) components.”

Washington State is taking a similar approach to consumer consent in its House Bill 1690. This measure, a 2011 bill reintroduced for 2012, also states that a repair facility must obtain consumer consent, in writing at the time of repair, before using any non-OEM crash parts to repair vehicles that are less than five years old.

If the customer consents to the use of non-OEM crash parts, the repair facility must specify on the estimate which parts are OEM and which are not, and must include the following disclosure: “This estimate is based upon the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer crash parts that were manufactured neither by the original manufacturer of the motor vehicle nor by a manufacturer authorized by the original manufacturer of the motor vehicle to use its name or trademark. I understand that my motor vehicle will be repaired using nonoriginal equipment manufacturer crash parts as specified in the repair estimate, and I authorize the repair facility to install those specified parts.”

Consumer disclosure, but not consent, is included in a North Carolina measure. Senate Bill 490 is a bigger bill dealing mostly with premium and rate-setting regulations. However a small section dealing with aftermarket parts appears in the middle of the bill. It requires insurers to disclose the use of any non-OEM parts, including windshields, with the following statement on the estimate: “This estimate has been prepared based on the use of automobile parts not made by the original manufacturer. Parts used in the repair of your vehicle made by other than the original manufacturer are required to be at least equivalent in terms of fit, quality, performance, and warranty to the original manufacturer parts they are replacing.”

The NC measure also specifies that it is illegal for a shop to use an aftermarket part but invoice for an OEM part. The law would require insurers to report to the state any time they have reason to believe this type of fraud has occurred.

In South Carolina, legislators are proposing that repair facilities list each part on the estimate along with the manufacturer or distributor of each part and accompanied by a disclosure that reads: “Installing a part, other than a part described on the written estimate, without prior approval from the customer is unlawful. If you suspect an illegal installation of parts by your auto repair facility, call the State Department of Insurance, Consumer Assistance Office at (800) 768-3467.”

Upon completion of the job, the final invoice must be accompanied by a final acknowledgment, signed by the customer that reads, “I understand that all parts used have been listed and I agree that it has been disclosed to me what parts are original, certified, or noncertified parts.”

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South Carolina Senate Bill 70 also provides consumers with the right, upon request, to see a copy of the shop’s invoice for any part installed on the vehicle. Any discount or pricing information could be deleted from the invoice.

Straying from the theme of consumer consent and disclosure is a new bill in Hawaii. Legislators in that state have introduced a measure that says insurers must provide consumers with the choice of using OEM parts or “used or aftermarket” parts.

However, Hawaii Senate Bill 2326 states that if the insured chooses the OEM parts, “the insured shall pay the additional cost of the original equipment manufacturer part that is in excess of the used or aftermarket part, unless the vehicle is currently under the manufacturer’s warranty or original equipment parts are required by the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.”

Source: www.collisionweek.com

Education & Training: Well worth the grumbling!

Since the inception of knowledge based training through Chrysler Academy I found myself grumbling over the courses I had to take. Not to mention the time required to take them. However, I discovered that many of the courses, while seeming elementary to me at first, left me re-evaluating certain areas of my department. One in particular is the phone skills web course. After the short class I started to really listen to my staff while they were on the phone with a customer. It did not take long to discover that I had accepted or chose to ignore how mediocre they had become.

My staff, who has many years of experience, had entered into a comfort zone and had forgotten how to sound like a professional parts advisor.

To get our staff back on track and to improve our presence on the phone we started to implement department training on phone skills.

First, we made sure that our staff, whether required or not for their training at the time, signed up and participated in the phone skills class.

Second, a script was written for all parts advisors so that each parts advisor will answer the phone in the exact same manner every time.

Third, our dealership has purchased a call recording system just for the parts department. The recording system is being installed within the next several weeks. This system will be a great tool to monitor all inbound and outbound calls directed to parts. It will also become a great tool for training our advisors. We will be able to listen to both sides of the conversation and advise our employees on appropriate ways to handle any circumstance that may arise. Once the system is in place for several months I will gladly report back and let you all know how it has worked out for us and the improvements that have been made.

I still grumble a bit about the training. However, that usually subsides about five minutes into the class.

Submitted by: Gerry Oakes Baxter CJD

Omaha, NE

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

Future Vision: Will Driving Become Too Safe to Insure?

By Stephanie K. Jones | May 8, 2012

Source: www.insurancejournal.com

What would happen to the auto insurance industry if automobile safety improves to the point that vehicle collisions become relics of the past?

That’s the question explored by global consulting and research firm, Celent, in a new report that envisions a future of increasing emphasis on safety in the automobile industry and among government entities that leads to a massive drop off in auto insurance premium for U.S. property/casualty insurance companies.

In its own introductory words, “A Scenario: The End of Auto Insurance — What Happens When There Are (Almost) No Accidents,” by Celent Senior Analyst Robert Light, “describes a provocative, but plausible, scenario for the not distant future of the US property/casualty market, and explores that scenario’s implications.

“In that scenario, technology is widely deployed that radically reduces the frequency and severity of motor vehicle accidents. Consequently, the need for automobile insurance is substantially reduced — and insurers see a large reduction in their revenue as automobile insurance premiums drop.”

Private passenger and commercial auto premiums accounted for 39 percent of the total premium for U.S. property/casualty insurers in 2011, according to the report.

In the scenario proposed by Celent — and the authors make it clear that it is only a scenario that could or could not happen — the auto insurance portion of total P/C premium over the next decade would drop from 39 percent to just 13 percent.

Techno Trends The report examines four technological trends that are expected to have a significant impact on both the auto industry and the auto insurance industry during the next 10 years: telematics; collision avoidance; automated traffic law enforcement; and, to a lesser extent, robot cars.

Three of those technologies — telematics, collision avoidance and automated traffic law enforcement — are available, though not necessarily widely used, today.

The report describes telematics as the “creation and use of data regarding driving behavior that is stored in an onboard device and made available to insurance companies and other entities.”

Collision avoidance technologies include “a broad set of capabilities built into vehicles that warn the driver of dangerous situations and in some cases take active control of the vehicle to avoid a collision.”

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Among the law enforcement technologies currently in use to varying degrees are red-light cameras and speeding violation cameras that take photographs of driver infractions and are able to produce and send a violation ticket to the vehicle’s registered owner.

While robot cars are in the prototype stage — Google’s driverless car may be the most well-known example — they are a vehicles “equipped with [their] own sensing devices, processors, data sets (e.g., Google Street View), and control systems.” The technologies allow the robot car to operate autonomously “in actual street and traffic conditions,” the report says.

In the Celent scenario, if all of these technologies are utilized to their fullest extent: •

The insurance industry would see a decline in auto liability premium from 25 percent of the 2012 total to 20 percent of total 2012 industry premium over the first five years. Auto liability would then drop by another 10 percent of 2012 industry premium over the next following five years.

•

Auto physical damage would drop from 14 percent of total 2012 industry premium to 10 percent by the end of the first five years and then to 3 percent in the second half of the decade.

•

Between 2013 and 2017, total P/C industry premium would drop by 9 percent and by 26 percent from 2018 to 2022.

•

The four functional units of auto insurers that would see the greatest impact are: marketing, sales and distribution, policy service and claims.

A scenario of reduced auto collisions resulting in a decrease in auto premiums over the next decade, while not assured, is plausible because the impacting technologies already exist.

Whether or not such a scenario plays out depends on political and economic decisions, according to the report.

Technologies such as telematics, collision avoidance and, to some extent, robot cars are market-driven. If auto manufacturers believe consumers are willing to pay for such upgrades then the technologies will likely be improved upon and deployed.

In the political realm, federal and local governments will have to decide whether to mandate and deploy law enforcement “technologies given their very significant impact on how citizens and voters use motor vehicles,” the report concludes.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists Launches Placement Program for Tech Students The Connecticut Collision Repair Specialists (CCRS) has launched an Advanced Student Placement Program, created by its members. This is the first cooperative project between the Connecticut technical high schools collision repair administration and the association.

The eight qualifying technical schools have an approximate student enrollment of 400 students. This year, eighty students will graduate from the program. “We are very pleased to see an increase in the last couple of years for the collision repair program. This year, we had 131 in the freshman class. With support from CCRS, we are confident that our program will continue to grow and assist more students in finding employment within the industry,” says Dan Thibault, Transportation Technology Intern for the technical schools.

“After meeting with school administrators, instructors and students, we were told that our industry needs to offer more employment opportunities for their graduates. There are challenges that exist on both fronts - the shop owner, who needs qualified technicians and the entry level student, who needs a shop to hire him or her. We realized if we are to make a difference for the future of our industry, regarding our workforce, then we need to step up and make a formal commitment and actually hire these students,” said Lisa Siembab, CCRS Executive Director.

The CCRS Executive Board and members have pledged to participate in the Advanced Student Placement program which has two elements. The technical schools feature the Workbase Learning Program, where students are placed in an intern position with a local shop. Several CCRS members have signed up to participate in this particular program. The second element involves a commitment to hire the graduating student. “We realize that shop owners are busy - so a program where we conduct the due diligence in qualifying a student to be hired makes it easier for the employers. This process involves recommendations from the instructors, attendance records and overall grade point average,” said Bob McSherry, CCRS Chairman. “Once the vetting process has been completed, we will make qualified recommendations to the participating CCRS member shops.”

CCRS members also participate in mock interviews with the students, provide student scholarships, donate tools and equipment, conduct shop tours and visit the schools to speak on job opportunities in the auto body industry.

“Our goal is to support the future of our industry by supporting our future employees, today. We decided to be proactive and develop a program that is very specific,” stated Siembab.

Source: www.abrn.com

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Right to Repair Legislation Passes Senate in Massachusetts The Massachusetts Senate passed the state’s “Right to Repair” legislation late last week and the measure now heads to the House of Representatives where negations are underway to see if a compromise can be made on the bill.

The measure in Massachusetts calls for auto manufacturers to provide access to their diagnostic and repair information system through a universal system that would allow dealers and independent repairs shops to connect to any car using the same laptop interface.

Automakers have reservations about this requirement because the bill would require automakers to provide the data access through a J-2534 interface. The interface is an aging technology that will limit future development. At a March hearing in Massachusetts, a representative of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), Diane Larson, explained to lawmakers, “These protocols were developed more than 15 years ago and may or may not be the future of advanced diagnostics. Why not allow for the innovation of better systems in the future? The ballot language freezes old technology with no allowance for future advancements,” A person familiar with the negotiations said that talks are ongoing between all the parties and a House version of the measure may pass within the next several weeks if a compromise can be reached. Some carmakers are concerned about the technology issues with the bill and are seeking broader language regarding the required data interface. Other carmakers would like to see more time allowed in the bill to implement the required changes.

One sticking point with the carmakers, the source said, is that the measure contains a private right of action that would allow any car owner to sue the car company if there were unable to obtain the data.

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition, who supports the measure, would like to see the bill passed as is.

Right to repair legislation was passed by the Massachusetts Senate in 2010, but died in the House. This time is different, however. If the measure fails in the House, the Right to Repair Coalition is in the process of securing the last round of signatures to place the issue on the ballot in November.

Art Kinsman, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition, said, “We thank Chairman Tom Kennedy and the legislation’s senate sponsor, Sen. Jack Hart. Without their leadership, consumers would still be waiting for this step. We are pleased to report to all of the state’s motoring consumers that because of the Senate’s action their Right to Repair legislation is one step closer to bringing cost savings and convenience.”

More than 100,000 citizens signed the Right to Repair ballot initiative earlier this year. If the legislature does not pass a final bill, the state’s consumers will decide the issue in November. According to the Coalition, polls have shown the support level for Right to Repair as high as 87 percent.

Source: www.collisionweek.com

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

Our Supporting Vendors: Support those who support you.

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Our Supporting Vendors: Support those who support you.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

Thoughts From The Top

We asked a few MMG Past Presidents for their thoughts...

Rick Monteiro – Jack Powell CJD – Escondido, CA What years did you hold the office of President?

2000-2002 Explain in detail your greatest memory of an MMG meeting?

After being a member for 20 years there are so many great memories but I can define it in just one. At our most recent 20 year anniversary event, all the past presidents were brought on stage to be honored. Standing there with some of the best minds in the business was very humbling. To be recognized in this way reminded me how important the Guild is to my career and to me personally.

Name the single most “Ah Ha” moment while being part of the Guild.

One of the Mopar Marketing managers told us they were considering raising the Collision Rewards Conquest threshold from 40 to 200 per month. I almost fell out of my chair when I heard that. After I returned to the dealership and told my staff that they better prepare for this new target, we hit the new 200 claims shortly thereafter.

Being challenged to the stratosphere was not unattainable; after all we just needed a goal.

With friendship and camaraderie aside what is the best thing you have taken back to your store and implemented?

My good friend Marvin Windham taught me how to “Concatenate” allowing me to manage data in my DMS earning my store thousands of dollars.

What would you say to Members that have not attended an MMG meeting that would convince them to be at the next meeting?

You have been invited to be a MMG member because you are one of the leaders in our business. Take the responsibility to contribute your knowledge and experience with others for the benefit of all. Collectively we are all better.

Alan Yancey - Hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep - Lawrenceville Ga What years did you hold the office of President?

2002-2004 Explain in detail your greatest memory of an MMG meeting?

All the meetings have been great, I would have to think long and hard to come up with one thing that would be considered the greatest. The round table discussions, the motivational speakers, the best ideas, and maybe best of all is the friends that I have all over the country that I have met at the MMG Meetings.

With friendship and camaraderie aside what is the best thing you have taken back to your store and implemented?

Pay plan for Wholesale Advisors, Delivery System to offset delivery cost, Inventory controls that keeps inventory clean.

What would you say to Members that have not attended an MMG meeting that would convince them to be at the next meeting? The Guild has given me ideas and processes that keep us ahead of the competition. It may be in the meetings or in general conversation with other members that I get new information that always pays for the trip, and saves or makes our dealership money. I have been coming to the Guild meetings for approximately 18 years and I have never come away empty, I have always found new information to make our dealership money. The meeting always gets me motivated for the new year, and renews the drive to be creative and improve on processes that are not working well.

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Brent Hoge - Larry H Miller CDJeep – Sandy, Utah What years did you hold the office of President?

2009 - 2010 Explain in detail your greatest memory of an MMG meeting?

My first meeting just happened to be the 10th anniversary of the MMG in New Orleans.

The amount of information that I received was overwhelming and how well I was accepted as part of the group was amazing.

Name the single most “Ah Ha” moment while being part of the Guild.

The one moment that stands out for me was while we were attending the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals. I was sitting one on one with Rich Rae in the Wild Rose Saloon in Golden, Colorado at 1:00 AM discussing “business”.

With friendship and camaraderie aside what is the best thing you have taken back to your store and implemented?

I implemented the Elite Extra Dispatch System two years ago and that is absolutely one of the best decisions I have made since being part of the Mopar Masters.

What would you say to Members that have not attended an MMG meeting that would convince them to be at the next meeting?

I was not fond of the idea of leaving my store and going to a meeting even after numerous calls from Chuck Hartle one of the founding fathers of the Guild to get me involved. After many conversations with my District Manager, telling me I needed to be part of this group, I finally gave up and attended my first meeting.

Until you attend a meeting, you will never know what you have been missing.

Dan Hutton - Tom O’Brien CJD – Greenwood, IN What years did you hold the office of President?

2010-2012 Explain in detail your greatest memory of an MMG meeting?

I don’t have any one memory, but one thing that comes to mind is after our meetings we sit around at dinner or having a drink after dinner talking with fellow member and great friends!!! THIS IS PRICELESS!!!

Name the single most “Ah Ha” moment while being part of the Guild.

My moment was when the guild asked me to be President. What an honor to serve the fellow members that I have looked up to all these years. WOW!!

With friendship and camaraderie aside what is the best thing you have taken back to your store and implemented?

I came back from one meeting years ago and implemented an ADP custom delivery program and delivery manifest that I learned from long time member Roy Benner What would you say to Members that have not attended an MMG meeting that would convince them to be at the next meeting?

There is not one parts manager out there that can solve the daily problems that we run into every day, alone.

The Mopar Masters Guild‘s goal is to bring together the minds of great leaders in our business and share our successes and knowledge with our fellow members.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chris Messer FenderBender magazine Tel.: 651.224.6207 ext. 14 cmesser@10missions.com FENDERBENDER SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2012 FENDERBENDER AWARDS The awards recognize the finest collision repair professionals in the industry.

ST. PAUL, MINN., May 2, 2012—FenderBender magazine, the nation’s leading collision repair publication, is accepting nominations for its fifth annual FenderBender Awards.

The awards program recognizes the very best professionals the collision repair industry has to offer—individuals who have made a difference in the lives of their colleagues and the industry at large. Winners in six categories are recognized with a feature in the October issue of FenderBender, exposure on fenderbender.com and an award presented during a ceremony at the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). Winners will also receive a press release to distribute to local news outlets.

Nominating someone for this prestigious award is quick and easy—just go to fenderbenderawards.com and fill out the nomination form. We’re looking for entries in the following six categories: • • • • • •

Executive (Shop Owner, Co-owner, CEO) Management (Shop Manager, Foreman) Administrative Support (Receptionist, Office Manager, Estimator) Shop Worker (Tech, Painter, Porter, Helper, Detailer) Vendor (Parts Representative, Paint Representative, Jobber) Wild Card (Educator, Consultant, Insurance Executive, Association Leader)

FenderBender editors will select one person from each category for an award. The deadline for submissions is July 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST. FenderBender magazine is the nation’s leading collision repair magazine, serving roughly 50,000 collision repair centers nationwide with its monthly award-winning print publication. Through its print and online offerings, FenderBender provides its readers with strategies and inspiration for collision repair success. Visit fenderbender.com for more information. ###

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

19

Do You Want to groW Your Wholesale mechanical Business? aDvertise in

24-Hour Service It’s easier than you think >> PAGE 42

Small

Efforts,

Big RESultS

Jon Kalin, co-founder of JMK Automotive, which has grown 33 percent in the last year.

Tech of Tomorrow

Must-know technologies for future repairs Page 55

Four Simple WayS to Cut energy CoStS

Customer conscious.

Dedicated to quality.

JMK Automotive’s roadmap to rapid expansion. Page 30

Page 47

The power of place Find the right location to grow Page 52

Premiering in July 2012, Ratchet+Wrench will provide Mopar parts dealers a great option for advertising their mechanical business. Through four regional editions Ratchet+Wrench will reach an estimated 100,000 repair facilities, giving owners and operators the information they need to make money, save money, and work smarter in their businesses. There are many different advertising programs for Ratchet+Wrench, ensuring an option will work for you and your budget.

Contact us today so that we can personalize your marketing message and you can sell more mechanical parts.

Contact Chris Messer, Publisher

651.224.6207 ext. 14

e

cmesser@10missions.com We are a Proud Supporter of the Mopar Masters Guild ©2012. All rights reserved.

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

ADP Dealer Services

A Accelerator l t Consulting C lti P Packages k Improved p workflow and increased efficiency y means . . .

More revenue for your dealership We can help get you there.

Also available for every area of your operation:

 Dealership-Wide  Business Office  Front End Sales  Fixed Operations

ADP’s Professional Services Consultants will help you chart your course and accelerate towards improved business results with the Accelerator Consulting P Program.

What you get:  Key reports to help discover revenue or expense opportunities quickly  Best practice recommendations to expedite processes that produce accurate and timely data  Dealership ‘Process Champion’ for sustained initiative success Learn how to:  Improve Parts and Service workflow leveraging standardized processes  Increase technician productivity by understanding how to use electronic communication  Improve Parts revenue, profit margins and flexible pricing options  Increase Revenue – Reduce Expenses – Increase CSI Fixed Operations Accelerators

 Quarterly Visit  Parts  Service / ERO / Techworkbench Visit adpdealerservices.com/consulting for more information.

Or contact us at 888.424.6342 / DS_Telesales@adp.com, and we’ll help you determine which package is right for your dealership.

ADP Dealer Services, Inc. / 1950 Hassell Road / Hoffman Estates, IL 60169-6308 / adpdealerservices.com / 888.424.6342 © 2011 ADP Dealer Services, Inc. / ADP is a registered trademark of ADP, Inc.

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

21

Solution Overview

Buy and Sell OEM Parts PartsVoice is the largest OEM parts locator and marketing service in the US open to parts professionals and retail consumers. Over 1,800 dealers advertise their parts and more than 10,000 people on average search inventories every business day.

• Search over 1,800 dealers’ parts inventory for free • Pay one low monthly fee to advertise your inventory to tens of thousands of dealers, independent repair facilities, collision shops, insurance companies, independent used car dealers, and retail consumers • Works with any Dealer Management System (DMS) How it Works Advertise your parts: • List your parts on the most widely used open locator for one low monthly fee • Exclude the parts you don’t want to list, such as high demand or backordered parts • Manage and market your parts department with our reports: - Know your market: see who is searching your inventory and the part numbers they’re searching on our Prospect Report - Identify parts you don’t stock but other dealers do, and parts you stock that other dealers don’t - Our Searches Report shows which parts numbers your staff are searching for elsewhere, to help you track lost sales Search for free: • Search any OEM part number, or search by description via a Parts Request • PartsVoice searches over 1,800 dealers’ inventories • Search results are prioritized and ranked according to - Proximity to your geographic location - Preferred dealers you designate will always be at the top of the search results - Parts dealers are offering at a discount are highlighted PartsVoice supports increased sales and revenue, as well as increased customer satisfaction from higher service fill rates. Call us today to advertise your parts on the largest open OEM locator!

To learn more, call 866.598.4077

ACURA | ASTON MARTIN | BMW | CHRYSLER | DAEWOO | FORD | GENERAL MOTORS | HONDA | HYUNDAI | ISUZU | JAGUAR | KIA | LAND ROVER LEXUS | MAZDA | MERCEDES BENZ | MITSUBISHI | NISSAN | PORSCHE | SAAB | SUBARU | SUZUKI | TOYOTA | VOLVO | VOLKSWAGEN PartsVoice • 713 Brooksedge Plaza Drive, Westerville, OH 43081 • 866.598.4077

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

SERVICE, PARTS AND WARRANTY

SERVICE & PARTS MANAGER PERFORMANCE GROUP AUGUST 23 & 24,2012 | LOUISVILLE, KY

You are cordially invited to participate in our Mopar Masters Service & Parts Manager Performance Group in Louisville, KY. This Performance Group is specifically designed to help you improve your Service and Parts department’s profits and customer retention.

We will be hosting the meeting at The Brown Hotel, as well as UPS Worldport Air Hub and invite you to attend both events.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS UPS Worldport Air Hub

August 23, 2012 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Tour of facility to view the shipping process.

Service & Parts Manager Performance Group Meeting

August 23 & 24, 2012 The Brown Hotel, 335 West Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 583-1234 Registration: Included in your Performance Group Subscription (Counts as your Fall meeting for Master status) - OR $500 each attendee (If you are not enrolled in the Performance Group Subscription program). You are responsible for your own transportation and hotel accommodations.

This Performance Group meeting is open to all Mopar Masters Service and Parts Managers regardless of previous participation in a Performance Group. General Managers and Dealers of Mopar Masters dealers may also attend.

Performance Groups are designed to help Fixed Operations Managers:

- Assess and identify business improvement goals by comparing their department’s current performance to other Chrysler brand dealerships and established performance targets - Learn best practices, tips and ideas from peers for improved selling, customer loyalty and retention, profitability and growth - Improve dealership effectiveness through consistent application of performance-building tools and techniques

For additional information or if you would like to enroll in the Mopar Masters Service & Parts Managers Performance Group, please email your name and SID to Jen@ChryslerPerformanceGroups.com.

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

23

The Race with Magneti Marelli And, we’re off! The Race with Magneti Marelli Incentive Program has begun with your chance to win a variety of great prizes, including an incredible Grand Prize Trip to Italy!

Winning the Race with Magneti Marelli is simple. Every time you sell $7,500 (outbound sales) of Magneti Marelli Offered

by Mopar parts, your earn prize draws. Prize draws will be redeemed at a special Magneti Marelli day within your Business Center region for great merchandise and travel prizes—including the Grand Prize Trip to Italy. So, get your passport now and let’s kick this competition into high gear.

SELL, SELL, SELL and WIN, WIN, WIN! See you in Italy! Ciao!

New Magneti Marelli Products are Here!

You now can offer a full line of comprehensive maintenance and repair parts to your in-house and IRF customers! We recently launched water pumps, spark plugs, spark plug wires, timing belts, window motors, hub/wheel bearings, starters/alternators, bulbs, and more!

Give your customers a better service experience with High Quality Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar parts and be one of our Success Stories at Magneti Marelli Days in October!

Maximize your sales for: • Retail Service Lane – Offer quality parts for All Makes vehicles to complement the outstanding service you already provide.

• Used Car Reconditioning - You can certify your cars now with Magneti Marelli parts.

• Wholesale Business - Get into the Wholesale Business now and be the One-Stop Shop for all of your IRFs! Start an On Demand Mailing Campaign to your retail customers and IRFs now!

Marketing Materials – Order with Mopar One Funds!

On Demand Mailers, Signage, Banners and Product Brochures are now available. Brochures can be personalized for your dealership. Order now.

Take Advantage of all the great discounts!

Also, don’t forget to check the great MSER, purchase promotions, and consumer rebates. Get customers into your shop with these rebates.

Magneti Marelli Wear & Gear Magneti Marelli Wear and Gear are now available at the Mopar Online Store. Polo shirts, jackets, hats, USB Drives, cups, pens and more. Great as customer giveaways and for your staff to wear and use.

Thank you!

We would also like to take the time to really thank you for your friendship, support, and the candid feedback which helps us improve our program and better serve you. For example, your feedback inspired us to add additional part numbers to our oil and air filter line. So thank you and please keep any and all feedback coming! It is all appreciated!

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May - June ‘12

. s l e d o ll M

A . . e s u l e a V k l a a n ll M ptio

A lity Parts. Excet.

Qua te Suppor e l p m Co

• Full Line Of Maintenance & Repair Parts For All Makes & Models • Over 30 Product Lines • Available At Participating Chrysler, Jeep , Dodge and Ram Dealerships, and FIAT Studios ®

®

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

The Right Choice In Parts

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

25

AUTHENTIC PERFORMANCE

www.magnetimarelli-aftermarket.us facebook.com/magnetimarelli.aftermarketnafta

Š 2012, Chrysler Group LLC. All rights reserved. Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and Mopar are registered trademarks of Chrysler Group LLC. FIAT is a registered trademark of Fiat Group Marketing & Corporate Communication S.p.A., used under license by Chrysler Group LLC. Magneti Marelli is a registered trademark of Magneti Marelli S.p.A. Printed in U.S.A.

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May - June ‘12

What’s the Difference Between Dealer A and Dealer B? Dealer B has RepairLink with MORE! Inventory Lookups

450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Dealers using RepairLink with MORE average 450 inventory lookups each month.

Your staff can only eld so many calls per day, but you can be online 24 hours a day.

Increase your dealership’s visibility with RepairLink with MORE. Not enrolled yet? Call 1-888-776-5792 to talk to a sales representative.

Enrolled in RepairLink with MORE and want to know what shops are looking up your dealership’s parts information? Give us a call at 1-866-401-4610.

RepairLink with MORE: The OEM Mechanical Replacement Parts e-Commerce Solution of Choice.

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

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Take Your Collision Wholesale Parts Business to a New Level!

Not enrolled yet? Call 888-776-5792 to talk to a sales representative.

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May - June ‘12

Tips to Keep Your Parts Inventory Accurate

or By now you’ve completed the grueling task of performing your annual physical inventory. But have you considered how you can continue to keep your parts inventory accurate throughout the year?

Here are a few tips that can help: Conduct Perpetual Inventories Perpetual inventories give you a much better chance to identify discrepancies, enabling you to correct them as you find them and minimize variances during the next physical inventory. During idle time in the parts department, assign each counterperson a few bins to count weekly and update the inaccuracies immediately.

Consider utilizing Reynolds Parts Barcoding Scanners to speed up the process and increase accuracy.

Monitor Parts In Your Special Order Bins Identify special-ordered parts that have not been picked up within 15 days of being received and re-notify the customer or service advisor. If the parts still aren’t picked up within 30 days, return them to the OEM, place them in stock, or get rid of them. This will keep your special order bins free of unnecessary parts and minimize obsolescense.

Clear Dirty Core Inventory Maintaining an accurate record of customer-returned cores and promptly returning them to the supplier is important because it assures the inventory value is up-to-date for both Parts and Accounting. Plus, physically removing them allows you to make better use of vital space in your department.

Follow these guidelines consistently throughout the year to keep your inventory accurate and your next annual physical inventory audit less stressful.

© 2012 The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. All rights reserved. 5/12

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Distinctive by nature • Organization • Durability • Quality

Flexibility

Service & Parts Storage Equipment

" The freedom to choose your own solution. " Overview of Rousseau’s products 1.866.463.4270 info@rousseaumetal.com

rousseau-automotive.com

The exchange of information by like sized dealers in a non-competitive environment.

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May - June ‘12

THE ROAD TO REVENUE YOUR SITUATION Drivers are keeping their vehicles longer than ever before. This means less warranty work, but it can also mean more service opportunities. Retention is the key to fixed ops profitability.

YOUR CHALLENGE Only a third of new car owners visit their dealership for replacement tires, and that number drops as vehicles age. When your customers go to an independent or aftermarket shop for tires, they’re much less likely to return to your dealership.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

4 out of 5 people buy tires from whoever recommends them first. Inspecting every vehicle helps keep your customers safe. It also increases your parts and service sales by leading to alignment, brake, suspension, and other services.

YOUR PARTNER The Mopar TireWorks program is a partnership between Mopar and Dealer Tire to increase revenue at Mopar dealerships by streamlining tire sales and strengthening customer loyalty. Dealers that partner with Mopar TireWorks: • Stock smarter with calibrated inventory and new racking solutions • Save time thanks to ARO Tire and easy ordering through DealerCONNECT • Sell easier by using the Dynamic Retail Selling Guide® (DRSG™) The automotive landscape has changed. Transform your dealership into a power retailer with Mopar TireWorks.

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

PLENTY OF PERKS • Dedicated Account Managers • On-the-Drive Training • Points Plus® Incentive Program • Quarterly Return Allowance • Additional Racking Options • Point-of-Sale Materials

Leaders in the Sale of Quality Mopar Parts

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Copyright © 2012 United Parcel Service of America, Inc.

3 REASONS WHY 2012 IS THE RIGHT TIME TO LOOK AT UPS FREIGHT® LTL 1) NEW DISCOUNTS IN 2012 Dealers

2) CONSOLIDATED INVOICE Not only

3) UPS ADVANTAGES UPS Freight

can receive up to 28.5% over last year’s

are we making LTL more cost-efficient

is the first national LTL carrier to offer

UPS Freight LTL (less-than-truckload)

for you, but we’re making life easier

full visibility into your LTL pickups, also

rates*, making now the best time to

as well. Your UPS Freight LTL invoice

allowing you to track, change or cancel

go with UPS for all of your shipping

is now included in your consolidated

your pickup request online with the

needs. The discounts will allow you

MarketCenter invoice. Save valuable

click of your mouse. And we have the

to reinvest in your business and grow

time and see all of your expenses in

right resources to back up our services,

as the economy rebounds. Best of all,

one convenient location, including all

with 20,000 one- and two-day lanes

you can rest easy with the reliability

of your transportation charges from UPS.

nationwide and three- and four-day

and strength of UPS at your back.

transcontinental sleeper teams.

For more information, visit ltl.upsfreight.com, contact the UPS support line at 800.567.9989 or visit the Chrysler MarketCenter site within DealerConnect to locate the UPS Freight information.

* Based on actual 2011 MarketCenter shipments

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May - June ‘12

A Few Tidbits Asian suppliers lead EV battery race Asian battery suppliers are poised to dominate the global automotive market for lithium ion batteries, a report by Pike Research of Boulder, Colo., concludes. LG Chem Ltd. of South Korea is the top electric-vehicle battery supplier, according to the report, which used 10 variables to rate each supplier’s technology and staying power. Three Japanese companies GS Yuasa Corp., Automotive Energy Supply Corp. and Panasonic Group - also were among the elite performers.

Two giants join forces in the infotainment market The big boys are moving into the infotainment business.

Intel Corp. has created a $100 million investment fund and signed on Denso Corporation to encourage hardware and software developers to develop new technologies for automotive infotainment.

By 2014, autos will be one of the three fastest growing markets for connected devices and Internet content, Suppliers race to fill fresh orders in North America Now that annualized U.S. vehicle sales have breached 15 million units, suppliers are trying to head off possible production bottlenecks.

U.S. sales soar as market drivers get ‘better ... better ... better’ February U.S. auto sales soared 16 percent over a strong year-ago period to the fastest selling rate in four years. The performance exceeded analysts’ and automakers’ forecasts. Sales of 1,149,432 light vehicles pushed February’s seasonally adjusted annual selling rate to 15.1 million, well above January’s 14.3 million SAAR and the highest since February 2008 Japanese headlight makers probed by antitrust watchdog Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is investigating four Japanese headlamp makers for evidence of possible price fixing, the companies said today.The investigation widens a series of antitrust probes that until now were mainly focused on wiring harnesses but also, in Japan at least, included windshield wipers, radiators, engine starters, alternators and bearings Chrysler to build smaller version of Pentastar engine, 2 sources say DETROIT -- Chrysler Group plans to produce a smaller version of its 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, likely at a plant in suburban Detroit, according to a union official and a source familiar with the project.The new 3.2-liter Pentastar engine variant is to debut in the upcoming replacement for the Jeep Liberty, the union official said.

Toyota to unveil ‘all-new’ sedan at N.Y. auto show Car will likely replace Avalon, dealers say Toyota Motor Corp. will unveil an “all-new” sedan next week at the New York auto show that likely will be a replacement for the full-sized Avalon. Dealers who saw a preview of the car last year said Toyota called it the Avalon successor that is due this fall.

This is huge news!!!!

Taking Passion for Performance to New Heights — Dodge Enters Global RallyCross With All-new Dodge Dart and Travis Pastrana Dodge and SRT Motorsports Announce Global RallyCross Championship Entry With Dodge Dart Piloted by Four-time Rally America Champion Travis Pastrana Auburn Hills, Mich. , Mar 26, 2012 - Dodge and SRT Motorsports announced today an all-new 2013 Dodge Dart rally car piloted by four-time Rally America Champion and 17-time X Games Gold Medalist Travis Pastrana will compete in the

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine

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2012 Global RallyCross Championship (GRC) Series.

“At Dodge, racing is an integral part of our heritage and embodies our competitive spirit, so we’re very excited to announce the next chapter in racing for Dodge with our all-new Dodge Dart,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO - Dodge Brand. “The new Dart Global RallyCross Championship car with 600 horsepower and driver Travis Pastrana takes our passion for performance to all new heights.”

Pastrana, 28, is a four-time Rally America champion and owner of multiple supercross and motorcross championships.

He also owns Nitro Circus, an empire that includes a television show, live tours and 3D feature film project. Pastrana is one of the most searched athletes in the world (6 million Google searches in 2010) and he has more than 3.5 million Facebook followers!

“When I first heard about GRC, I was really interested, and after watching some of the rounds last year and then actually competing at X Games I was hooked!” said Pastrana. “Now to be able to partner with Dodge to field my own program this year is a dream come true. The new Dodge Dart offers the perfect platform for rally cross, and I look forward to putting it on the podium all season long!”

Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – Street and Racing Technology Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC, said that having Pastrana piloting a Dodge Dart and competing in GRC is a natural fit. “Travis is a living example of what action sports activities are all about, so he fits in perfectly with the youthfulness and passion for performance of the Dodge brand and the SRT Motorsports team,” said Gilles. “He’s proven that he can handle just about anything with wheels, so it’s going to be great to watch him pilot our new Dodge Dart in Global RallyCross.”

The Dart rally car is custom built specifically for Global RallyCross racing, but shares a few traits with the production Dodge Dart. Both vehicles have exceptional aerodynamics, are agile and fun to drive and will add a little excitement to their segments. Powered by a purpose-built, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, 16-valve turbo-charged 600-horsepower engine mated to a Sedav 4-wheel drive gear box that puts out more than 550 lb.-ft. of torque, the Dart rally car is ready to go.

The 2013 production Dodge Dart features three state-of-the-art powertrains that produce up to 184 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque and a sporty, fun-to-drive experience. The Dart features an athletic, sporty exterior, a world-class interior with high-quality materials, state-of-the art technology and enough exterior and interior color and material choices to fit any customer.

David Bailey, Senior Engineering Manager for SRT Motorsports, knows the new Dodge Dart rally car is equipped to handle the intense racing conditions. “The sport is extremely exciting and the on-track action can be brutal on the drivers and the cars,” said Bailey. “The cars are jumping higher than ever and landing safely. The Dart rally car is lightweight with a very powerful motor. The zero to 60 mile-per-hour times are incredible, as low as 1.9 seconds, so with Travis behind the wheel, we can’t wait for the season opener.”

Global RallyCross is a spin-off of the X Games rally races. It combines the skill of rally racing with the excitement of X Games. The revolutionary motorsports series enters its second season and features high-flying extreme competition between cars that are relevant to today’s youth. The series consists of seven racing events in closed-course rally tracks and incorporates bumper-to-bumper competition among 600 horsepower all-wheel drive vehicles. There are 70-foot jumps over racing traffic, creating a “motocross with cars” action.

The series begins May 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and concludes Sept.29 in Las Vegas. Also included are races at X Games scheduled for June 30-July 1 in Los Angeles. It’s one of the most anticipated stops on the schedule. The ESPN family of channels will broadcast live coverage of the entire 2012 race series.

Source: www.automotivenews.com

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May - June ‘12

2012 MMG C o m m itte e s

President Vice President Treasurer Secretary

Steve Hofer Rick Cutaia Mark Skinner Joe McBeth

Executive Committee

All of the above as well as:

Gerry Oakes

Marvin Windham

Dan Hutton Paul Allred

Park CJ – Burnsville, MN Rick Hendrick Dodge – Charleston, SC Power CJD – Phoenix, AZ Dallas DCJ – Dallas, TX

Baxter CJD – Omaha, NE Benchmark CJD – Birmingham, AL Tom O’Brien CJD – Greenwood, IN Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC

Committees:

Vendor Chairman Dan Hutton Tom O’Brien CJD – Greenwood, IN

Newsletter Dan Murphy Chapman CJD – Scottsdale, AZ

Don Cushing Bald Hill DCJ – Warwick, RI

Nada 2013 Planning Marvin Windham Benchmark CJD – Birmingham, AL

Andy Reed Allen Samuels DCJ – North Richland Hills, TX

Membership Open

Vendor Committees

ADP Gerry Oaks Baxter CJD – Omaha, NE

Paul Allred Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC

Andy Reed Allen Samuels DCJ – North Richland Hills, TX

Rick Monteiro Jack Powell CJD – Escondido, CA

Mike Mulkins Go Chrysler Jeep West – Golden, CO

R&R Rick Cutaia Rick Hendrick Dodge – Charleston, SC

Ken Kokoszka Pollard Friendly Motors – Boulder, CO

Rich Schott Moore CJ – Peoria, AZ

OEConnection Snap-On Dan Hutton Tom O’Brien CJD – Greenwood, IN

Paul Allred Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC

Brent Hoge Larry H. Miller CJD – Sandy, UT

Dealer Tire Paul Allred Stateline CJD – Fort Mill, SC Susan McDaniel Bill Luke CJD – Phoenix, AZ

Joe McBeth Dallas DCJ – Dallas, TX

Elite Extra Rick Monteiro Jack Powell CJD – Escondido, CA

Larry Morris Fred Beans DCJ – Doylestown, PA

Ken Kokoszka Pollard Friendly Motors – Boulder, CO

J.D. Ipsen Ken Garff West Valley CJD – West Valley, UT

Steve Hofer Park CJ – Burnsville, MN

UPS Marvin Windham Benchmark CJD – Birmingham, AL

Brent Hoge Larry H. Miller CJD – Sandy, UT

Casey Brown Allen Samuels DCJ – Katy, TX

Glen Hojnacki Milosch’s Palace CJD – Lake Orion, MI

Ken Kokoszka Pollard Friendly Motors – Boulder, CO

Mopar Masters Guild Magazine