Southern Automotive Journal October 2022

Offers

Hyundai Motor's N Brand High-Performance Vision for Electrification Era

Brower, Solera's VP of Industry Relations, Joins

Board of Trustees

CCC, AirPro to Offer

Scan & Invoice Input

Gives Donates

To Support STEM Education In Alabama

Allstate’s 25% Rate Increase

Loophole in State Law, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Says Tesla Files Suit Against Louisiana Officials & Dealers for Direct-to-Consumer Sales & Services Ban

DEALER NEWS

Hyundai Motor’s high-perfor mance N sub-brand is revealing its electrification vision to demonstrate the company’s commitment to futurefocused zero-emissions technologies. RN22e and N Vision 74 are inspira tional examples of N’s electrification vision. These two ‘rolling lab’ concepts demonstrate Hyundai Motor’s ambi tion to become a leader in the zeroemissions future.

Hyundai Motor’s ‘rolling labs’ are where it tests and verifies the com

pany’s advanced technologies to apply them to future production models. RN22e melds the all-new IONIQ 6 and the company’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E GMP), while setting a new standard in high-performance EVs. Meanwhile, N Vision 74 combines EV technology with an advanced hydro gen fuel cell system, making it Hyundai N’s first hydrogen hybrid rolling lab to explore ‘driving fun’ in the electrifica

Hyundai Please To Turn Page 4

Acura

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Birmingham 205.823.5237800.633.4304 888.815.5238

Audi

BMW

Century BMW 256.713.0178 800.236.8456 256.713.0199

Chrysler

Athens DJC 706.549.7570 888.224.9812 706.425.5235

Jim Burke 205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452

Benchmark 205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238

Hayes 770.963.6263 800.241.8124 770.237.8174

Troncalli 770.889.8951 800.646.9438 770.889.2545

Ferrari

Ferrari Maserati of Atlanta 678.802.5000 800.522.2345 678.802.5018

FIAT

FIAT of Birmingham 205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238

Ford

General Motors/Saturn

Days Chevrolet 770-975-1802 770-974-2683

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Hoover, AL 205.823.5428 800.239.510 205.979.3048

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Gwinnett Place, GA 678.957.5300 888.339.7278 678.584.6996

Genesis

Jim Burke Genesis 205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452

Tameron Genesis 205.443.7651 800-467-0699 205-823-4697

Jaguar Jaguar Huntsville 256.713.0209 800.236.8456 256.713.0209

KIA

Serra KIA 205-856-6600 800-426-4351 205-853-7530

Land Rover

Century Land Rover 256.713.0209 800.236.8456 256.713.0209

Lexus

Lexus of Huntsville 256.824.8075 855.528.0487 256.824.8019

Maserati

Ferrari Maserati of Atlanta 678.802.5000 800.522.2345 678.802.5018

Maserati of Birmingham 205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238

Mazda Jim Ellis Mazda of Marietta

Merecdes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta Northeast 678-924-4249 800-241-6086 678-924-4257

Mitsubishi

Benchmark 205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238

Nissan

Jim Burke Nissan 205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452

Porsche

Century Porsche 256.532.4570 800.236.8456 256.536.0361

Subaru

Jim Burke Subaru 205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452

Stivers Subaru 404.248.1888 404.320.9419 Troncalli Subaru 678.341.4220 800.646.9438 770.889.2545

Toyota/ Scion

678.957.5151 800.277.8836 678.957.5156

Tameron Honda 205.443.7651 800-467-0699 205-823-4697

Hyundai

Jim Burke Hyundai 205.320.7320 866.320.7320 205.458.4452

Tameron Hyundai 205-823-4697 205.443.7652 800-467-0699

Infiniti

Infiniti of Birmingham 800.476.0659 800.476.0659 966.234.1017

Infiniti of Memphis 901-261-7670 800-737-3077 901-205-1093

Limbaugh Toyota 205.788.9390 800.239.5050 205.780.5215

Volvo Century Volvo 256.713.0195 800.236.8456 256.713.0142

Volkswagen Aftermarket

OPA Aftermarket 205.823.5237 800.633.4304 888.815.5238 Hayes 770.963.6263 800.241.8124 770.237.8174

tion era.

“RN22e and N Vision 74 play an important role in the strategic development of our entire product lineup, especially our electrified, highperformance vehicles,” said Thomas Schemera, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “Rolling labs represent the continuous

development of our most advanced technologies. This unique approach makes us ready for the challenges of the future by empowering us to push ourselves to the limit.”

Both RN22e and N Vision 74 will continue to be tested and veri fied by Hyundai’s engineers, so future N road cars can be equipped with their advanced technologies. Hyundai N’s vision on electrification

Since launching its very first high-performance production road

car in 2017, Hyundai i30 N, N has pushed the limits of performance to help customers discover how fun driv ing can be. The brand claim is ‘Never just drive’ because getting from A to B should never be boring. Even in the electric future, N brand pursues its three pillars: corner rascal (tight, per fectly balanced cornering machine), racetrack capability (all N models are built to perform directly on the track) and everyday sportscar (for everyone and every need, not just track days

David

and highways).

Introducing RN22e, a glimpse of upcoming EV N

RN22e offers racetrack-ready performance by refining and optimiz ing Hyundai’s market-leading E-GMP and packaging it in an IONIQ 6-based streamliner design. As Hyundai N’s first rolling lab based on E-GMP, RN22e shows the electrified N brand’s vision and direction while opening the possibility of a high-performance EV model in the future. The concept received its name because it is the roll ing lab of N brand developed in 2022 with EV performance.

RN22e is tested to maximize N’s three performance pillars, starting with ‘corner rascal.’ N has been devel oping cornering capability since the brand launch and has been provid ing e-LSD, Corner Carving Differential, for most N models. RN22e elevates the corner carving feel with inevitably

heavier weight, by exploring torque vectoring by twin clutch. Moreover, the 3D printed parts reduce weight and keep the rigidity for better corner attack. Equipped with AWD, RN22e provides optimized torque distri bution according to different drive modes that allows drivers to choose the torque power on the front and rear wheels.

To enhance RN22e’s racetrack capability, N focused on cooling and braking to enhance endurance. RN22e provides track-optimized set tings to let customers enjoy the circuit without derating. Having four piston monoblock calipers and a 400-mm hybrid disc allows RN22e to withstand the weight of its power electric (PE) system. In addition, Hyundai N will use RN22e to study how to deliver dynamic movement with regen-brak ing that precisely controls yaw and corner attack.

As Hyundai N develops and verifies state-of-the-art technologies for transfer to N production models, RN22e plays an important role as the rolling lab for upcoming EV N models. Knowing what exhilarates enthusiasts, N is developing new features, such as the emotional driving experience for electrified models. RN22e provides N Sound+, which generates sound from the interior and exterior speakers, for a dynamic driving feel. In addition, N e-shift integrates the vibration and shifting feel with N Sound+. As it is a rolling lab, where Hyundai N continu ously develops advanced technolo gies, these emotional driving experi ences will be further developed in various types via RN22e, so that driv ers can select their own fun.

adapting IONIQ 6’s stream liner design, RN22e will leverage the

CCC, AirPro to Offer Automatic Scan & Invoice Input

CCC Intelligent Solutions will integrate AirPro Diagnostics into CCC One, beginning in September, will save collision repairers time by eliminating manual input of diag nostic scan reports and/or invoices.

CCC Automotive Services Group Vice President Mark Fincher told Repairer Driven News the current manual process “can lend itself to human error and create the potential for shops to forget to attach this important informa tion to the estimate, which could impact transparency around the operation and reimbursement.”

“By integrating AirPro Diagnostics scan and calibration data within CCC ONE, repairers can ensure there is documentation on files to support any scanning or calibrations performed by AirPro Diagnostics.”

The integration doesn’t

require a physical connection between the AirPro device and CCC ONE or any additional software.

“Repair customers simply need to activate the integration within CCC ONE and they can enjoy the benefit of our diagnos tics network, which includes AirPro Diagnostics, asTech, Honda and Opus,” Fincher said.

Information will be uploaded automatically and the scan report is automatically attached to the vehicle’s CCC ONE work file, accord ing to a CCC news release. Repair facilities using CCC Diagnostics will be able to select their pre ferred diagnostic provider(s) from those available through CCC’s network and providers send scan data directly to the CCC ONE work file. For repair facilities using CCC Repair Workflow, CCC Diagnostics will digitally capture invoices from

scanning and calibration requests.

“CCC and AirPro share a com mitment to making diagnostic information available to repairers as easily and seamlessly as pos sible,” said AirPro Diagnostics Executive Vice President Eric Newell, in the release. “As vehicles get more complex by make, proper diagnostic scans and ADAS safety system calibrations are essential steps in the repair process. This connection with CCC will make the scan and calibration reports more accessible to shops, providing the critical information that is needed for a complete and safe repair.”

Fincher also said, in the release, that “the proliferation of advanced technology in today’s vehicles has increased repair com plexity and the need for scanning, diagnostics and calibrations in the repair process.” n

The Beautiful, Stylish Exterior Isn’t the Only Thing

That Looks Good on the INFINITI QX60

The beautiful, stylish exterior isn’t the only thing that looks good on the 2022 INFINITI QX60.

“The 2022 INFINITI QX60 real ly does offer the best of all worlds,” said Jeff Pope, group vice president of INFINITI Americas. “Our all-new SUV is beautiful outside, its interior is serene and is full of technology that takes the stress out of driving, all of which allow its owners to conquer life in style.”

All 2022 QX60s feature a 12.3inch INFINITI InTouch™ Interactive Display with wireless Apple CarPlay® and USB-based Android Auto™ com patibility software, leather-appointed first- and second-row seats, a pan oramic moonroof, power liftgate, and rear parking sensors.

With seven seats standard, INFINITI has paid careful attention to ensure the driver and passengers in each row ride in the utmost com fort. All QX60’s feature heated, 8-way

The QX60 AUTOGRAPH grade impresses and delivers executive-level comfort for all passengers. semi-aniline leatherappointed seating with contrast stitching and quilted leather echoes ripples on a pond

power-adjustable “zero gravity” front seats with power lumbar adjustment. The driver’s seat features dual occu pant memory functionality linked with the outside mirrors. The secondrow bench seat features 60/40-split fold and one-touch release for effort less third-row access, even when child safety seats occupy the second row. Additionally, every QX60 is pow ered by an award-winning 295-horse power 3.5-liter V-6 engine teamed

with an all-new 9-speed automatic transmission. A five-mode drive selec tor and idle stop/start system are stan dard. INFINITI Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is available on all grades and is enhanced with a direct coupling engagement that seamlessly transfers up to 50% of its available power nearly instantly to the rear wheels for better traction.

The QX60 PURE also includes 18-inch alloy wheels, auto-dimming

rearview mirror, Rear Automatic Braking, Blind Spot Warning, six USB ports including charge points in all three rows, LED headlamps and tail lamps, and tri-zone automatic climate control with headliner-mounted air vents above the second and third rows for increased comfort.

QX60 LUXE grade presents a persuasive proposal with 20-inch wheels, slimline roof rails, a 12.3inch INFINITI Dynamic Meter Display, enhanced ProPILOT ASSIST with Navilink, navigation, Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection, Lane Departure Prevention, Traffic Sign Recognition, remote engine start, and climate-controlled front seats for $52,900 MSRP.

The QX60 SENSORY comple ments that impressive menu with inseat massagers for driver and front passenger, heated second-row seats (outboard positions), power-return for third-row seats, advanced climate con trol with Plasmacluster™ air purifier

and Grape Polyphenol Filter, wireless smartphone charger, motion-activat ed power liftgate, black open-pore ash wood trim, enhanced interior ambient lighting, illuminated kick plates, and Bose Performance Series audio with 17 speakers. An additional USB port is available in the third row, bringing the total throughout the cabin to seven. The QX60 AUTOGRAPH grade impresses and delivers executive-level comfort for all passengers. In addi tion to semi-aniline leather-appointed seating with contrast stitching and quilted leather that echoes ripples on a pond, the QX60 AUTOGRAPH adds exclusive second-row captain’s chairs, a lightweight removable second-row console, 10.8-inch crystal-clear headup display with dual free-form mir rors, Smart Rear View Mirror, Adaptive Front Lighting system and color-con trast black roof and roof rails. The QX60 AUTOGRAPH with front-wheel drive is priced at $60,350 MSRP. When equipped with INFINITI Intelligent All-

Wheel Drive, the QX60 AUTOGRAPH tows up to 6,000 pounds thanks to uprated cooling and an installed hitch receiver and is available at $63,250 MSRP.

Accompanying the QX60’s comprehensive standard equipment, Performance Audio and Vision pack ages are available. QX60 LUXE buyers can upgrade the standard 9-speaker audio for the impressive 17-speaker Bose Performance Series sound sys tem for $900 MSRP. The Vision pack age is available to LUXE and SENSORY grade buyers for $1,500 MSRP and features an Adaptive Front Lighting system, 10.8-inch color head-up dis play, and Smart Rear View Mirror.

QX60 SENSORY models equipped with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive can opt for a Tow Package that adds a tow receiver, wiring, and uprat ed transmission oil cooler that delivers a 6,000-pound braked towing capac ity, a 2,500-pound increase over the standard 3,500-pound capacity. n

Lemonade Selects Mitchell's Solutions to Support Entry into the $300 Billion U.S. Auto Insurance Market

Mitchell, an Enlyte company and leading technology and information provider for the Property & Casualty (P&C) claims and Collision Repair industries,announced that Lemonade selected its claims workflow, automa tion, and total loss solutions to sup port Lemonade Car, the insurer's latest product offering. Mitchell's solutions— which span auto physical damage and auto casualty—will help Lemonade streamline and optimize claims han dling.

Lemonade Car launched in Illinois in November 2021, expanding to Tennessee and Ohio recently thereafter, and will continue to roll out nationwide.

Lemonade Car features perks for safe and environment-conscious customers, including discounts for low-mileage drivers as well as environment-friendly

EVs and hybrid cars. The Lemonade app uses telematics to measure how much and how safe people drive. It also pro vides 24/7 on-location roadside assis tance, real-time crash detection, and dispatch of emergency services.

After an extensive search, Lemonade chose Mitchell's compre hensive claims management platform to assist in its delivery of an efficient, digital claims experience for consum ers purchasing auto policies. Mitchell will support Lemonade through the automation and online delivery of auto physical damage claims management functions including loss reporting, loss profiling and triage, and damage appraisal. Lemonade is also leveraging Mitchell's auto casualty injury claims processing solutions to automate both first-party auto and third-party liability

claims. Automating these functions is intended to align with the insurer's goal for Lemonade Car: to use technology to handle emergencies and settle claims seamlessly, providing the best possible experience for customers.

"

We're honored to support Lemonade's entry into the auto insur ance market," said Debbie Day, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mitchell's Auto Physical Damage divi sion. "At Mitchell, we continue to invest in the development of innovative, cloudbased solutions that are designed to allow our customers to work more effi ciently while meeting consumer expec tations for an automated, digital claims experience. Our auto physical damage and casualty solutions help carriers like Lemonade scale quickly as they bring best-in-class offerings to market."n

Tucker

Allstate’s 25% Rate Increase Exploits Loophole in State Law, Georgia Insurance Commissioner Says

By Dave LaChance

Georgia’s insurance commission er has accused Allstate of exploiting a loophole in state law to impose a 25% increase in auto insurance rates there, the carrier’s second since the start of 2022.

“I am angry and disappointed that Allstate has chosen to exploit a loophole in state law to imple ment such a substantial increase in costs on hardworking Georgians when families are already struggling with historic inflation everywhere from the gas pump to the grocery store,” said Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King. “This lat est increase means Allstate has now bypassed our office to raise overall rates in Georgia by 40% in this calen

dar year alone.”

In response, King said he has begin conversations with legislators about changing Georgia law to give his office “additional authorities to protect consumers from these types of inexcusable actions.” Steve Manders, the state’s deputy commissioner of insurance, told Repairer Driven News that “nothing has been drafted as of yet” in that regard.

Georgia law establishes a “dual rate” filing system governing auto insurance rates. The insurance com missioner only has the authority to approve or disapprove minimum poli cy filings, while all other filings can go into effect immediately under what is known as “file and use.” Allstate’s latest increase falls under the latter

category, the Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire said in a statement.

Manders said Allstate’s filing dif fers from the norm both in its magna tude, and in its approach. Usually, he said, a carrier will submit two filings, including one for a minimum policy and the other under “file and use,” with both filings being considered at the same time. Allstate submitted only the “file and use” filing, avoiding the approval process.

This rate increase will take effect for new Allstate customers on October12, while current customers will see the increase on their renewals beginning October 16, the office said.

The commissioner’s office is encouraging Georgia policyhold

ers to reach out to Allstate to discuss the reasons for the increase and the options available to them. Allstate can be reached by telephone at 1-800255-7828, online at www.allstate.com, or on Twitter at @allstate.

Responding to ” ongoing infla tionary impacts on claim severities,” Allstate has raised auto insurance rates by an average of 8.3% in all 50 states, according to the company’s second quarter underwriting results. Yet it’s continuing to lose money on auto insurance.

The carrier said last month that it paid out nearly $1.08 to cover claims and expenses in its auto business for every dollar of premium it collect ed. Even subtracting the effects of claims payments due to wind and hail storms, mainly in the Midwest, Allstate paid out $1.02 for every dollar in premium.

Allstate has been carrying out its pledge to investors to aggressively pursue rate increases to bring its auto

insurance business back to profitabili ty. The company reported implement ing rate increases totaling $258 million in the month and $601 million in the quarter, after implementing $862 mil lion and $702 million of rate increases in the first quarter of 2022 and fourth quarter of 2021, respectively.

“The impact of rising claim repair costs and upward prior year loss reserve development led to a recorded combined ratio of 107.9 in the second quarter,” Allstate CEO Tom Wilson said in an August 3 statement. “The underwriting loss combined with equity valuation declines and losses on fixed income sales resulted in a net loss of $1.04 billion and an adjusted net loss of $209 million in the quarter. As a result, we are further accelerating insurance price increases, implementing underwriting restric tions in underperforming states and reducing advertising spend, which is expected to improve profitability and slow policy growth.”

In a Securities & Exchange Commission filing, Allstate said it is not done seeking higher rates. “Allstate continues to implement sig nificant insurance rate increases given ongoing inflationary impacts on claim severities,” it said.

The carrier reported three fac tors reflecting “persistent increases” in loss costs:

Increases in physical damage costs are geographically widespread and reflect higher part prices, labor rates, and length of claim resolution.

Increases in injury claim costs reflect more severe auto accidents, increased medical inflation, higher consumption of medical treatment, and more claims with attorney repre sentation.

Claims reported in 2021 but settled in 2022 were subject to the rising vehicle values, parts prices, and labor rates experienced during 2022, which contributed to the adverse loss of reserve development. n

Ram 1500 Rebel Brings a One-of-a-Kind off-Road Design to the Full-Size Truck Segment

Rebel features grille with promi nent billet silver “RAM” letter badge. Departing from the brand’s iconic “cross-hair” designs, the blacked-out Rebel grille tops a completely new black off-road front bumper design with a durable powder-coated surface, which incorporates a powder coated, billet silver skid plate, new front tow hooks and new LED fog lamps. Black bezel bi-functional projector headlam ps with LED marker lights lie beneath an aluminum, twin-snorkel sport hood.

The Ram 1500 Rebel features an 17-inch aluminum wheel. Among the most elaborate designs found in mass production, the new one-piece wheel incorporates matte black painted

with

accent pockets and multi-angled sur faces linked to the Rebel’s off-road bias.

Inside, Rebel is every bit as brawny and rugged as it is outside, featuring dramatic, industry-exclusive seating elements.

High-durability technical grain vinyl seats are finished in Radar Red and Black with Sedoso fabric inserts embossed with the Toyo tire tread pattern, matching the Rebel’s actual footprint. Standard heated front seats feature Light Diesel Gray accent stitch ing, Radar Red Ram’s head embroidery on the headrests and Black with Light Diesel Gray Rebel nameplate embroi dered on upper seat bolsters.

The all-black instrument panel,

tread-matching

door armrests and logo-embossed center console armrest cover are topped with two-tone Radar Red and Light Gray accent stitching. The center stack and console are finished in Iron Gray Metallic paint giving a cast-iron appearance. An all-new center console bin incorporates a cellular phone/tab let holder with molded insert allowing for various-sized devices. Radar Red anodized vent rings, door accent rings, door trim spears and center console trim ring add color detail to the inte rior. The Rebel’s heated steering wheel is wrapped with semi-perforated black leather, accented with Radar Red

State Farm Reportedly Makes Changes to Appraisal Policy Language

By Lurah Lowery

State Farm has a new claims process involving property appraisals,

to a report from Merlin Law Group.

problem for many policy holders is that it is often resulting in payment for amounts less than the appraisal panel decided—sometimes, nothing is paid,” the group posted on its blog.

State Farm didn’t respond to Repairer Driven News’ request for information by the publication dead line. While the changes seem to, so far, only affect home insurance claims who’s to say the changes couldn’t eventually make it to auto insurance as well? There have already been three lawsuits filed in Florida concerning home insurance claims that derive a direct parallel to auto claims and serve as a cautionary tale for auto insurance carriers and policyholders as well as collision repairers caught in between both during repair negotiations.

The first lawsuit, filed on May 16 by the Restoration Association of Florida (RAF), claims that unlawful con duct by the defendants has “stripped away Florida homeowners’ and their assignees’ lawful rights and rem edies regarding property insurance claims and used the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to unconstitu tionally approve ill-conceived changes to their policies,” the suit states. RAF subsequently filed two more lawsuits

against Flordia state officials claiming that two new laws are unconstitution al and allow insurers to delay, under pay or not pay homeowner claims at all, thereby harming not only the owner but contractors.

In Texas, appraisers and the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) are advocating for mandatory right to appraisal for the sake of not only consistency but to seek out correct actual cash valuations of policyhold ers’ vehicles – many of which are under-indeminified, resulting in total losses when repairs could be made. State Farm is the only carrier known in the state that doesn’t include an appraisal clause in its policies, mean ing policyholders don’t have the right to seek an independent appraisal if they disagree with State Farm’s.

The carrier reportedly, accord ing to Merlin’s research and analysis, now has new appraisal language on weather-related property claims. “The State Farm new form actually calls for limiting coverage and provides for sublimits in amounts between $5000 to $25,000 of damage,” another Merlin blog post states.

The law firm provided an exam ple of how the new process “did not work” in a recent case against State Farm in Texas regarding hailstorm damage to a residence. The plaintiff believed that his roof should’ve been replaced rather than State Farm’s assessment that it could be repaired.

“When the parties reached an impasse, [policyholder] Dr. Winston invoked an appraisal clause in the par ties’ contract to determine the actual amount of loss,” the case’s memoran dum and order states. “The appraisal was conducted in October 2019, find ing that $91,138.71 was necessary to replace the roof. State Farm contin ued to maintain that the roof did not need to be replaced. As such, State Farm reduced the appraisal award by $91,138.71 and paid Dr. Winston the amount it estimated was necessary to repair the roof, plus some additional funds for other damages to the home. All told, State Farm paid Dr. Winston $28,193.74 for hail damage. At issue in the case was whether State Farm breached the parties’ contract by refusing to pay $91,138.71 to replace Dr. Winston’s roof. The case went to trial and a jury found that State Farm had breached the contract. The jury awarded Dr. Winston $77,896.71, which is the $91,138.71 appraised amount to replace the roof minus Dr. Winston’s $13,242.00 deductible.”

Merlin Law Group contends that, “Appraisal is supposed to be a quick and less costly means of resolu tion. However, when you have to pay your own appraiser, half the umpire’s fee, and then litigate to get what is owed, policyholders are being ripped off.” Reprinted Content: Copyright © 2022. DRIVEN COMMUNICATIONS INC. All Rights Reserved n

PARTS. YOUR PEACE OF MIND.

SATURDAY

Universal Technical Institute-Exton Launches BMW FastTrack Technician Training Program to Help Meet Demand for Automotive Technicians

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has launched the first session of its new BMW FastTrack techni cian training program at the Exton, Penn. campus, making it the fifth UTI location to begin offering the 12-week advanced training pro gram. A collaboration between the luxury-class German automak er and UTI, a leading provider of automotive technician training, BMW FastTrack provides state-ofthe-industry training on the latest models in production, utilizing the tools, technology, and procedures that are specific and proprietary to BMW vehicles.

Any student who completes UTI’s core automotive program is eligible to apply for the addi

tional BMW-specific training, which includes four technologies: work shop, electrical, chassis, and drive train. Once the BMW FastTrack cur riculum is complete, graduates can earn seven BMW factory creden tials and a BMW Associate Level III Certification – after passing BMWspecific ASE testing and assess ments. Graduates may also apply for additional, advanced training in the BMW STEP program, which is offered at BMW locations.

“We are thrilled to be start ing classes for students entering the BMW FastTrack training here in Exton,” said Robert Kessler, campus president at UTI-Exton. “Students will be learning from great instruc tors in their respective fields. This

program prepares our graduates to enter the automotive workforce as BMW technicians immediately upon graduation. Graduates who go to work at a BMW dealership may also be eligible for tuition reimburse ment and other incentives, so it’s a great opportunity for our students to increase their knowledge and prepare for a rewarding, lifelong career.”

“There is a need for more high ly skilled BMW technicians across our dealer network, so our alliance with Universal Technical Institute is critical to ensuring our dealers have the staff they need, and our custom ers receive the exemplary service

Subaru Parts You Need

GA

3D Damage Measurements and Depth Mapping Are Now Available

Dents.co, a software com pany serving the auto body repair industry, recently released version 1.1 of their mobile application on Apple's App Store. The latest version of the app brings exciting new features to LiDAR-enabled iPhone and iPad devices.

3D Measurements

The Dents.co mobile app leverages the LiDAR sensors in the latest iPhone and iPad Pro models to estimate the depth of the damage relative to the natural curves of the panel. This allows you to capture that measurement and report on it down to the millimeter, providing a high level of precision for negotiations.

Damage Depth Mapping

In addition to the depth mea surements, the Dents.co app gener ates 3D depth maps to better com municate the severity of damage to a panel. You can use this data to suit your company's needs to determine repair vs. replace, or to negotiate repair time.

3D Reports

3D data has added new depth to our reporting. Our new report ing format fully integrates 3D data, including depth measurements and

heat mapping imagery. We have also added a focused, dent-level report to better organize documentation and bring clarity to your negotiations.

About Dents.co

Dents.co is a first-of-its-kind app revolutionizing the collision

repair industry. The app measures auto body damage, offering a more streamlined auto damage estimating and negotiation process for shops and insurers. Dents.co is available for the benefit of collision centers and insurance providers.n

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Jason Freeman

Cliff

Konrad

Fouts

Genesis Gives Donates $50,000 To Support STEM Education In Alabama

Genesis Motor America’s corporate social responsibility ini tiative, Genesis Gives, donated a total of $50,000 to two esteemed organizations in Alabama to pro vide scholarships in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Alabama State University (ASU) received $25,000 and the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (ECCTAI) received a $25,000 donation from Genesis Gives. Ceremonial checks were presented to ASU and ECCTAI at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama.

“Genesis recognizes the impact STEM and STEAM educa tion have on cultivating a life long love of learning among the next generation of students,” said Brandon Ramirez, director, corpo rate social responsibility and exter nal relations, Genesis Motor North America. “Genesis Gives is commit ted to investing in and providing opportunities for the future work force in all communities.”

The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

(left to right) Robert Burns, chief administrative officer, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Audrey Parks, annual giving coordinator, Alabama State University, Gregory Clark, vice president, institutional advancement, Alabama State University, Dr. Audrey Napier, Ph.D., dean, college of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Alabama State University, Jerome Hodge, president, East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Dana W. White, chief communications officer, Hyundai Motor North America, Gabriel Christian, Esq., immediate past president, East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Ethan Kim, vice president and executive coordinator, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Jaeho Yoon, senior manager, general affairs and PR, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery, Ala. on July 30, 2022. (Photo/ Hyundai)

(CSTEM) at ASU offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs across various departments, produc ing some of the nation’s outstanding scientists, includ ing biologists, physical scientists, chemists, computer scientists, mathematicians, technologists and engi neers among others. ASU’s CSTEM graduates are skilled in critical thinking, leadership, creative design and the application of technological and scientific solutions to complex and challenging problems.

This donation will allow ASU to assist CSTEM stu dents with financial needs such as tuition, fees, books and academic supplies. It will also provide tutors for students who may need additional assistance in some courses.

The East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. supports many educational, charitable and philan thropic activities in Alabama. It supports the national goals of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., to motivate, inspire and stimulate young people's minds to aspire to, seek and achieve successful careers in the fields of aviation and aerospace. This donation will provide STEM scholar ships ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 for its program's deserving college-bound high school graduates.

Genesis Gives provides STEAM scholarships to support learning in the areas of sciences, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

Genesis Gives

Genesis Gives is a corporate social responsi bility initiative from Genesis Motor North America. Expanding on the brand's commitment to the highest standards of performance and its athletic elegance design identity, Genesis Gives supports nonprofit orga nizations with the goal of improving access to, and performance. n

BMW Please From Page 17

they’ve come to expect,” said Gary Uyematsu, national technical training manager, BMW of North America. “Upon completion of the UTI program, technicians arrive at our dealers fully equipped to make an immedi ate contribution as maintenance level technicians.”

"BMW of Devon is excited to have the BMW FastTrack program close to our center,” said Kevin Ciccariello, service manager, BMW of Devon (Penn.). “The need for qualified technicians who are properly educated and trained to diagnose and repair BMW vehi cles is consistent, and this program will help ensure the availability of candidates to support our clients’ repair needs with the proper level of training."

The BMW FastTrack program initially launched at UTI’s Avondale, Ariz. in January; the program is also offered at its Houston, TX, Long Beach, Calif, and Orlando, Fla. campuses. n

USAA Among First Insurers to Introduce Crash Detection Technology

USAA announced it is among the first auto insurance carriers to implement crash detection technol ogy, an innovation that simplifies and expedites the claims process. This technology comes at a critical time as auto accidents have surged past prepandemic levels, exacerbating supply chain issues and delays being felt by consumers across the nation.

The crash detection technol ogy, integrated in USAA's SafePilot® app, has generated more than 36,000 crash notifications since its November 2021 launch. The technology lever ages smart phone sensors within the app to detect a possible collision and prompts the member to verify if an accident has occurred. Once verified, the app immediately offers helpful information, including safety guid ance for the accident scene, the option to file a claim via a streamlined pro cess, or the ability to dial 911 directly from the app.

"Ultimately this comes down to making sure our members are safe and helping them get back on their feet faster," says Luke Harris, USAA's Vice President of Innovation. "We're con stantly looking for innovative ways to make our members' lives easier, some

Among these changes, telematics-based insurance plans have surged in popularity with USAA members as they search for ways to save money on their insurance premiums:

SafePilot®, USAA's behavior-based insurance (BBI) plan, rewards safe-driving behaviors with premium discounts. Members who enroll are eligible for initial policy discounts up to 10% for signing up, and continued policy discounts up to 30% for safe driving behaviors. Driver enrollment is more than 200% higher than in 2021 for SafePilot® which is now available in 43 states plus Washington D.C., with plans to expand to nearly all states in 2023.

thing that USAA has been focused on for over 100 years. By using telematics and crash detection technology, we can provide a more seamless member experience and faster resolution to claims."

Collision Claims Surging to PrePandemic Levels

As innovations in telematics improve the claims process, the insur ance industry continues to deal with an increase in volume, severity and cost of auto accidents. USAA handled 500,000 more claims in 2021 than in 2020, a trend felt broadly as pandemic restrictions were lifted and more cars returned to the roads.

The severity of accidents is also on the rise. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced a 16-year high in traffic fatalities, raising concerns of increasing danger on roadways. With an increase in severe accidents, the cost of repairs has also risen signif icantly. In 2021, USAA saw collision repair costs rise 38% over 2020 and is currently on pace to see an additional 30% increase in 2022. Additionally, as inflation has impacted the price of goods and services, insurers are seeing increases in the cost to repair vehicles stemming from supply chain issues and parts and labor shortages. n

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Mitchell Offers Streamlined Settlement Process for Total Loss Claims

By Dave LaChance

Mitchell announced that it has added full lender coverage and auto mated tax and fee calculations to its valuation solution for total loss claims.

The additions are designed to “streamline the total loss settlement process for carriers” by integrat ing technologies from LossExpress and Claim Toolkit into Mitchell’s WorkCenter Total Loss platform, the San Diego-based information pro vider said.

“Mitchell is absolutely commit ted to automating and expediting the claims process for our customers,” Debbie Day, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mitchell’s Auto Physical Damage division, said in a statement. “By joining forces with LossExpress and Claim Toolkit, we can help insurers reduce settlement cycle time—allowing them to pro vide better, faster and more accurate outcomes to their policyholders.”

The Mitchell WorkCenter Total Loss platform combines the compa ny’s physical damage claims handling solutions with J.D. Power data analy sis and pricing techniques to gener ate fair market values for vehicles declared a total loss.

On its website, Mitchell describes WorkCenter Total Loss as “a one-stop workflow tool” that “pro vides carriers and consumers with accuracy, transparency and speed — processing 95% of total loss vehicle valuations in 30 seconds or less.”

Integrating the LossExpress technology “gives U.S. and Canadian carriers access to the largest active lienholder network and lender cov erage for loan payoff amounts,” Mitchell said. Included in the ser vice is document procurement for all finance, vehicle, and asset types within Mitchell’s cloud-based solu tion as well as access to electronic lien and title information.

LossExpress offers instant loan payoff and digital lien release. On its website, the company says it “pro vides a secure industry-leading plat form that bridges the total loss gap to bring together insurance compa nies and banking institutions—all in one cohesive and user-centric expe rience.”

Jack Rozint, Senior Vice President of Repair Sales for Mitchell, told Repairer Driven News that pay off of the balance of an auto loan “is normally handled by the insur ance carrier. In the instance the car is totaled and there is a lien on the vehicle, the insured is informed that they have the balance due on the loan. Depending on the insurance carrier and the policy agreed upon, the loss event can trigger this to hap pen behind the scenes after assess ing the loss value and settlement amount. The integrations utilized in the Mitchell WorkCenter Total Loss solution streamline the process as the lien amount and letter of guar antee can be ordered for the car rier electronically from most financial institutions.”

Claim Toolkit, the other addi tion to WorkCenter, offers carriers a way to “accurately and automatical ly” calculate all of the state-specific taxes and fees that must be paid in a total loss settlement. They can then use WorkCenter Total Loss to export a market value report along with a detailed breakdown of the appli cable taxes and fees for the vehicle. “Automating this process assists car riers in decreasing settlement time and increasing customer satisfac tion,” Mitchell said.

Rozint said that Mitchell “regu larly reviews rules and regulations that are proposed or pending from each state.”

Allegations that carriers have failed to include all of the various taxes and fees required under the

laws of various states for an actu al cash value (ACV) payment have resulted in a number of class action lawsuits.

Rozint said that a carrier may be able to adjust the data provided by WorkCenter. “It depends. Taxes and fees are mandated, and they can be overwritten in the instance there is a mistake on the garage location of the loss vehicle or some other anomaly,” he said. “Lien amounts are typically set. However, occasionally there may be some negotiation.”

For repairers, it’s worth keep ing in mind that WorkCenter Total Loss does not incorporate a shop’s fee for processing a total loss. “Any fee for total loss processing is nego tiated between the carrier and the shop,” Rozint said.

According to a 2021 “Who Pays for What?” survey of more than 600 collision repairers conducted by Mike Anderson of Collision Advice in con junction with CRASH Network, the percentage of U.S. body shops that are paid an administrative fee related to the processing of total losses has risen steadily over the past several years.

In 2021, 72% of shops said they are paid always, or most of the time when they bill for this work. When the “Who Pays for What?” surveys began in 2015, just 46% said they were reg ularly paid a total loss administrative fee when they invoiced for it.

The survey also found that the percentage of shops that say they have never billed for this fee has declined steadily falling from 30% in 2015 to just 11% in 2021.

“Processing a total loss has become more complex than it used to be,” Anderson said. “It can involve more tear-down, more research of OEM procedures, vehicle scans and more.” Reprinted Content: Copyright

© 2022. DRIVEN COMMUNICATIONS INC. All Rights Reserved n

Bill Brower, Solera's VP of Industry Relations, Joins CIECA Board of Trustees

that Bill Brower, Vice President of Industry

Solera, joined CIECA’s Board of Trustees, effective imme

a claims leader

property and casualty

35 years

brand com

board, said Paul Barry, CIECA’s execu tive director. “We welcome the per spective and insight he will add to our organization.”

great deal of

broad

“We are in a time of rapid change across the ecosystem of insurance claims and auto repair driven by customers’ desire for

simple and effective digital service options,” said Brower. “CIECA plays a vital role in powering this accelerated level of digital interactions across the numerous stakeholders in the claims and repair process with consistent standards for sharing data. I am thrilled and honored to join the CIECA Board of Trustees.”

Prior to join ing Solera as VP of Industry Relations ear lier this year, Brower served as VP and Head of U.S. Auto Claims Strategy for LexisNexis Risk Solutions, lead ing the development of data solutions to power claims automation. His prior insurance claims experience includes roles of AVP & Head of Auto Physical Damage Claims and VP of Strategic Partnerships at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where he partnered with Solera in 2011 to create the industry’s

first photo estimating app, which was the foundation for today’s Qapter AI solution. Before joining Liberty Mutual, he enjoyed 18 years in rapidly progress ing leadership roles with Nationwide Insurance Company.

Additionally, Brower recently

(a Canada-based MSO), and a former member of North Fulton Community Charities Board of Directors in Roswell, Georgia.

Brower holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, and earned his MBA from Shorter University in Rome, Georgia.

joined the newly formed CEICA AI Committee and has a wealth of prior board experience. Previously, he served as a member and past chairman on the I-CAR Board, a former member of the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) Board, past chairman of Simplicity Car Care Advisory Board

“I envision more change across our insur ance claims and repair industries over the next three years than I have experienced in my 35+ year career,” said Brower. “Never before have data-sharing stan dards been more important than they are today. Working together, our indus try will deliver an incredible custom er experience by leveraging the vast data management expertise of CIECA to power the process automation of tomorrow,” said Brower. n

Georgia Jury awards $1.7B in Damages to Family of Couple Killed in Ford F-250 Rollover

By Dave LaChance

Ford Motor Co. intends to appeal a jury’s verdict ordering it to pay $1.7 billion in damages over a 2014 pickup truck rollover in which a Georgia couple was killed, several news sources have reported.

Melvin Hill, 72, and his wife, Voncile, 62, died in April 2014 when their 2002 Ford F-250 pickup rolled over. The couple’s children, Kim and Adam Hill, had filed a wrongful death claim against the OEM, alleging that a defective roof design on the truck was responsible for their parents’ deaths.

The Hills were driving from their farm in Reynolds, Georgia, when a tire ruptured and the truck rolled over, crushing them.

After a 14-day trial, jurors in Gwinnett County, Georgia, returned their verdict Friday, imposing $1.7 billion in punitive damages against Ford. The verdict was filed with the

court.

The OEM denied the family’s accusations “that Ford and its engi neers acted willfully and wantonly, with a conscious indifference for the safety of the people who ride in their cars when they made these decisions about roof strength,” defense lawyer William Withrow Jr. said in his closing arguments, according to an excerpt of a court transcript published by the Associated Press.

According to a press release issued by the family’s attorneys, the jury allocated 70 percent of the blame to Ford. The remainder was allocated to Pep Boys, which “mistak enly installed the wrong size, or ‘load range’ tires on the Hills’ truck in 2010.”

Jim Butler Jr., the attorney who won the verdict, told CNN that evi dence presented in the case showed that the F-250s made in the 17 model years before 2017 all pose a risk to drivers and passengers in cases of a

rollover.

Ford issued the following state ment on the verdict to CNN: “While our sympathies go out to the Hill fam ily, we don’t believe the verdict is sup ported by the evidence, and we plan to appeal. In the meantime, we aren’t going to litigate this matter through the news media.”

Butler conceded to CNN that the $1.7 billion verdict is likely to be reduced on appeal. He said the plain tiffs pursued the litigation in hopes of warning motorists about the trucks’ roofs.

During the trial, the plaintiffs’ lawyers submitted evidence of near ly 80 similar rollover crashes that involved truck roofs being crushed and injured or killed motorists, Butler’s law firm, Butler Prather LLP, said in a statement reported by Reuters. Reprinted Content: Copyright © 2022. DRIVEN COMMUNICATIONS INC. All Rights Reserved. n

“I envision more change across our insurance claims and repair industries over the next three years than I have experienced in my 35+ year career,”

Bill Brower, Vice President of Industry Relations for Solera

Rebel From Page 14

X-stitches.

The Rebel’s trail-running capa bility gets a boost with 1.0-inch raised ride height for improved off-road approach, departure and breakover angles.

Bilstein supplies front and rear shocks with unique tuning and a new steering calibration is matched to the Rebel’s increased ride height. A softer rear stabilizer bar provides improved dynamics.

Beefy 33-inch (LT285/70R17E)

Toyo Open Country A/T all-terrain tires are mounted to the all-new 17-inch silver and black cast aluminum wheels.

The Rebel takes advantage of Ram’s exclusive air suspension system with a 1.0-inch factory suspension lift, which not only helps to clear the 33-inch tires but also contributes to additional ground clearance. A modi fied alignment of the independent front suspension appropriately adjusts tire angle and aluminum lower A-arms absorb the load. The combination of larger tires and a suspension lift yield best-in-class ground clearance of 10.3 inches, and a new stability program

calibration takes Rebel’s modifications into consideration.

Rebel is available exclusively as a crew cab model with 5-ft. 7-inch bed length. Both 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and 5.7-liter HEMI powertrains are offered, as is a choice of either 4X2 (HEMI only) or 4X4 configurations. RamBox is optional.

The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine (Ward’s 10 Best Engines Award winner three years in a row) with variablevalve timing (VVT) offers 305 horse power, 269 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon (mpg).

The legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 with fuel-saving cylinder shut-off and VVT provide 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque.

HEMI-powered Ram 1500 Rebel trucks are available in 4x2 or 4x4 pow ertrains with 3.92 or 3.21 gear ratios. When equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, Rebel is available in 4x4 only with a 3.92 gear ratio, allow ing the engine to leverage its power and torque.

Both the 3.6-liter V-6 and 5.7liter HEMI V-8 engines are available with a rear anti-spin differential, which turns both rear wheels in tandem when

increased torque is applied – helpful in off-road driving conditions. The design automatically unlocks the differential for normal on-road driving, allowing the wheels to spin independently for improved drivability.

The TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission – standard equipment with the Rebel’s 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar and 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engines, improves drivability and enhances fuel efficiency.

The Ram 1500 is backed with a five-year /100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. The powertrainlimited warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair a covered powertrain component –engine, transmission and drive sys tem. Coverage also includes free towing to the nearest Ram dealer, if necessary. The warranty also is trans ferable, allowing customers who sell their truck during the warranty period to pass the coverage onto the new owner.

The standard three-year / 36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty provides bumper-to-bumper cover age for the Ram 1500, from the body to the electrical system. n

The Ram 1500 features up to 12,750 pounds of towing capability and 2,300 pounds of payload.

The eTorque 48-volt mild hybrid system delivers improved fuel efficiency in both V-6 (standard) and V-8 configurations.

Tesla

By Lurah Lowery

Suit

Tesla has filed suit against the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission, Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, and individual dealers for barring direct sales of its electric vehicles in the state.

The complaint states Tesla filed the suit “to vindicate their rights under the U.S. Constitution and fed eral and state law, and to protect Louisianians’ ability to buy, lease, and service Tesla’s critically acclaimed, all-electric vehicles in the State of Louisiana.”

“The people of Louisiana should have the freedom to buy, lease, and service the car of their choosing. Yet, Louisiana consumers’ freedom is being unduly restricted by protectionist, anti-competitive, and inefficient state regulation and laws being implemented and enforced by representatives of the same entrenched automotive indus try that lobbied for the passage of this anti-consumer regulation in the first place. As a result, those repre sentatives have effectively shut out of Louisiana the consumer-centric, free-market solution that is a more

efficient, consumer friendly business model for today’s automotive con sumer.”

Tesla claims the dealers asso ciation and its members as well as the defendant dealerships and motor vehicle commissioners are in viola tion of state and federal anti-trust laws as well as Louisiana’s Unfair Trade Practices Act. Commissioners are accused of violating the due pro cess, equal protection, and commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment.

Tesla argues that its “unique sales, leasing, distribution, and ser vice model in which it engages con sumers directly” based on its sales figures and “superlative survey rankings, show that this model has immense procompetitive benefits for consumers, providing them access to an array of unique products and exceptional service.”

“Although consumers have embraced Tesla—indeed, because consumers have embraced Tesla— Tesla’s competitors have pursued every avenue to bar Tesla from the market. Groups of industry incum bents, including some dealer associa

tions across the country, have viewed Tesla as a threat to their local monop oly power over automobile distribu tion. Rather than try to compete with Tesla, some of these well-connected dealers have tried to block Tesla from local markets altogether by promot ing protectionist legislation and by coopting state regulatory authority.”

In 2016, Tesla also sued Michigan for the state’s direct sales ban and reached a settlement in 2020 under which Tesla can have its cars serviced in Michigan through a subsidiary, according to Reuters. As of the complaint filing on Aug. 26, Tesla operates stores and/or service facilities in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

Oklahoma and Mississippi leg islators as well as New York worker unions have also taken issue with direct-to-consumer sales by Tesla and other automakers. A bill unani mously passed Oklahoma’s House Business and Commerce Committee in March but hasn’t been introduced in the Senate.

In Mississippi, both the House

new EV’s aerodynamic features. In order to maximize the performance, Hyundai N has added motorsportsinspired details. Through low ground clearance and emphasized shoul ders, Hyundai N achieved a design with a wide and sturdy stance. While maintaining IONIQ 6’s design, the lower bumper has been designed to be sporty, radiating an unexpected charm. With these functional aesthet ics, RN22e could improve its cooling and aerodynamics.

Measuring 4,915 mm long, 2,023 mm wide and 1,479 mm tall on a 2,950 mm wheelbase, RN22e will continue to develop with motorsports exper tise, so Hyundai can hone and perfect its advanced technologies to launch a mass-production electric N model utilizing the potential of E-GMP.

Introducing N Vision 74

Inspired by Hyundai Motor’s heritage, N Vision 74 is a high-perfor mance hydrogen fuel cell hybrid roll ing lab that underlines the company’s leadership in sustainable performance technology. N Vision 74 is inspired by both technology and design, rooted in N’s sustainable vision announced in 2015 and Hyundai’s passion for high performance since 1974.

In terms of design, N Vision 74 pays an homage to the Hyundai Pony Coupe concept from 1974, which was developed by the legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The con cept was then built into prototypes for Hyundai’s first production sports car. Although it could not reach produc tion in the end, the daring attitude set the tone for the entire company.

N Vision 74 inherited the pure surface, the dynamic proportioned profile and the unique B pillar from the 1974 Pony Coupe concept. Hyundai’s design heritage meets the electri fication era with high performance to shape N Vision 74. In addition, Parametric Pixel lighting provides a futuristic flourish.

Hyundai N has unveiled the new series of rolling labs under a different name to set the new standard of next-generation high performance. As the initial big step, Hyundai Motor's first electric N, IONIQ 5 N will hit the global market in 2023.

“N Vision 74’s future-oriented design reflects the respect and appre ciation we have for the dedication and passion that went into the Pony Coupe concept,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center.

N Vision 74 elevates the daring attitude of the Pony Coupe concept into a future Hyundai design, while reinterpreting the interior as an enter taining space without losing the pure architecture of the Pony Coupe con cept. It is equipped with a driver-cen tric cockpit with a blend of heritage elements and modern design, such as digital cluster and analogue buttons.

Just seven years later, Hyundai N is introducing N Vision 74, setting its sights even further by realizing its passion for ‘fun to drive’ and imagi nation. Hyundai’s engineers devel oped a hybrid structure of a bat tery-electric in combination with an FCEV system, which is placed in an all-new layout. By having fuel cell system and battery-electric powering the N Vision 74 together, the cool ing efficiency is improved, while the two different power sources can be used depending on different driving conditions. This fine-tuned logic sys

tem enables better torque vectoring by twin motors on the rear, allow ing a precise and responsive corner ing experience. Moreover, N Vision 74 explores the balance between the performance and cooling with a three-channel cooling system.

The high-performance technol ogy is fully integrated into the design to fulfil the FCEV’s heat management requirements. With such functional aesthetics, N Vision 74 explores the balance between state-of-the-arttechnology and iconic design. Along with long-range and fast refueling capabilities, History and Future of Hyundai rolling labs

In 2012, Hyundai embarked on Project RM to showcase its expertise in developing new technology and innovation. Through this project, the company develops and connects new high-performance technology from motorsport with future N models. The name of the project refers to the N prototype model’s ‘Racing Midship’ rear-drive, midship powertrain con figuration. The fundamental differ ence of this design provides an ideal balance of handling and agility from a low polar moment of inertia. n

Largest and Most Differentiated Expedition Ready to Conquest

With millennials now accounting for the fastest growing demographic in the fullsize SUV segment, the expanded lineup of the new 2022 Expedition is set to meet modern family needs and enable unique outdoor and road-tripping adventures.

Since the introduction of this gen eration flagship model in 2017, Expedition has nearly tripled its market share among full-size SUVs, even as competitors have fully redesigned their vehicles and new entrants try to gain a foothold.

3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine, the Platinum edition churns out 400 horsepower and 480 lb.-ft. of torque, while the standard 3.5-liter EcoBoost delivers 375 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft*. When equipped with the heavy-duty Trailer Tow Package, Expedition delivers a best-in-class 9,300-pound towing capacity. Available Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ helps take the stress out of lining up a trailer or boat to make maneuvering more enjoy able.

This expanded lineup brings more personality and design distinction for each series – from Expedition XL to the premi um Expedition Platinum, as well as the new

Every Ford Expedition comes with standard and available driver-assist features. These include:

• Road Edge Detection: This feature engages the steering sys tem to help you maintain your position in the lane on roads with a visible line or a clear edge8

• Intersection Assist: It’s not easy to traverse a busy intersec tion, especially when you need to consider other vehicles around you. Available Intersection Assist can help. Intersection Assist uses the front camera and radar sensors to detect oncoming traffic while you are attempting to turn left. If there’s a risk of a potential collision with an oncoming vehicle, your vehicle can alert you and apply the brakes. This just might give you more confidence when attempting to make a left turn at an intersection8

• Reverse Brake Assist: Backing out of parking spaces often puts drivers in situations with limited visibility, so this feature senses oncoming pedestrians and vehicles, alerts the driver, and automatically brakes if the vehicle is at risk of a collision8

• Evasive Steering Assist: It happens. Traffic is rolling along smoothly when suddenly there’s a slow or stopped vehicle in your path. This available feature can help make it easier to potentially avoid a col lision. It doesn’t steer for you, but it can provide extra steering support if the system’s warning goes off and you need to maneuver around the vehicle ahead8

• Active Air Dam: This available new feature improves aerody namics, deploying at speeds above 40 mph then automatically retracting at lower speeds for city driving and parking8 Smarter, simpler, greater towing

Stealth Edition Performance Package and Timberline modExpeditionclud ing bolder styling with standard LED headlamps, updated taillamps and new wheel choices. Also, a new twinspar mesh grille and fog lamps with chrome accents have been added to the Platinum.

Ford once again delivers on its promise to offer more rugged SUVs and trucks with the new Expedition Timberline model – the most off-roadcapable Expedition ever, which is set apart in the series with a unique grille and Active Orange exterior accents.

“Timberline sets a new stan dard with full-size SUV customers who need more passenger space, great offroad capability and a basecamp for life’s journeys,” said Mike Kipley, Ford Expedition chief engineer.

Timberline boosts Expedition trail capability, starting with standard 10.6-inch best ground clearance in its class and a wider track, while improved approach and departure angles enable deeper travel into the backcountry on tougher trails. Timberline is pow ered by Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter

Elevating the new instrument panel and craftsmanship further is an available 12.4-inch high-definition digital gauge cluster.

EcoBoost V6 engine producing 440 horsepower and 510 lb.-ft. of torque.

More functional upgrades include Trail Turn Assist – the same system as on Bronco™ SUV – that can tighten the turning radius on hairpin trails to take customers further offroad8, rugged 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler™ AT tires, two-speed transfer case and tough F-150 Raptor under body shielding.

Stealth Edition Performance Package: Style and performance meets capability

With athletic styling and a

sport-tuned suspension, the new 2022 Expedition Stealth Edition Performance Package elevates on-road fun and driving confidence with best-in-class power from Ford’s high-output 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine producing 440 horse power and 510 lb.-ft. of torque

Available on Expedition Limited and Limited MAX, Stealth Edition Performance Package sports modern, stylish gloss-black features including grille, mirror caps, roof rails, running boards, tailgate appliqué, rear bumper skid plate, fog lamp bezels,

Expedition From Page 32

plus headlamp and taillamp housing. Unique red brake calipers sit behind larger 22-inch premium black alumi num wheels, while “Expedition” and “Limited” badging in black are featured front and back, plus new black Ford oval emblems.

Flagship-level technology including Ford BlueCruise, new SYNC® connectivity, Ford Power-Up over-theair software updates

Standard Ford Co-Pilot360™ includes a host of driver-assist technologies such as Auto HighBeam Headlamps, BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping System with Lane-Keeping Alert, Lane-Keeping Aid and Driver Alert, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Brake Support as well as a rear view camera.

The Expedition Platinum debuts Ford BlueCruise hands-free highway Driver-Assist Technology. The available new feature builds upon

Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering and Speed Sign Recognition. It allows own ers to operate their vehicle hands-free on the highway while being monitored by a driver-facing camera to ensure they keep their eyes on the road. It is compatible on prequalified sections of divided highways called Hands-Free Blue Zones.

Elevating the new instrument panel and craftsmanship further is an available 12.4-inch high-definition dig ital gauge cluster that features a large information on-demand area, along with Expedition-specific graphics and animations that respond to the flag ship’s selectable drive modes and can display off-roading data and turn-byturn navigation.

The new Expedition comes with standard SYNC® 4 or an optional SYNC 4A system with 15.5-inch highdefinition touch display. SYNC 4A provides a modern interface using machine learning to learn and present preferred driver choices.

Available SYNC 4A with the 15.5-inch portrait-oriented display includes adaptive dash card technolo gy that uses the touch screen for inter active individual digital cards, instead of traditional menus, to organize and optimize the experience.

Expedition comes equipped with Ford Power-Up software, which delivers regular vehicle enhancements to Ford owners, turning connected vehicle learnings into continuous quality improvements, new features and capabilities. These updates can improve the ownership experience and may help reduce the need for repair trips.

Pro Trailer Backup Assist™ 2.0 uses the rear camera and park aid sen sors to detect a trailer, with the user directing it through a control knob and backup camera screen. Version 2.0 improves on the previous system that required the driver to put a “target” on the trailer and to in-put trailer dimen sions – automating all of that for a more seamless user experience.n

Toyota Announces $2.5 Billion Expansion of North Carolina Plant with 350 Additional Jobs and BEV Battery Capacity

Toyota announced an additional investment of $2.5 billion in its newest North American facility, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC). This investment adds capacity to sup port battery electric vehicle (BEV) battery production and adds 350 jobs, bringing the total employment to approximately 2,100. Scheduled to begin production in 2025, the facility will produce batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and BEVs.

Last year, Toyota Motor Corporation announced a global invest ment of approximately $70 billion (8

trillion JPY*) for electrification efforts.

As part of this aspirational goal, TMC announced a future battery produc tion commitment of up to $5.6 billion (730 billion JPY), which includes the new North Carolina investment.

“This marks another signifi cant milestone for our company,” said Norm Bafunno, senior vice president, Unit Manufacturing and Engineering at Toyota Motor North America. “This plant will serve a central role in Toyota’s lead ership toward a fully electrified future and will help us meet our goal of car bon neutrality in our vehicles and global

operations by 2035.”

In 2021, Toyota, in partnership with Toyota Tsusho, announced the new Liberty location with an initial invest ment of $1.29 billion for battery produc tion and the creation of 1,750 new jobs. With today’s announcement, TBMNC’s total investment is $3.8 billion.

“This is an exciting time for Toyota, the region and the many North Carolinians we will soon employ,” said Sean Suggs, TBMNC president. “This incremental investment reflects our continued com mitment to ensuring jobs and future eco nomic growth for the Triad region.” n

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and Senate passed their own ver sions of a bill to prohibit the sales model. However, the House declined to concur with the Senate’s amended bill on March 17 so it was referred to a conference committee of legislators from both chambers. The bill died in conference.

The United Service Workers Union (USWU) and United Auto Worker (UAW) unions representing automotive sector workers, opposed New York Assembly and Senate com panion bills during its 2022 legisla tive session. They called on lawmak ers “to protect New York jobs by denying out-of-state electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers that want spe cial treatment to directly sell their vehicles,” according to a USWU news release. The groups specifically called out Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian. The bills weren’t voted on before the session adjourned on June 2.

A bill in Georgia that supported the sales model for EV OEMs and that specifically named Rivian Automotive stalled in the Senate earlier this year. The Connecticut Senate also passed legislation in favor of direct sales to become effective Oct. 1 but the House took no action.

Tesla claims its only option to sell vehicles in Louisiana would be to “forgo its successful (and necessary) business model” and franchise its sales to dealers, which would result in “anti-consumer effects and high er prices.” However, the complaint notes that Louisiana law doesn’t pro hibit Tesla from leasings its EVs in the state or providing warranty repairs and services.

The issue in Louisiana, accord ing to the complaint, dates back to 2017 when the dealers association, the defendant dealerships, and some of the defendant commissioners “successfully lobbied the Louisiana Legislature to prohibit Tesla from directly selling its vehicles to custom

The suit seeks declaratory relief by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against all of the defendants including:

• That the commission, under state law, can’t regulate Tesla consistent with due process “and thus that its attempts to prevent Tesla from leasing and servicing vehicles are uncon stitutional;”

• That the direct sales ban and the servicing ban cannot be enforced against Tesla;

• Permanent enjoinment of state officials from enforcing the direct sales and servicing bans against Tesla;

• That “the conspiracy among the Dealers Association, its members, the Dealerships, and the named Commissioners violates state and federal law;” and,

ers in Louisiana.”

“Before this amendment, Louisiana only prohibited manu facturers from competing with their own franchised dealers. … Specifically, the pre-2017 statute provided no manufacturers may ‘sell or offer to sell a new or unused motor vehicle directly to a consumer except as provided in this Chapter, or to compete with a licensee in the same-line makes, models, or classifications operating under an agreement or franchise from the aforementioned manufacturer.’ … Under the pre-2017 version of the law, therefore, if Tesla had both man ufactured vehicles and franchised

• Enjoin the dealers association, its members, the dealerships, and the commissioners named as defendants “from violat ing state and federal law by coopting the Commission to bar Tesla from leasing and servicing Tesla Vehicles in Louisiana.” local dealers in Louisiana to sell those vehicles, then Tesla could not direct ly sell its vehicles to customers in Louisiana in competition with its own franchised dealers. But Tesla was free to directly sell vehicles if it did not franchise local, in-State dealers.

“After the Legislature amended the direct sales ban, however, Tesla may not sell new or used cars directly to consumers in Louisiana without using a local, in-state dealer: It is now unlawful for a manufacturer ‘[t] o sell or offer to sell a new or unused motor vehicle directly to a consum er.'” Reprinted Content: Copyright © 2022. DRIVEN COMMUNICATIONS

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