Boston Consulting Group projects car sharing will reduce new-vehicle sales by only 1 percent in 2021. Report projects autonomous vehicles will have greater impact on the industry but not until late 2020s. According to a new report from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) while car sharing is taking hold in large urban areas in both […]
Google to Shut Down Auto Insurance Comparison Website
Less than a year after announcing its launch in the U.S., Google will be shutting down its Compare product that allowed consumer to get quotes on a variety of financial services including auto insurance. In an email to Compare partners, Google explained that it plans to terminate its price comparison service in the U.S. and […]
SEM Obtains 52 Recommendations from GM
SEM Products, Inc. announced that General Motors (GM) had awarded the company 52 recommendations spanning 218 SKUs. Recommended product categories include adhesives, foams, panel bonding adhesives, plastic repair materials, seam sealers, stone guard coatings, and undercoatings. SEM’s specialty coatings, such as interior refinish products, are recommended for out of warranty repair scenarios. A full list […]
CARSTAR Promotes Mack to Director of Strategic Initiatives
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts announced the promotion of Marybeth Mack, formerly Operations Project Manager, to Director of Strategic Initiatives. Mack, a CARSTAR team member since 2011, will oversee the immersion process for CARSTAR franchisees joining the network, managing their integration into the CARSTAR EDGE platform, store branding, implementation of the CARSTAR standard operating procedures, […]
Collision Diagnostic Services Selects Precision Marketing in Canada
Collision Diagnostic Services (CDS) announced it has selected Precision Marketing to remarket the asTech2 remote diagnostic device to the Canadian collision repair industry. Under the terms of the agreement, Precision Marketing’s independent manufacturer representatives, located throughout Canada, will market the device to professional collision repair organizations and insurers. Precision Marketing’s representatives will provide local support, […]
New-Vehicle Sales in February Forecast to Increase 8.1%
Forecast by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive project strongest February light vehicle sales since 2002. New-vehicle sales in February 2016 are expected to increase 8.1 percent from a year ago, according to a monthly sales forecast developed jointly by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. New-vehicle retail sales in February are projected to reach 1,046,700 units […]
Maaco Opens Satellite Locations in Partnership with Pep Boys
Opens first locations in Atlanta, Ga. with location opening in Los Angeles soon. Maaco announced a partnership with Pep Boys, the automotive aftermarket chain, to launch an automotive retail concept across the United States. The first two of many planned Maaco satellite shops will open inside existing Pep Boys locations in Georgia at 1531 Cobb […]
CARSTAR Expands in Northern California
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts announced the addition of CARSTAR Sunnyvale Auto Body to its franchise network of independently-owned collision repair centers. CARSTAR Sunnyvale, with 10,000 sq. ft., is owned by Bob Brost and is located at 1288 Forgewood Ave. in Sunnyvale, Calif. The new location is the 11th CARSTAR collision repair facility in the […]
ABRA Announces Executive Leadership Appointments
ABRA Auto Body & Glass announced it has added four executives to key leadership roles. ABRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Duane Rouse said, “ABRA has had an incredible opportunity to dramatically expand its national footprint. Adding repair centers quickly while preserving superior quality and customer satisfaction is no easy feat. These incredible leaders have […]
Equipment and Tool Institute Launches Market Research Study
In an effort to assist our members in bringing new and improved equipment and tools to the marketplace, The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) has launched a series of Market Research Projects. The current survey covers repair services including collision repair. ETI will use this research to help all segments of the automotive industry provide […]