The ability to use photographs and videos to prepare auto insurance appraisals of physical damage is one step closer in Virginia as both House and Senate pass companion bills. Both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate passed companion bills allowing the use of photos in auto physical damage appraisals. Virginia House Bill 870 was […]
Uni-Select Reports Growth in Paint Sales
Parent of FinishMaster reports growth in refinish sales for both the fourth quarter and full year. Uni-Select Inc. the distributor automotive refinish and industrial paint and related products across North America, as well as in the automotive aftermarket parts business in Canada, reported financial results with increased EBITDA margins for the fourth quarter ended December […]
NACE | CARS Anaheim Exhibit Space Sales Ahead of Last Year
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced that exhibit space sales for its NACE | CARS automotive collision repair and service repair industry trade show is running 30 percent of last year’s sales. NACE | CARS 2016 will be held August 9 – 13 in Anaheim, Calif. According to the organizers, two-thirds of the NACE | […]
Collision Repair Education Foundation Reports Over $100,000 Raised by Hire Our Heroes Calendar
The new Hire Our Heroes Calendar fundraiser, coordinated through 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division (AAD) and the Collision Repair Education Foundation, raised over $100,000 in January to support scholarships and tool grants to military veterans and their family members who are studying collision repair. Repair facilities that donate $200 to the Foundation’s 3M Hire Our Heroes […]
Property/Casualty Insurers More Profitable in First Nine-Months of 2015
Net written premiums and investment income both up. Profitability measure grows 1.2 percentage points. Private U.S. property/casualty insurers’ net income after taxes grew to $44.0 billion in the first nine months of 2015 from $37.8 billion in nine-months 2014, with insurers’ overall profitability as measured by their rate of return on average policyholders’ surplus growing […]
Service King Acquires Two-Location Collision Repair Business in Virginia
Service King Collision Repair Centers announced continued expansion in the Washington D.C. market with the acquisition of Southern Auto Body and its two collision repair centers in Fredericksburg, Va. Earlier this week, Service King announced the acquisition of Precision Collision, also in the D.C. market. Service King and Southern Auto Body finalized the merger Feb. […]
Fix Auto USA Hits 100th Franchise Location
Fix Auto USA announced it achieved the milestone of its 100th franchise location for the independent, owner-operated collision repair brand. Fix Auto launched its franchise model in 2011 in response to a collision repair landscape increasingly dominated by regional and national consolidators, and insurance carriers looking for a turnkey vehicle claims processing solution. “Reaching this […]
Axalta Releases Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Financial Results
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) reported fourth quarter net sales of $1.0 billion, a 4.5 percent year-over-year increase before the impact of unfavorable foreign currency translation of 11.5 percent. Sales decreased 7.0 percent on an as-reported basis. For the quarter ended December 31, 2015, adjusted EBITDA was $212.8 million up 4.0 percent compared to 2014 […]
Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia Selects eMarketing Sherpas
The Automotive Retailers Association (ARA) of British Columbia, Canada and eMarketing Sherpas announced that The Demand Engine, The Review Engine and the Digital Lobby are now available to all ARA members as the preferred consumer sales, marketing and customer service solutions for the association. David Ribeiro, ARA’s Director of Industry Relations, said, “I was looking […]
Service King Acquires Collision Repair Center in District of Columbia Market
Service King Collision Repair Centers announced the acquisition of Precision Collision a single location collision repair center located at 7901 Kincannon Place in Lorton, Va. “Service King and its team aligns seamlessly with the staff vision and mission of Precision Collision,” said Precision Collision owner Robert Plate. “That’s what makes our team so enthusiastic about […]