According to J.D. Power and LMC Automotive forecast retail sales will fall for sixth time this year. U.S. new-vehicle retail sales are projected to continue their slide in October, falling 0.8 percent from a year ago on a selling-day adjusted basis, according to a monthly sales forecast developed jointly by J.D. Power and LMC Automotive. […]
GM Issues Position Statement for Pre- and Post-Collision Repair Scans for Trouble Codes
General Motors Company (GM) today issued a position statement for the collision repair industry directing technicians to scan damaged vehicles for diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) both before and after repairs. “Even minor body damage or glass replacement may result in damage to one or more safety-related systems on the vehicle,” said John Eck, collision manager, […]
Rising Automobile Claims Costs Put Upward Pressure on Price Of Insurance
I.I.I. White Paper Details Increase In Frequency and Severity of auto crashes. Over the past two years, U.S. auto insurance companies have seen private-passenger loss costs rise sharply as insurers receive more, and costlier, claims, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). “There has been an alarming increase in crashes and claims reported. This, combined […]
NOAA U.S. Winter Outlook Predicts Warmer, Drier South and Cooler, Wetter North
Drought expected to persist in California and expand in the Southeast Forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center issued the U.S. Winter Outlook yesterday, saying that La Nina is expected to influence winter conditions this year. The Climate Prediction Center issued a La Nina watch this month, predicting the climate phenomenon is likely to develop in […]
Nissan Completes Acquisition of 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors
Enlarged Alliance ranks among top three global automotive groups. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced yesterday its completed its acquisition of a 34 percent equity stake in Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) that was announced in May and became its largest shareholder. MMC will also become part of the global Alliance with Nissan and Renault. With the addition […]
Industry Can Support Collision Repair Education Foundation by Shopping on AmazonSmile
Collision industry members can support the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s annual campaign fund this holiday season by shopping on AmazonSmile, a web site operated by Amazon.com that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products as on Amazon.com. When collision industry members shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of the […]
Automotive Recyclers Association Holds 73rd Annual Convention & Exposition Next Week
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) will hold its 73rd Annual Convention & Exposition next from October 26-29 at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD Highlights of the three-day Convention include: Thursday, October 27, 2016 9 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Joe Picard, chief economist of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. Recyclers Roundtable: […]
Interview: Dave Parzen, General Manager Collision Repair Shop Certification, NSF International
Announced last year, NSF International’s collision repair certification program offers shops an alternative, independent certification. Parzen details the program, how it was developed, and how shops can participate in the program. Collision repair facility certification has received enormous attention in the past several years. While much of the focus has been on offerings from vehicle […]
PPG Reports Third Quarter Earnings
Automotive refinish sales growth at “a low-single-digit” percentage rate. PPG (NYSE:PPG) today reported third quarter 2016 net sales of $3.8 billion, up almost 2 percent versus the prior-year figure of $3.7 billion. Sales volumes grew 1.6 percent and acquisition-related sales contributed more than 2 percent, partly offset by a slight decline in selling prices. Unfavorable […]
Boyd Group Acquires Michigan Collision Repair Center, Adds Location in Indiana
The Boyd Group Inc. announced the October 17, opening of a new Gerber collision repair center in Battle Creek, Mich. The center is located on a major roadway in an active retail district and previously operated as M-66 Auto Body & Frame. “We are pleased to add this center which has served the Battle Creek […]