Wage growth, combined with declining gas prices and low interest rates, projected to drive auto sales higher next year. Cautions next year could be peak. Moderate wage growth, declining gasoline prices and continued low interest rates on auto loans will drive new car and light truck sales higher in 2016, Steven Szakaly, chief economist of […]
Uni-Select Acquires Ontario PBE Distributor
Uni-Select Inc. (TSE:UNS), the distributor of automotive products in Canada and parent company of FinishMaster, Inc., announced that it has completed the acquisition, through one of its Canadian subsidiaries, of T.N. Discovery Auto Collision Ltd. T.N. Discovery, a member of Uni-Select, has been servicing auto body shops throughout the Greater Toronto Area since 1995. They […]
National Auto Body Council Golf Fundraiser Early Bird Registration Ends November 24
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) announced that early bird registration for its upcoming Annual Golf Event Fundraiser presented by Hertz, ends next Tuesday, November 24. The event takes place at the Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort in Palm Springs, California on Wednesday, January 13. Golfer and sponsor registration is available online. Because it the single […]
Fenix Parts Announces Third Quarter 2015 Results
Fenix Parts, Inc. (NASDAQ:FENX), the automotive recycler, announced third quarter and year-to-date 2015 results. Fenix completed its IPO and the acquisitions of its eight founding companies in mid-May 2015, and another acquisition, of Ocean County Auto Wreckers in August 2015. The accompanying financial statements include results of Fenix Parts, as a standalone entity for the […]
Thatcham Announces Partnership for Chinese Motor Insurance Ratings Market
Thatcham Research announced a partnership with the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre (CATARC) to enable the introduction of a vehicle insurance rating program into China. Funded by UK insurers, one of Thatcham’s key responsibilities is in administering the insurance Group Rating system on behalf of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The newly signed […]
Traffic Volume Up 2.3% in August
With gas prices declining, record levels of driving were reported and growth continues across all five regions in the U.S. Travel for the month of August is estimated at 277.3 billion vehicle miles nationwide according to the most recent data released by the Federal Highway Administration. The August result continues the good news for the […]
NACE | CARS and Automechanika Chicago Scheduled for Same Week in Summer 2017
Chicago and Orlando trade shows scheduled for July 2017 will overlap. When the Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced that it was moving its NACE | CARS conference and trade show to the summer in 2014 in Detroit, away from its traditional fall time frame, the industry breathed a sigh of relief at not having two […]
Collision Repair Industry Production Up in August
Gains in both production employees and hours worked drive significant improvement compared to July and August 2014. Production employment at record levels. An analysis of the latest data released from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), shows that total production for the auto body repair industry was up in August compared […]
Final Rule on Automotive Software Copyright Protection Exemption Excludes Repair Industry
Final rule by the Library of Congress gives consumers the ability to circumvent copyright protection on vehicle software, but excludes third-parties. Repair industry groups concerned it could impact independent repair facilities. The Library of Congress published its final rule on the Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies in […]
Leanne Jefferies Named VP of Canadian Operations for Assured Performance
Assured Performance Network announced the appointment of Leanne Jefferies as Vice-President of Canadian Operations. Jefferies will launch and oversee Canadian operations of the Certified Collision Care program powered by Assured Performance Network. Assured Performance Network is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that operates as a third-party administrator for consumer awareness, body shop Certification and Business […]