In response to the alerts raised by recent presentations at NACE in November 2009, and the Collision Industry Conference in January 2010, Diamond Standard announced that it has accelerated the time frame for its planned launch of a full certification program for safety parts. The company is itself a US based manufacturer of high strength […]
New EPA Rule for Body Shops: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Every shop in the country has less than two months to comply with the initial notification requirement of the EPA’s new surface coating rule, but there is free help available if you know who to call. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working to implement a new rule to reduce pollutants emitted by the collision […]
Connecticut AG Calls for Federal Review of Auto Insurer Practices
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal held a press conference on Tuesday during which he called on U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. to investigate and stop insurance company practices that may deny consumers the right to choose their own automobile repair shop. Holding petitions from auto repairer associations from across the country, Blumenthal said […]
Testing is the Real Measure of Aftermarket Part Equivalency
Aftermarket parts manufacturer Diamond Standard is one company that takes issue with the idea that aftermarket parts cannot equal OEM. The company says there absolutely are some aftermarket parts that are the equivalent of OEM, and they have the testing to back it up. According to Geoff Crane, Business Development Manager, Diamond Standard, the company […]
SCRS Asks U.S. Attorney General to Investigate Antitrust Violations
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announced that it is joining the efforts of a number of collision repair organizations across the country in its request to the Department of Justice, and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, to investigate violations of federal antitrust laws by automobile insurance companies. “Stemming from the circulation of a […]
CT Association Petitions US Attorney General to Stop Antitrust Violations
The Auto Body Association of Connecticut is launching a national petition to the United States Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. requesting that his office investigate violations of federal antitrust laws by insurance companies serving the private passenger automobile industry. According to William Romaniello, III, Connecticut shop owner and legislative director for the Auto Body […]
LKQ Makes Deal to Sell Copies of Patented Ford Crash Parts
A settlement agreement was reached Wednesday between Ford Motor Company and LKQ Corporation in the litigation filed by Ford to protect its design patents on collision parts. The settlement provides that LKQ will not challenge the validity and enforceability of Ford’s design patents during the term of the agreement. In exchange, LKQ will become the […]
Judge Halts CCC Mitchell Merger
A district court judge has ordered that the merger between CCC Information Services and Mitchell International Inc. may not proceed until the completion of a full investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). As in many merger cases, the court’s decision may mean the end of the deal between the two companies unless they are […]
Liberty Mutual to Acquire Safeco Corporation
Liberty Mutual Group and Safeco Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement where Liberty Mutual will acquire all outstanding shares of Safeco for $68.25 per common share in cash. The proposed transaction, which is valued at approximately $6.2 billion, has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. It is […]
Mitchell International and CCC Plan Merger
Two of the three main information providers agree to join forces. CollisionWeek has confirmed from several sources that Mitchell International and CCC Information Services have entered into a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. On Thursday night, some customers of CCC Information Services and Mitchell International had received telephone calls from the companies explaining […]