Plans include a new crash test, new dummies, as well as crash-avoidance system ratings to the government’s vehicle safety ranking program. The U.S. Department of Transportation today proposed high-tech changes to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 5-Star Safety Rating program for new vehicles. The planned changes will improve on the well-known safety ratings […]
Solera Stockholders Approve Sale to Vista Equity Partners
Solera Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLH) announced that Solera shareholders voted to adopt the merger agreement announced in September for the company’s sales to an affiliate of Vista Equity Partners for $55.85 per share in cash. The merger was approved by a vote of nearly 44 million shares to 7.3 million against the proposal. A separate […]
Carlyle Group Completes Acquisition of Innovation Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) last week announced the successful acquisition of Innovation Group (LON: TIG) for £500 million ($689 million). Originally announced in September, capital for the acquistion came from Carlyle Europe Partners IV (CEP IV), a European-focused upper-mid market buyout fund. Further terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1996 and […]
AASP-MN Announces Annual Meeting, Leadership Conference in April
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) announced its Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference will be held April 14, 2016, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 1330 Industrial Blvd., Minneapolis, Minn. This year’s event, with a theme to “Lead the Way,” offers a line-up of seminars that are specifically geared for mechanical and collision […]
Single Source Adds Chris Northup to Advisory Board
Single Source, Inc., the distributor of PPG automotive refinish products, announced that Christopher Northup has joined its Advisory Board. Northup arrives with a host of experience and knowledge from over 32 years of involvement in the collision repair and refinish industry. His senior executive experience with both private and publically traded companies provides a unique […]
FinishMaster Acquires Refinish Solutions
Uni-Select Inc. (TSE:UNS), the distributor of automotive products in Canada and parent of FinishMaster, Inc., announced today that FinishMaster has entered into an agreement to acquire two distributor locations from Aquia Auto Parts, Inc., that does business as Refinish Solutions in Virginia and Washington, D.C. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is […]
Guild 21 Conference Call Thursday Features American Honda
The next Guild 21 conference call takes place Thursday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m. PST (2 p.m. EST) and will feature Chris Tobie and Gary Ledoux from American Honda Motor Corp. Tobie and Ledoux will provide a technical update on collision repair for Honda and Acura vehicles including information on locations of Ultra-High Strength Steel, […]
TÜV Rheinland Approved by Lift Institute in North America
TÜV Rheinland, a global testing, inspection, and certification body, announced it has received accreditation from the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) as an inspection body to test vehicle lift safety in the USA and Canada. This accreditation means TÜV Rheinland can now offer complete testing of automotive lift equipment to ALI standards for North American, EU, […]
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Approves Photo-Video Appraisal, Counterfeit Airbag Bills
Proposals to amend the Commonwealth’s 1972 Appraisers Act that requires physical inspections of collision damaged vehicles and make the sale an installation of non-functioning airbags illegal approved. Yesterday, two pieces of legislation touching upon the collision repair industry in Pennsylvania were approved by the Commonwealth’s House of Representatives in floor votes. House Bill 1638 (HB1638) […]
Fix Auto USA Adds 18 New Franchise Locations
With the latest additions, Fix Auto USA’s network has grown to 90 locations. Fix Auto USA announced its continued expansion with the addition of 18 new franchise locations. With the additional locations, the organizations franchise total is now 90 locations. The 18 franchises expand the geographical reach of the Fix Auto in Chicago, San Bernardino […]