Office of Defect investigation finds no safety-related defect trends. Data shows 40 percent reduction in crash rates for Tesla vehicles after introduction of autosteer. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) yesterday released a report and closed its investigation into 2014-2016 Tesla Model S and X […]
EPA Finalizes 2025 Auto Emission Standards
Auto industry calls for review by incoming Trump Administration. On Friday, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy finalized her decision to maintain the current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model years 2022-2025 cars and light trucks. The final determination finds that “…a wide variety of effective technologies are available to reduce GHG emissions from cars and […]
Interview: Michael Macaluso and Sam Freeman, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts
In our video interview, Michael Macaluso, president of CARSTAR North America, and Sam Freeman, vice president of development, detail the results of CARSTAR’s integration of the U.S. and Canadian operations and plans for future growth. It’s a little over one year since Driven Brands acquired both the U.S. and Canadian CARSTAR franchise networks. Over the […]
BASF Details Recent Distributor Changes
BASF has made several announcements over the last few months about new distributors in some markets around the country including in Denver, Colo., Fort Myers, Fla.; and California. In response to several questions from our subscribers, CollisionWeek reached out to BASF to help our collision repair facility readers understand why these changes were made from […]
Interview: Russ Hoffbauer, State Farm Insurance
In our video interview, Russ Hoffbauer, director of claims for State Farm Insurance, explains the impact changing vehicle technology is having on collision repair claim frequency, cost and the referral process. He also examines changing claims technology as well as the continued evolution of the Select Service referral network. With over 18 percent of the […]
O’Reilly Auto Parts Pays $9.86 Million to Settle California Hazardous Waste Disposal Case
County District Attorneys in California are using undercover operations to find hazardous waste violations. Automotive and collision repair facilities likely next targets in California. Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley, along with 50 other California District Attorneys, announced last week that Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman has ordered the Missouri-based O’Reilly Auto […]
California Insurance Department Publishes Final Auto Body Labor Rate Survey Regulation
Department regulation addresses what it termed “…insurer created labor rate surveys which did not fairly measure labor rates” with new regulations specifying survey process. Starting in February, insurance company labor rate surveys in California will need to follow a process outlined by the Department of Insurance. On Wednesday, the Department published its final text of […]
Interview: Guy Bargnes, Collision Industry Conference
Guy Bargnes, from Painters Supply & Equipment Co., takes over as chair of the Collision Industry Conference in January. In our video interview, Bargnes explains the value the Conference brings to the industry and how participation benefits attendees. He also invites the industry to participate in a survey of industry issues to inform the work of […]
Judge Grants Injunction Delaying U.S. Department of Labor Overtime Rule
Federal Judge grants request for preliminary injunction that delays the December 1 expansion of overtime eligibility. Rule presumed dead in its current form given change in Administration in January. On November 22, Federal Judge Amos L. Mazzant granted the request of plaintiffs for a preliminary injunction delaying the implementation of the U.S. Department of Labor’s […]
Interview: Jake Rodenroth, Collision Diagnostic Services
The need for collision repair facilities to perform diagnostic scans and calibrations has grown dramatically. Jake Rodenroth from Collision Diagnostic Service, an outsource diagnostic provider focused on the needs of the collision repair industry, details the changing technical landscape driving the demand for electronic diagnostics. While mechanical repair facilities and dealership service departments have relied […]