The Collision Industry Foundation reported record attendance at its 15th annual “Cocktails for a Cause” charity event in January, with more than 200 industry members gathering at the CASCADE Lounge of the Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs, Calif. The event featured a live auction that included a NASCAR Brickyard 400 package, an Oregon Wine […]
Allianz UK Network Manager Appointed to Plasnomic’s Plastic Repair Alliance Council
Plasnomic announced Feb. 24 the appointment of Michael Golding, network manager for Allianz UK, to the Plastic Repair Alliance Council. “Michael’s appointment signals the level of collaborative work Plasnomic is undertaking with collision repairers, supply partners, training organizations, and insurers across the UK and EU markets,” said Mario Dimovski, head of the Plasnomic Council. “Having […]
Louisiana Auto Insurance Rates Fell 5.8% in 2025 as Accident Frequency Declined
Private passenger auto insurance premiums in Louisiana dropped by an average of 5.8% in 2025, reversing several years of consecutive rate increases, according to new market impact data from the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI). The decline represents a statewide premium reduction of more than $344 million compared to the prior year. The LDI attributed […]
Florida Announces Arrest of Insurance Agent for Fraudulent Tow Truck Policy Scheme
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrest of a licensed insurance agent and an unlicensed individual for selling fraudulent commercial insurance policies for tow trucks in Miami-Dade County. Javier Gonzalez Jr., a licensed insurance agent, and Aliba Lamas Alvarez were arrested Feb. 5 by the Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigation Division. Investigators […]
U.S. Traffic Deaths Fell 12% in 2025 According to NSC Estimates
Preliminary data from the National Safety Council (NSC) estimates 37,810 motor vehicle crash deaths in the United States in 2025, a 12% decrease from 2024 despite a 0.9% increase in overall miles driven. Nine states and the District of Columbia saw decreases of more than 15%. D.C. led the nation with a 52% decline, followed […]
Volvo Car UK Renews Three-Year Paint Partnership with BASF Coatings
Volvo Car UK announced Feb. 23 it has renewed its partnership with BASF Coatings UK Ltd for three years, continuing BASF’s role as the preferred paint coatings supplier for the Volvo Car UK Approved Bodyshop Network. Under the agreement, BASF will supply Volvo’s 78 approved body repair centres across the UK with its Glasurit and […]
Consumer Sentiment Up Slightly in February
Sentiment remains significantly below year ago levels. Consumer sentiment stagnated this month with very little change, just 0.2 index points higher than January, according to the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The Consumer Sentiment Index rose to 56.6 in the February 2026 survey, up 0.4% from 56.4 in January, but the index remains 12.5% […]
Bodywork Bowl Skills Competition Returns for Fourth Year at NORTHEAST 2026
The fourth annual Bodywork Bowl collision repair skills competition will take place March 21 at the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show in Secaucus, N.J., with competitors vying for prizes in painting, welding and estimating categories. The competition, that will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, is coordinated by Jill […]
Erie Insurance CEO Tim NeCastro To Retire at End of 2026
Erie Insurance (NASDAQ: ERIE) announced Feb. 20 that President and CEO Tim NeCastro will retire on Dec. 31, 2026, after 30 years with the company and 10 years leading it as chief executive. The board of directors said it will immediately begin a search for NeCastro’s successor. He will remain in his role through year-end […]
ProColor Collision Opens New Location in Rawdon, Quebec
The Fix Network announced the opening of a new ProColor Collision franchise location in Rawdon, Quebec, Canada under the ownership of Benoit Leblanc. Leblanc, who has experience owning and operating collision repair facilities, opened ProColor Collision Rawdon last year. The location is a family operation, with Leblanc’s wife serving as controller and six of his […]