INDASA USA, the Fairfield, N.J-based North American arm of abrasives manufacturer INDASA, has been named the exclusive channel partner for Presta Products, adding the brand’s professional compounds, polishes and finishing products to a portfolio built on surface preparation. The agreement takes effect Oct. 17 and covers the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. INDASA USA […]
Solera Enhances Qapter Estimating Integration with QuickBooks Online
Solera announced Sept. 17 an enhanced integration between its Qapter estimating platform and Intuit QuickBooks Online that moves estimate data through invoicing and into accounting without re-entry between systems. Invoices generated from a Qapter estimate retain the estimate’s full line-item detail, including parts, labor, taxes and customer information, so the accounting record matches what was […]
Refinish Distributors Alliance Holds Fall Conference in Cleveland
The Refinish Distributors Alliance (RDA) held its Fall Member Impact Performance Conference Sept. 15-17 at The Westin Cleveland Downtown in Cleveland, Ohio, drawing all of its member distributors along with supporting vendor partners for one-on-one Rodeo meetings, a members-only business session and a review of the alliance’s RDA DataNet management system. RDA’s independent paint, body […]
NABC and IIHS Train Nearly 140 First Responders on Late-Model Vehicle Extrication
Nearly 140 first responders from 30 rescue units across the Southeast trained Sept. 17 at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) facility in Ruckersville, Va., learning to free crash victims from late-model vehicles through the National Auto Body Council (NABC) First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.) program. Allstate, Farmers, GEICO and Liberty Mutual donated the […]
Automotive Color & Supply Consolidates Fort Wayne Operations in New Facility
Automotive Color & Supply (ACS), the distributor of automotive and industrial coatings, has consolidated its Fort Wayne, Ind. operations into a new combined warehouse, office and retail facility at 5428 Keystone Drive. The company will host an informal celebration at the site for customers, employees, vendors and community members Sept. 24. The new site houses […]
TD Cowen Calls Chinese Car Fears Overdone as Lawmakers Urge Trump to Keep U.S. Market Closed
Analysts at TD Cowen told clients Sept. 22 that major changes to U.S. auto import policy are very unlikely to come out of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose visit to Washington begins Sept. 23, and that the recent selloff in auto stocks on fears of Chinese automakers entering the U.S. […]
Australia Competition Regulator Blocks IAG Acquisition of RAC Insurance
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on Sept. 23 ordered Insurance Australia Group Ltd. (ASX: IAG) not to proceed with its proposed acquisition of RAC Insurance (RACI), concluding after an in-depth Phase 2 assessment that the deal would substantially lessen competition in motor vehicle insurance and home and contents insurance in Western Australia. IAG […]
LKQ Europe Begins Rollout of Expanded LKQ Academy Training Platform
LKQ Europe has started rolling out a new online platform for LKQ Academy, its training program for automotive aftermarket professionals, beginning in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company expects the rollout to be complete across its European markets by 2027. The platform pairs around-the-clock online learning with bookable face-to-face courses, aimed at a problem […]
Michigan Auto Body Association Launches, Affiliates with SCRS
New statewide group aims to represent collision repair facilities in Lansing, with anti-steering protections and OEM repair procedure reimbursement among its early priorities. A group of Michigan collision repairers has formed the Michigan Auto Body Association, a statewide trade association created to represent collision repair facilities at the state Capitol in Lansing. The association announced […]
Caliber Renews Enterprise Licensing Agreement with Mitchell, Adds MSO Suite
Caliber Collision has renewed its multi-year enterprise licensing agreement with Mitchell, extending access to Mitchell Cloud Estimating across its more than 1,850 locations and adding Mitchell MSO Suite and other workflow software, the companies announced Sept. 22. “Caliber’s commitment to delivering safe, efficient and accurate repairs requires continuous investment in scalable technology,” said Todd Dillender, […]