Gains were concentrated among independents as complaints about high prices reached their highest level since May. Consumer sentiment rose 6.3% in the preliminary November reading from the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, with the Index of Consumer Sentiment climbing to 51.0 from 48.0 in October, its highest level since August. The reading was unchanged […]
ABPA Opens Registration for 2027 Conference, Names CBP and Industry Speakers
Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials head a lineup that also includes CAPA, CCC and PartsTrader speakers. The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) announced Nov. 3 that registration is open for its 2027 Annual Business Conference, set for May 3-5 at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, and released an initial […]
Seven Las Vegas Veterans and Families Receive Vehicles Through NABC Recycled Rides
Vehicles donated by insurers and Enterprise and refurbished by collision repair facilities were presented at the council’s SEMA celebration. The National Auto Body Council (NABC) presented seven refurbished vehicles to two veterans, a Las Vegas Police Department cadet and four other Las Vegas-area families in need Nov. 2 at its annual SEMA celebration, held in […]
Mitchell Plans to Link Tractable’s LumaScanner to Intelligent Estimating
The proposed exclusive agreement would turn a drive-through vehicle scan into a preliminary estimate for collision repair facilities. Mitchell plans to connect Tractable’s LumaScanner automated vehicle inspection system to Mitchell Intelligent Estimating under a proposed exclusive agreement aimed at collision repair intake, Mitchell announced Nov. 4. The integration is intended for MSOs and independent collision […]
Washington Repairer Justin Lewis, Connecticut’s Victor Auto Body Works Receive I-CAR’s Top Annual Awards
Lewis received the Jeff Silver Memorial Award, and the Middletown shop marked 30 years of Gold Class status with the Russ Verona Memorial Award. I-CAR presented its two annual industry achievement awards at the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas to Justin Lewis of Accurate Auto Body in Redmond, Washington, and to Victor Auto Body […]
Celette WebTools Wins SEMA 2026 Collision Repair & Refinish New Product Award
ADAS Depot’s CarCal QuickCal 5.0 calibration system takes the Tools & Equipment category. Celette’s WebTools won the Collision Repair & Refinish category of the 2026 SEMA Show New Product Awards, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) announced Nov. 3, while an ADAS calibration system from ADAS Depot took top honors in the Tools & Equipment […]
ASE Connects Opens Fourth Annual Voice of Technician Survey
The survey runs through Nov. 27 and adds shop and dealership leaders to the respondent pool. ASE Connects, the workforce platform owned by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), opened its fourth annual Voice of Technician Survey Nov. 2, seeking input from technicians, students, instructors and shop and dealership leaders in the automotive, […]
Progressive Prepares for AI Agent Shopping as Competition Slows Its Growth
The insurer’s quarterly filing shows collision severity rose 4% in the third quarter while collision frequency fell 3%. The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) is testing agentic artificial intelligence and preparing for AI agents that shop for auto insurance on consumers’ behalf to become an important sales channel, executives said during the company’s third quarter investor […]
ASE Education Foundation Opens Sponsor Applications for $25 Million Apprenticeship Incentive Fund
Registered apprenticeship sponsors can earn $3,500 per new apprentice, and eligible occupations include body repairers and estimators. The ASE Education Foundation formally launched the Transportation Automotive Technician Apprenticeship Incentive Fund Nov. 3, opening the $25 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to applications from organizations that run registered apprenticeships for auto, collision and truck service […]
AkzoNobel Launches Modern Vintage Line of Historic OEM Colors at SEMA Show
The Sikkens-based paint is sold exclusively through TCP Global, which mixes each order to a vehicle’s original factory color and ships it directly to the customer. AkzoNobel launched Modern Vintage, a refinish product line that recreates original OEM colors from more than 140 years of automotive history using Sikkens refinish technology, Nov. 4 during the […]