Mitchell announced today that Progressive Insurance has signed a long-term renewal of its contract for auto physical damage software, extending a relationship that began in 2010. The renewal provides Progressive with continued access to Mitchell’s platform for collision claims, damage appraisals, total loss valuations and interactions with repair facility partners. The renewal preserves a key […]
Autel U.S. ADAS Training Program Earns ASE and I-CAR Accreditation
Autel U.S. announced that its Autel Academy ADAS Training Program has received accreditation from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). The dual accreditation verifies that the instructor-led program meets curriculum, instruction, facility and resource standards set by two of the collision and mechanical repair […]
House of Kolor Marks 70th Anniversary with New Products, Events and Content Series
House of Kolor, the custom automotive paint brand owned by Sherwin-Williams, is marking its 70th anniversary with a year-long program of new product launches, community events, technical school visits and editorial content highlighting the brand’s history in custom refinish. The Minneapolis-born brand, founded in 1956 by Jon “Koz” Kosmoski, introduced the refinish industry’s first organic-pigment […]
Hunter Engineering’s Global Sales Chief John Zentz to Retire at Year End
Hunter Engineering said John Zentz, senior vice president of global sales, will retire Dec. 31, 2026, capping a career with the automotive equipment maker that began in 1995. Zentz has led Hunter’s worldwide commercial organization since 2018 and oversees a field force the company said numbers more than 1,000 representatives. “For more than 25 years, […]
New Light-Vehicle Sales Pace Down Year over Year
While the highest sales rate of the quarter, year-ago sales were up sharply as consumers pulled forward purchases due to impending tariffs. New light-vehicle sales reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 16.3 million units in March 2026, down 8.7% year-over-year, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association’s latest Market Beat report authored by chief […]
Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index Hits Two-and-a-Half-Year High in March
Wholesale used-vehicle prices climbed to their highest level since the summer of 2023 in March, as strong retail demand, tight inventory and a robust spring bounce pushed auction values well above year-ago levels, Cox Automotive reported April 7. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI), which tracks wholesale used-vehicle prices on a mix, mileage and […]
ProColor Collision Enters Georgia With Dalton Location
ProColor Collision has opened its first location in Georgia, adding a Dalton repair facility owned and operated by longtime local collision repair facility operator Chris James to its U.S. network. The shop, located at 927 S. Hamilton St., serves drivers in North Georgia and South Tennessee and previously operated as Dalton Collision Center. James has […]
AACF, Collision Industry Foundation Partner to Expand Emergency Aid for Automotive Professionals
The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) and the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) announced a partnership April 7 to expand awareness of the emergency financial assistance both organizations provide to automotive industry workers and to create referral pathways between the two charities. Both nonprofits offer emergency aid to individuals and families facing crises such as accidents, […]
4Plastic Names Frank Phillips Jr. CEO
4Plastic announced that it has appointed Frank Phillips Jr. as chief executive officer as the plastic repair technology company moves to expand beyond its existing footprint and into broader North American and international markets. The appointment comes roughly 10 months after PPG’s SEM Products division secured exclusive U.S. and Canadian distribution rights for 4Plastic’s range […]
Large Regional Independent MSOs Adding Locations
Focus Advisors reports 13 MSOs added locations in past six months. Thirteen independent multiple-shop operators with eight or more collision repair locations added at least one store between Oct. 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026, according to proprietary location data published by Focus Advisors. The growth spanned franchise operators, family-owned groups and regional platforms across […]