Motor insurance research institutes from 15 countries called on vehicle manufacturers to build repairability into new models from the earliest stages of development and to fit low-speed automatic emergency braking (AEB) as standard, following the annual conference of the Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR) in Mexico City. Thatcham Research, the U.K. member of RCAR, […]
Bosch Launches Remote Diagnostics Service for ADS X Scan Tool Users
Bosch Diagnostics launched Bosch Remote Diagnostics Service (RDS), which connects technicians using the company’s ADS 625X and ADS 10X Plus scan tools with Bosch diagnostic experts who remotely perform OEM pre- and post-repair scans, diagnostics, coding and ADAS calibration procedures using licensed OEM software, the company said Sept. 29. The service gives collision repair facilities […]
Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Names Wolf Chairman, Thring Treasurer
Tom Wolf and Sabrina Thring will lead the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), as chairman and treasurer following the retirements of Don Porter and John Winchell from those posts, the NABC announced Sept. 28. Both take on the foundation roles in addition to the […]
State Farm Plans to Add 3,000 Claims Employees in 2027
Company says new vehicles and technology, changing repair methods, and increasing severe weather events change the skills and capabilities required of claims professionals. State Farm plans to expand its claims workforce by approximately 10%, or about 3,000 employees, during 2027, the insurer announced Sept. 25, adding capacity to an operation that handles nearly 11 million […]
NHTSA Finalizes Fuel Economy Rollback, Ends Credit Trading and Reclassifies Crossovers
Agency says changes should reduce crashes and vehicle maintenance costs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Sept. 28 released its final rule resetting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light trucks for model years 2022 through 2031, setting requirements the agency projects will reach a fleetwide average of roughly […]
AASP/NJ Seminar Urges Collision Repairers to Make OEM Safety Inspections Routine
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) held its vehicle safety inspection course Sept. 24 at Dashlight Solutions in Wall Township, N.J., where presenters urged collision repair facilities to make OEM-required safety inspections as routine as pre- and post-repair scanning has become. Led by Mike Whitney and Rob Kirk of Dashlight Solutions […]
Shipper Alliance Taps Tesla for 2,500-Truck Electric Class 8 Order
A coalition of large cargo-owning shippers has enabled an order for 2,500 battery-electric Class 8 trucks, with Tesla selected as the primary manufacturer, in what organizers said is the largest electric truck order to date in the United States. Catalyst Mobility, the clean transportation nonprofit formerly known as CALSTART, and the Smart Freight Centre announced […]
September New-Vehicle Sales Projected Up 2.6% as Monthly Payments Set September Record
Hybrid share climbs to 17.0% while EV share falls to 7.9%. GlobalData cuts its 2026 global outlook to 88.3 million units. Total U.S. new-vehicle sales for September 2026 are projected to reach 1,330,100 units, a 2.6% increase from September 2025 after adjusting for selling days, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData […]
NICB, Honk Partner to Combat Predatory Towing and Vehicle Services Fraud
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has formed a strategic partnership with Honk Technologies, a towing and roadside assistance platform, to pool data and intelligence targeting fraud and abusive practices in vehicle towing, impound, storage and salvage, NICB announced Sept. 24. Under the agreement, the two organizations will establish channels for sharing information and emerging […]
Fix Auto UK Adds Birmingham Repairer Peggs Accident Repair Centre to Network
Fix Auto UK has added Peggs Accident Repair Centre, a three-site Birmingham, England repairer to its network, where the business will operate as Fix Auto Birmingham Central. Peggs, that repairs about 220 vehicles a month, is owned by Richard and Jenny Pegg and managed by Carl Williams. Fix Auto Birmingham Central will operate from a […]