Wesco Group, the paint, body and equipment distributor in the western U.S. and Canada, announced that East Bay Color Service has joined the Wesco family of companies. East Bay Color Service has been serving customers in the Bay Area out of its San Jose, Calif. location since 1948. “We are excited to welcome East Bay […]
California to Require Auto Insurers to Continue COVID-19 Premium Refunds
Consumer groups urge other states to take action. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that the California Department of Insurance requires auto insurers to continue their COVID-19 related premium refunds to policyholders from April and May, previously directed by the Commissioner, through June and to continue providing relief for any period after June as conditions […]
California Regulation to Eliminate Diesel Trucks by 2045
The California Air Resources Board adopted a first-in-the-world rule requiring truck manufacturers to transition from diesel trucks and vans to electric zero-emission trucks beginning in 2024. By 2045, every new truck sold in California will be zero-emission. “California is an innovation juggernaut that is going electric. We are showing the world that we can move […]
San Francisco Area Collision Repair Shop Operator Charged with Wire Fraud
Government alleges defendant orchestrated kickback scheme and lied to secure PPP loan. Geoffrey M. Palermo, owner of GMP Cars, was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud and making false statements in a loan application in connection with multiple schemes to defraud from 2013 to 2020. According to the complaint, Palermo, 56, of Novato, […]
CARSTAR Adds Collision Repair Center to Network in San Francisco
CARSTAR announced the opening of CARSTAR Sunset Auto Reconstruction, a 6,000 sq. ft. collision repair facility located at 1270 20th Avenue, in San Francisco, Calif. Victor Sirhan, owner of CARSTAR Sunset Auto Reconstruction, has been in the collision repair industry for 14 years, originally starting on the insurance side. Two years ago, Victor purchased the […]
Fix Auto USA Adds 7 Collision Repair Centers to Network, Enters Utah Market
Fix Auto USA announced the addition of seven new franchise locations to its network of independently-owned collision repair centers. These locations expand Fix Auto USA’s footprint in the existing markets of Alaska, Arizona, California, and Colorado and mark the network’s entry into Utah, its 12th state The locations include: Fix Auto Castle Rock (Castle Rock, […]
IAA Announces Five Branch Relocations and Expansions
IAA, Inc. (NYSE:IAA) announced branch relocations and expansions in five key markets in California, Texas, New Jersey, Virginia, and South Dakota. The five locations now provide significantly more inventory storage in addition to updated branch facilities. “We strive to ensure that our extensive facility footprint is consistently meeting the needs of our buying and selling […]
CARSTAR Adds Collision Repair Center to Network in Los Angeles
CARSTAR announced the opening of CARSTAR First Choice Auto Body, a 6,500 sq. ft. facility located at 4368 Fountain Avenue, in Los Angeles, Calif. The collision repair center is the first CARSTAR location for owner Edwin Khoshabeh, a third-generation auto body repairer who has been in the industry his whole life. “My father had an […]
Auto Recyclers Association Raises Concerns About Changes to Workers Compensation Laws Related to Coronavirus
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) announced it opposes any legislative and executive actions taken by states that create a presumption that an employee working for an essential business who contracts COVID-19 contracted the virus at their place of work. According to the association these types of changes to workers’ compensation laws place an unfair burden […]
California University Reports Over 50% Decline in Collisions Following Shelter-in-Place Order
Research details dramatic impact of government response to coronavirus on accidents. The University of California, Davis Road Ecology Center last week detailed observations of reported traffic incidents in its real-time California Highway Incident Processing System (CHIPS), that provide an indication of the dramatic decline in traffic incidents on state highways and rural roads that has […]