Investcorp announced its recent acquisition of KSI Trading Corp. (KSI), a supplier of aftermarket collision repair parts in the U.S. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1984, KSI services over 10,000 collision repair shop customers across 25 locations in 14 states. Headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey, KSI has over 600 […]
Scott Dunfee Named Global Managing Director of Automotive Certification at NSF International
NSF International has appointed Scott Dunfee Global Managing Director of Automotive Certification. Dunfee brings more than 20 years of insurance, technical leadership and repair expertise to NSF International. As Global Managing Director, Dunfee will oversee NSF International’s automotive certification programs working closely with automotive parts manufacturers, distributors, collision repair shops, automotive recyclers and insurers. “Scott’s […]
US Auto Parts Files Lawsuit Alleging U.S. Agency Illegally Seizing Aftermarket Automotive Grilles
The U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:PRTS), the online providers of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories, announced it has filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Homeland Security in the U.S. Court of International Trade that asserts that the United States Customs and Border Protection, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, […]
Rhode Island Bill Would Expand Non-OEM Collision Repair Parts Restrictions to 48 Months
Legislation introduced last week would expand time frame and extend restriction to any collision damaged part, not just body parts. Would also prohibit insurers from requiring a repairer to use a collision repair procedure not recommended by vehicle manufacturers. Rhode Island Senate Bill 2679 (SB 2679), introduced March 20 by State Senators Maryellen Goodwin, Dominick […]
Diamond Standard Releases Results of 2009 Honda Fit 40 MPH IIHS Moderate Overlap Crash Test
Diamond Standard Parts, the Tennessee-based manufacturer of non-OEM collision repair parts, released results of crash tests it commissioned to demonstrate the performance of its bumper reinforcements meet OEM specifications. On February 21, MGA Design Research Corporation of Burlington, Wisc. performed a 40 mile per hour (MPH) moderate overlap test to the Insurance Institute for Highway […]
Intertek Licenses CAPA Certification Program
Jack Gillis retires as CAPA executive director. Intertek becomes CAPA’s certifying body globally. The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), the non-profit, standard setting and certification organization for non-OEM parts, and Intertek, have entered into a license agreement, granting Intertek exclusive rights to operate the CAPA certification program around the world. “Given CAPA and Intertek’s over […]
Federal Court Rejects ABPA Effort to Invalidate Ford Collision Repair Body Parts Design Patent
Judge declines ABPA motion to rule Ford F-150 body part design patents invalid and unenforceable. In a decision issued February 20, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan declined a motion for summary judgement by the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) to invalidate two of Ford’s design patents covering patents for body […]
IIHS Questions Conclusions from Tracy Crash Test Data on Safety of Non-OEM Parts
Following examination of publicly-available results, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety stands by its previous statements that cosmetic parts are irrelevant to crashworthiness and that non-OEM structural parts can meet OEM performance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) issued an advisory last week examining the publicly-available results from crash tests conducted by the Tracy […]
Illinois Legislation Would Add Written Non-OEM Collision Repair Parts Disclosure and Require OEM Repair Procedures
Proposed bill would amend insurance code and Collision Repair Act to proscribe written notification on aftermarket crash part usage or deviation from OEM specifications. Illinois House Bill 4926 (HB 4926), introduced on February 14 by Representative Linda Chapa LaVia seeks to amend the Illinois Insurance Code and the Automotive Collision Repair Act to provides that […]
CAPA Certified Collision Repair Parts Program Grows 19% in 2017
Adds six new manufacturers to program The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) reported that it saw across the board increases in the number of CAPA Certified parts available to the U.S. market during 2017. Based on distribution of its unique yellow and blue CAPA Quality Seal, manufacturers have increased seal requests by 19 percent over […]