Seeks to have body repair part design patents ruled invalid. Alleges Ford uses patents to limit distribution and increase cost of repair parts. On November 25, the Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Ford Global Technologies, LLC that seeks to […]
Last CIC Meeting of 2010 Hits Data Privacy, Repair Standards
New chairman comments on plan for results-oriented process for CIC. Although the results of the recent crash testing of non-OEM parts by Ford and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, previously reported on CollisionWeek, were among the topics at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC), the quarterly gathering focused on a variety of other […]
Aftermarket Parts Certification Program Launched by NSF International
ANSI accredited certifier expects tested bumper parts to be available in 6-8 weeks. NSF International today announced the launch of a new Automotive Parts Certification Program to address concerns regarding consumer safety and compromised automobile crashworthiness from the use of untested aftermarket structural parts. NSF says the one-of-a-kind program verifies both the quality and performance […]
Diamond Standard Announces Safety Parts Certification Program
In response to the alerts raised by recent presentations at NACE in November 2009, and the Collision Industry Conference in January 2010, Diamond Standard announced that it has accelerated the time frame for its planned launch of a full certification program for safety parts. The company is itself a US based manufacturer of high strength […]
Testing is the Real Measure of Aftermarket Part Equivalency
Aftermarket parts manufacturer Diamond Standard is one company that takes issue with the idea that aftermarket parts cannot equal OEM. The company says there absolutely are some aftermarket parts that are the equivalent of OEM, and they have the testing to back it up. According to Geoff Crane, Business Development Manager, Diamond Standard, the company […]
LKQ Makes Deal to Sell Copies of Patented Ford Crash Parts
A settlement agreement was reached Wednesday between Ford Motor Company and LKQ Corporation in the litigation filed by Ford to protect its design patents on collision parts. The settlement provides that LKQ will not challenge the validity and enforceability of Ford’s design patents during the term of the agreement. In exchange, LKQ will become the […]
MQVP Parts Certification Program Packs It In
MQVP filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on July 18 and will liquidate its assets. The aftermarket parts certifying body MQVP Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in United States Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of Michigan on July 18. Bankruptcy judge Marci B. McIvor granted the Michigan based company’s motion to convert its original […]
Ford Files Suit to Halt U.S. Import of Aftermarket Crash Parts
Ford has filed suit with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) claiming that certain aftermarket parts violate patents held by the automaker. Ford claims that certain parts designed for use on the F-150 infringe on its patents and the automaker has requested that the ITC issue a cease and desist order to stop importation of […]
IIHS: Cosmetic Crash Parts Are Irrelevant To Auto Safety
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) collision repair sheet metal, including fenders, door skins, bumper covers, and the like, are irrelevant to vehicle safety. According to the IIHS, the crash performance of parts from non-OE suppliers would have no impact compared to cosmetic parts from original-equipment manufacturers in terms of their safety. […]
Aftermarket Parts Lawsuits Hit Canada
AXA Canada and ING Canada named in class action. IBC to look at insurance company practices. Insurance companies in Canada are starting to feel the impact of the U.S. aftermarket parts class action trial that ended October 8th in Illinois with a $1.18 billion award against State Farm. Some recent Canadian events: A class action […]