New regulation requires manufacturers to consider replacing methylene chloride with safer ingredients. As of January 1, manufacturers of paint and varnish strippers containing methylene chloride, a chemical that the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) says has contributed to numerous deaths, will have to look for safer alternatives if they want to continue selling […]
U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement Signed
Today at the G20 Summit being held in Argentina, the United States, Canada and Mexico signed the new trade agreement announced in October to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. The new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) centers on the auto industry and the Trump Administration’s desire to have higher North American-produced content in automobiles […]
U.S. Copyright Office to Exempt Repairers from Software Anti-Circumvention Prohibition
Successful petition by Auto Care Association and the Consumer Technology Association will give vehicle owners ability to permit third-parties to access and circumvent vehicle software and systems to perform repairs. Based on a petition jointly filed by the Auto Care Association and the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the U.S. Copyright Office on Oct. 26 eliminated […]
General Motors Calls for National Zero Emissions Vehicle Program
Manufacturer believes national program supports its zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion vision. Could add more than 7 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. General Motors announced that it was filing comments today to the U.S. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on […]
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Proposal to Help Small Businesses by Expanding Association Retirement Plans
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to help small businesses strengthen retirement security in America. The proposed rule would make it easier for small businesses to offer retirement savings plans to their workers through Association Retirement Plans, which would allow small businesses to band together to offer 401(k) plans to […]
California Department of Insurance Finds Use of Opt-OEM and Alt-OEM Designations Unfair Claims Practice
DOI joins with California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair to prohibit use of parts terms. CollisionWeek interviews Don Feeley, Interim Executive Director of the California Autobody Association. In a letter dated October 8 to the California Autobody Association (CAA), the California Department of Insurance (DOI) responded to questions by the repair association regarding the use of […]
U.S. Department of Transportation Releases Automated Vehicles 3.0 Guidance
The new guidance provides the first joint, multi-modal guidance for on-road transportation automation. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) yesterday released new Federal guidance for automated vehicles, advancing its commitment to supporting the safe integration of automation into the broad multimodal surface transportation system. Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0 (AV 3.0) […]
EU Parliament Votes to Lower Vehicle Emissions
Vehicle manufacturers concerned targets beyond what consumers are willing to purchase. The European Commission is proposing to reduce the 2021 limit for emissions by 15 percent from 2025 and by 30 percent from 2030. New targets are expressed in percentages because the 95 g/km standard will have to be recalculated according to the new more […]
U.S. and Canada Reach Agreement on Revamped NAFTA
The U.S. and Canada announced that they reached an agreement to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico and U.S. had previously announced an agreement to modernize the agreement. A key piece of the new new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) centers on the auto industry and the Trump Administration’s desire to have higher […]
Massachusetts Attorney General Settles with Auto Dealer for $116K on Employee Uniform Deductions
The auto dealer Herb Chambers Companies will pay $116,758 in restitution and penalties for violating Massachusetts wage laws by taking improper deductions from employees’ paychecks to launder staff uniforms, Attorney General Maura Healey announced. “Herb Chambers has agreed to change its practices and will pay back its employees,” said AG Healey. “We are pleased with […]