I-CAR Appoints National MSO Manager and South Central Regional Manager
I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, has announced that Doug Schlueter has been named national MSO manager. Rene Rodarte has been appointed as Schlueter’s successor as south central regional manager.
Digital Marketing, Waterborne, OEM Procedures and Standards Highlight NORTHEAST 2012 Seminars
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) has announced the educational seminar slate for its 35th annual NORTHEAST 2012 Automotive Services Show, with presentations and demos that touch upon almost every topic trending daily in the industry. NORTHEAST 2012 takes place March 9, 10 and 11 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center of Secaucus, N.J.
WMABA Initiates Labor Rate Survey for Virginia, Maryland and D.C.
CSi Complete is conducting an independent labor rate survey on behalf of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA).
Utah Bill Aims to Abolish Vehicle Inspection Requirement
Utah State Rep. John Dougall (R-27) has introduced legislation that would abolish the requirement that all motor vehicles obtain a certificate of inspection prior to registration. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) says the bill would dilute the Utah State Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program. ASA opposes these changes to the Utah Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection
Florida Body Shop Restores John Travolta’s ’58 Ford Thunderbird
Collision repair facilities are always trying to think of new ways to drive traffic to their doors. Who knew that restoring a celebrity’s car was the secret to success?
Custom Ford Fairlane Garners $1 Million for Charity at Barrett-Jackson
Sometimes the sequel is better than the original. This turned out to be the case when at this year’s annual Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auto auction, when a custom 1964 Ford Fairlane sold for a cool $1 million for charity.
AASP-MN’s Automotive Scholarships Up for Grabs
Thanks to another successful fundraising drive within the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) membership, the association will be awarding scholarships to select students enrolled in post-secondary automotive (mechanical or collision) programs. Scholarship awards will be $1,000 per student. Recipients must be entering the second year of a two-year NATEF-certified automotive program in
California Groups Spar Over Language Equating Aftermarket Crash Parts with OEM
California collision repair, OEM and consumer groups recently issued a joint statement to California legislators expressing opposition to any legislation that considers non-OEM crash parts as the functional equivalent of OEM parts. The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA) has called the statement a “new and bolder attack” on the automotive aftermarket.
Airbags Changing Vehicle Scrappage Age Mix
Increasing damage from multiple airbags (as newer vehicles have more airbags) is scrapping many vehicles that would otherwise be repaired and returned to operation.
Caliber Collision Donates Vehicle to Homeless Family of Five in San Diego
A former middle-class San Diego family of five, rocked by a series of financial and medical misfortunes and now living in a homeless shelter, will be able to start off the new year on a positive note with a refurbished minivan donated by Caliber Collision Centers as part of the company’s participation in the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides program.
AASP-MN Annual Meeting and Convention Announced
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) announced its Annual Meeting and Convention will be held April 12 and 13.
Six U.S. Senators Urge EPA to Halt Fuel and Vehicle Emission Rules
Six U.S. senators are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop its pending proposal to create stricter pollution standards for gasoline and vehicles because of an underlying concern that enforcing stricter standards will escalate the price of gasoline.