PROFIT CENTER: Going for Broke
Some shops still find installing glass a profitable endeavor. But it’s not easy when you want to perform the highest quality job possible.
Most 2010 Vehicles to Have Standard Side Airbags
Though often optional in past model years, most automakers will make side airbags standard on 2010 vehicles, which are rolling into dealerships this month. As part of an agreement made in 2003, models from GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Daimler AG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, BMW and Volkswagen will feature standard
Midsize Bumpers Disappoint in IIHS Crash Tests
None of the six popular midsize sedans recently studied by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) earned the top rating of good in a recent series of tests designed to assess how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. Bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion did worse than earlier models
Research Shows Cost of ‘Microcar’ Bumper Repair Anything But Small
Low-cost, fuel-efficient “microcars” like the Honda Fit and Chevy Aveo are gaining popularity among consumers, but if those consumers end up in a collision, they may not be happy with their repair bills. Research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that repairs to microcars after a low-speed crash can cost anywhere from
Mercedes Signs NASTF Service Information Standards Agreement
The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) announced that Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC has signed the NASTF Service Information Standards Agreement, joining 13 other auto manufacturers agreeing to make service and training information and tools accessible to all vehicle repairers on an equal basis. Much of the standards embody the practices that have been in place
Many Economy Cars Not Economical to Repair
In a recent series of crash tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) assessed how well the bumpers of 20 small car models would protect the vehicles from damage in low-speed collisions. The worst performers are the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Prius and Volkswagen Rabbit, each sustaining about $4,000 damage or more in a single
Babcox Publisher Jon Owens Named President of Auto7
Jon Owens, group publisher at Babcox Publications and BodyShop Business, has been named president of Auto7, a supplier of original equipment quality parts for Hyundai, Kia and GM-Daewoo to the United States and Canadian aftermarkets based in Miramar, Fla. Owens joins Auto7 effective July 14. “It’s bittersweet for us to see Jon leave. He has
OEM Collaboration Results in Easy Access to Repair Information via Web Site Portal
From Honda to Hummer to Hyundai, manufacturers’ repair information is now accessible to independent shops through one site. Approximately 35 auto manufacturers worked together to launch OEM1STOP.com, the result of an ongoing effort to simplify Internet searches for OEM repair information. Each quarter, United States, European and Asian auto manufacturers meet at the OEM Roundtable
In SOPs We Trust – Standard Operating Procedures
Standard operating procedures could offer a body shop owner more freedom and the ability to attract new insurance business by creating ‘verifiable’ trust.
Proprietary Repairs
“Do you think that in the near future, other car manufacturers will follow Jaguar’s lead and require repair shops to be ‘certified’ to fix their vehicles?”
