El Paso Dealership Shop Switches to Waterborne with Sherwin-Williams
Rudolph Chevrolet and Rudolph Honda – El Paso, Texas-area dealerships with a combined collision repair facility, Rudolph Body & Paint – announced they have transitioned the shop to waterborne basecoat from solvent-based systems using the AWX Waterborne Basecoat System from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation (SWAFC). AWX is a waterborne basecoat system that uses a
South Florida Dealership Opening Only Toyota-Certified Collision Center in Region
South Florida-based Fort Myers Toyota announced it will open a new, 25,000-square-foot collision center in September. The Toyota-certified facility will employ 20 people. The dealership says the shop will be the one of the only Toyota-certified collision centers in southern Florida. The shop also plans to become Lexus-certified next year. Shop managers Mark Kirman and
Dallas-Area Dealership Shop Switches to Waterborne with Sherwin-Williams
Toyota of Irving, a Dallas-area new car dealership and collision repair facility, has transitioned its collision center to waterborne basecoat from solvent-based systems using the AWX Waterborne Basecoat System from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corporation (SWAFC), according to David Shirley, Toyota of Irving body shop manager. SWAFC recently introduced AWX, a waterborne basecoat system that utilizes
Repairers Expect Parts Delays in Wake of GM Dealership, Warehouse Closings
Collision repairers say they’re bracing for part order delays in the wake of GM’s bankruptcy filing Monday. The company’s Service and Parts Operations (SPO) announced this week that it will cease operations at three parts distribution centers in Boston, Mass., Columbus, Ohio, and Jacksonville, Fla., by Dec. 31, 2009. The company has also informed more
Sewell Automotive Acquires Houston Infiniti Dealership with Body Shop
Texas-based Sewell Automotive Companies has purchased Infiniti of North Houston from Paramount Auto Group. The dealership will be renamed Sewell Infiniti of North Houston and will be the first dealership in the area for Sewell Automotive Companies. Sewell Infiniti of North Houston will specialize in new Infiniti vehicle sales and leasing, pre-owned vehicle sales, Infiniti
AkzoNobel to Provide Sikkens Autowave to Top Volume Chevrolet Dealership’s Shops
AkzoNobel announced that Classic Chevrolet of Grapevine, Texas, has selected the Sikkens Autowave waterborne paint system for all of its collision repair centers in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. “We compared their waterborne solution against three other suppliers for about 18 months,” said David Osburn, director of collision repair for the Classic group. “AkzoNobel
Auto Dealerships Suffered Largest Decline In 18 Years In 2008
A record number of automotive dealerships closed in the United States during 2008, and Detroit Three dealerships took the biggest hit, research and analysis firm Urban Science reported. The company’s Franchise Activity Report showed that the nationwide dealership count for 2008 fell by 881, or 4.2 percent, to 20,084 last year. The decline was the
Connecticut Dealership Closes but Body Shop Stays Open
Lynch Buick Pontiac in Manchester, Conn., has closed but will keep its body shop open for business and possibly expand that operation. Lynch’s closing is the latest in a number of auto dealership closings in the area that are a reflection of nosediving sales. To read more on Lynch’s closing, click HERE.
Florida Toyota Dealership Opens 34,000-Square-Foot Facility
While the National Automobile Dealers Association is predicting that 900 of the 20,770 new-car dealers in the United States will be out of business by the end of this year, one Florida dealership is hoping to boost business through its body shop. Legacy Toyota in Tallahassee, Fla., opened a new 34,000 square-foot collision center on
What a Tech Wants: Dealership Over an Independent
There are reasons techs choose a dealership over an independent or vice versa. More importantly, there are things you can do to convince them to choose your shop.