AkzoNobel Announces 2012’s Most Influential Women
AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings Americas (A&AC) announced the three recipients of its 2012 Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry (MIW) Award.
AkzoNobel’s annual MIW award program, which launched in 1998, recognizes and promotes the contributions of key leaders within the collision repair industry. The company said 69 women have received the award over the program’s 14-year history.
Why Your Body Shop Can’t Ignore Social or Digital Media
“Social Media is Word of Mouth on Steroids” —Frank Terlep
There’s no escape. Nearly everyone and their grandmother is using social or digital media. Is your shop up to speed with the age we live in?
According to Frank Terlep, CEO of Summit Software and Marketing Solutions, more than 112 million generation X and Y consumers, 60 million baby boomers and 20 million seniors are on the Internet, emailing, texting or using social media. And these numbers don’t even reflect the younger generation, those between 18–34 who comprise an outsized proportion of consumers who watch online videos, visit social networking sites and blogs, own a tablet and use a smart phone.
Shop Owner Arrested in ‘False Auto Theft’ Allegation
Massachusetts police arrested a man on charges of stealing a car from a body shop, then arrested the owner of the body shop on charges of filing a false stolen vehicle report and misleading or lying to police during the investigation.
Family of NJ Girl Battling Cancer Receives Donated Car from Britland Auto Body
Linda and Michael Downey’s 2002 car, at 250,000-plus miles, was on its last legs. They were about to plunk down at least another $600 for a brake repair when they heard some good news: they were eligible to receive a newer car for free.
The cash-strapped Somerville couple is delighted to get their new wheels—a remodeled 2007 Chevrolet Malibu donated by State Farm Insurance, Britland Auto Body in Green Brook, NJ, and a number of vendors that do business with the Route 22 shop.
Pottsdown, PA, Car Club Raises Money for Veteran’s Ford Galaxie 500
The Pottstown Classics Car Club and local businesses and community volunteers raised money to refurbish a disabled veteran’s 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 on April 28.
A fund to pay for the restoration of a car owned by a disabled U.S. soldier was down to its last $10 when Bill Struble donated money from his veteran’s benefits to help the cause.
New York No Fault Insurance v. Medical Mills
New York’s Cuomo administration is opening another front in its battle against no-fault insurance scams.
State Financial Services Superintendent Ben Lawsky has announced a new regulations that give insurance companies more leeway to decline claims if they suspect fraud.
Hit and Run Driver with 42 tickets lets his Mother Take the Rap
A college student from Paoli, Chester County, is in a coma more than 1,000 miles from home after a hit-and-run driver plowed into Eliza Gresh in Miami, authorities say. The teen was crossing the street on April 27 when police say a hit and run driver plowed into Gresh. Police were looking for the car, a Mercedes Benz, and the driver, Luis Moya, 24.
Smarter Cars and Collision Avoidance Tech May Appeal to Consumers Unless Infotainment Distraction Trumps Safety Technology
Some of the new technology currently being developed by the OEMs makes the “vehicle as gadget” notion more than just futuristic speculation.
For example, the key components of the concept Infiniti LE’s elaborate electronics system are improved versions of what you’d expect—navigation, movies, etc.—but what about gesture recognition, pupil tracking, fingerprint ignition “keys”? These add-ons come from Intel, better known for developing chips for personal computers.
ASA Says it is ‘Fact Finding’ on State Farm’s PartsTrader
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is conducting a multi-segmented fact-finding mission on State Farm’s new electronic parts procurement program “to ensure the information collected and provided to the ASA membership and the broader industry is as accurate and thorough as possible.”
An ASA Collision Division team consisting of operations committee members and staff recently interviewed George Avery, State Farm’s claims consultant, regarding the pilot program. ASA has since posed some follow-up questions and will issue further statements as conversations continue.
State Farm Issues Damage Control Video
State Farm video aims to address ‘misinformation’ on parts program for DRP shops
State Farm distributed a video to its Select Service shops to “clear up some misinformation” about its electronic parts ordering system that it introduced in four U.S. markets.
