INDUSTRY NEWS (1245)
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NADA Lines Up Keynote Speakers for Feb. 8–11 Convention
Written by NADATo view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
The National Automobile Dealers Association hosts its 2013 Convention & Expo in Orlando, FL, Feb. 8–11.
The NADA Convention & Expo is the automotive industry’s retail event of the year and the world’s largest international gathering place for franchised new-vehicle dealers. The convention offers dealers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with executives of major auto manufacturers, and features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest equipment, services and technologies and dozens of workshops with the industry’s best trainers.
Think Outside the Truck Box: Spray Lining, A Coating Profit Engine
Written by Ed AttanasioTo view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.
By guiding body shops, distributors and dealers in the right direction, Spray-Lining and Coatings can advise companies such as collision repairers, automotive restoration companies and car detailers to get into the industrial coatings field and succeed at a high level.
Billy Simmons, owner of Bottom Line Coatings in Houston and Texas City, TX, an automotive detailing business added Spray-Lining to its capabilities several years ago.
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) has elected its Executive Committee for 2013-2014. The election was held at AASP’s board of directors meeting on October 31, 2012, in Las Vegas, NV.
Pennsylvania shop owner, Jeff Walter, Zimmerman’s Auto Service, Mechanicsburg, PA, will serve as President. The following AASP board members will join Walter on the Executive Committee: A.C. Guarino, A.C. Automotive, Winston-Salem, NC; Bruce Tschida, Lake Marion Collision, Lakeville, MN; Ron Reiling, AASP-Missouri, St. Charles, MO; Mike Moehlenkamp, Gary’s Auto Service, Florissant, MO; Rick Starbard, Rick’s Auto Collision, Revere, MA.
Walter recently completed two terms as president of AASP-PA. He stated, “It’s an honor to have been chosen as President of AASP National. My goal is to positively impact the ever-increasing challenges to both the collision and service repair industry on a national level.”
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers is a coalition of 12 state/regional associations representing over 9,000 automotive aftermarket businesses in 24 states.
Automakers Report Strong U.S. Sales for 2012, Up 13% Overall, Japanese Brands Surge
Written by staffChrysler Sales Jumped 20% and Subaru Has Record December, but Volkswagen Led Sales with 30% Increase
Strong U.S. sales in December capped a remarkable year for the auto industry—especially Japanese brands—and 2013 should be even better.
Sales of new cars and trucks totaled around 14.5 million after all carmakers announced final figures in early January. That is 13% better than 2011 and the best performance in five years.
In 2012, Americans had plenty of incentive to buy new cars and trucks. The economy improved. Unemployment eased. Home sales and prices rose. And the average age of a car topped 11 years in the U.S., a record that spurred people to trade in. Banks made that easier by offering low interest rates and greater access to loans, even for those with lousy credit.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a minimum sound standard for electric and hybrid vehicles to help reduce pedestrian fatalities.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are very different than their gas-only counterparts in that they are virtually silent at low speeds, but such quiet operation makes it difficult for pedestrians (and those who are visually impaired) to detect an approaching vehicle.
The proposal would require these ‘quiet’ vehicles meet a minimum sound requirement when they travel under 18 miles per hour. Above that speed, there is sufficient noise. Automakers can determine the sounds they want, but the characteristics would need to meet the new regulation. Also, vehicles of the same make and model must emit the same sound.
NHTSA estimates this proposal could prevent thousands of injuries per year.
Currently, a number of models already have these artificial sounds, including the Fisker Karma with a Jetson’s-like whir and the Nissan Leaf has a high-pitched whine.
Collision Repair Education Foundation Offers $300,000 in Scholarships and Tool Grants This Spring
Written by staffThe Collision Repair Education Foundation is offering more than $300,000 in scholarships and tool grants to collision students this spring.
Secondary and post-secondary collision students attending career and technical schools and colleges have the opportunity to apply for $300,000+ in available scholarships and tool grants available through the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the organization’s industry supporters.
I-CAR hosts the Automotive Training Expo (ATE) on March 1 in Seattle, WA, at the Doubletree Inn. The Automotive Training Expo is the west coast’s largest training event of the year. Don’t miss out on these exciting training opportunities and more.
I-CAR TRAINING
Friday, March 1, 8:00 a.m–12:00 p.m.: Aluminum Intensive Vehicle Repairs (ALI01). Instructor, Larry Hults
Friday, March 1, 1:00p.m–5:00 p.m.
Vehicle Technology and Trends 2013 (NEW13); Instructor, Larry Hults
Saturday, March 2, 8:00 a.m–12:00 p.m.: Squeeze-Type Resistance Spot Welding (WCS04); Instructor, John Leddy
Saturday, March, 2, 2:00 p.m–4:00 p.m.; I-CAR Presentation Bob Mickey, North East Regional Manager
The PPG Industries Foundation has awarded the Collision Repair Education Foundation a $20,000 grant that will provide named post-secondary collision student scholarships.
The scholarships will be part of the Education Foundation’s spring 2013 offerings, valued at more than $300,000, and will greatly assist collision students facing financial barriers.
PartsTrader contracted with CSi Complete, an independent research organization, to survey participating parts suppliers within its first four pilot markets. PartsTrader says 67% of parts suppliers gave high marks to the functionality of the PartsTrader product. Over half (53%) of the suppliers indicated a score of 7 or above regarding their overall satisfaction with PartsTrader - on a scale of 0 (Poor) and 10 (Excellent). When asked specifically about their overall opinion of PartsTrader as a procurement tool, 67% responded with a score of 7 or higher.
PartsTrader said a 93% satisfaction score was given to the efforts of PartsTrader employees. During early internal surveys of repairers and suppliers, the performance of PartsTrader staff had been identified as an area needing improvement.
The survey also identified some areas where improvements should be addressed. PartsTrader will continue to work with industry stakeholders both within and outside of their Advisory Council to make service and product improvements as needed.
Investcorp confirmed that it has successfully completed the sale of CCC Information Services to the Los Angeles based private equity firm Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed however Investcorp noted that the sale of CCC unlocks over $550 million in proceeds for Investcorp and its investors. CCC was a publicly held company prior to the Investcorp acquisition. Investcorp acquired CCC in 2006 for $26.50 per share. At the time, the value of the transaction was reported to be approximately $495 million. Investcorp said that during the period of their ownership of CCC, since February 2006, CCC’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) grew organically by over 50 percent.
Investcorp said that transaction volumes in the industry have been relatively stable and growth has needed to come from market share gains by winning new auto body and insurance customers, or from new product introductions. Investcorp reported that the CCC client base includes more than 350 insurance companies and more than 21,000 repair facilities.
DuPont Launches GM-Sponsored Parts Rebate Program
Written by Chasidy Rae SiskOn Jan. 1, DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) launched their newest program, a parts rebate program sponsored by General Motors. This program, available to DPC’s network of collision repair shops, rewards registered shops with a rebate whenever they choose 100% Genuine GM Parts for selected repairs through CollisionLink. DPC’s new GM Sponsored Parts Rebate program offers Independent Repair facilities the opportunity to receive a 5% cash rebate from GM when the program’s criteria is met.
“There has been a tremendous response from the market since the program was formally announced at the beginning of this month. We are constantly striving to bring added value to our customers in the automotive collision repair industry and are confident this program will be popular,” said Gary S. Scott, OEM Accounts Manager, Collision Services at DPC.
