An Autobody News reader recently emailed me a question he had about daily release meetings at his shop.

With deliveries of the R1T pickup and R1S SUV coming in September and later in the fall, respectively, Rivian is offering customers a preview of its service centers. 

President Joe Biden is campaigning for U.S. automakers to commit to a sales goal that would see 40% of its delivered units be electric by 2030.

Since you likely follow the EV segment, you're probably aware Rivian delayed its R1T and R1S vehicles from June to July, and then more recently, the startup electric pickup truck maker pushed them back once again to Septmember.

Tesla’s war with laws that prohibit the direct sale of cars to consumers continues, but the automaker is making progress across the U.S.

A new study shows the Delta COVID-19 variant produced similar amounts of virus in vaccinated and unvaccinated people if they get infected---illustrating a key motivation behind the federal guidance that now recommends most fully vaccinated Americans wear masks indoors.

Louisiana could receive billions of dollars in new federal infrastructure spending despite a disagreement over the plan between the state's two U.S. senators.

“Do we need to look differently at how we approach training and education?” asked Jeff Peevy, I-CAR’s vice president of technical products, programs and services, during the July 22 CIECAST webinar.

With U.S. businesses accelerating their hiring and Southern California's economy rebounding from COVID-19 labor disruption, regional leaders welcomed Toyota-Lexus automotive technician training program to the Inland Empire.

Mike Anderson of Collision Advice and Danny Gredinberg of DEG, in partnership with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), present Quick Tips for those in the collision industry.

Eighty-eight wildfires are burning in 11 Western states as of July 26th in a fire season unlike any other in recent history.

The I-CAR Board of Directors on July 29 announced the election of four individuals to fill open board seats, including two members returning for a second three-year term.

The overall U.S. economic outlook remains positive as the country continues to bounce back from 2020.

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has joined forces with the North Carolina Motorsports Association (NCMA) to protect racing in the Tar Heel State---home to more than 50 race tracks and more than 30,000 motorsports jobs.

SEMA has announced the hiring of Benjamin Kaminsky as the new Detroit operations manager.

For decades, car enthusiasts have despised the EPA and its ever-increasing regulations slapped on the hobby, but many automotive journalists have told them their worst fears were just plain ridiculous.

On average, it’s now taking 15 to 30 days longer to get parts in for body shops around the nation, and mechanics in Evansville, IN, have heard a slew of reasons as to what’s behind this delay.

A federal grand jury has indicted Nikola Motor founder and former CEO Trevor Milton on three counts of criminal fraud for allegedly lying about “nearly all aspects of Nikola’s business.”

Volta Industries, Inc., an industry leader in commerce-centric electric vehicle charging networks, announced it has further extended its market penetration with the installation of new charging stations at Stop & Shop in New Jersey.

The  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.  

Serious car enthusiasts are welcoming the post-pandemic return of live, in-person auctions during the 70th Annual Monterey Car Week, scheduled for Aug. 6-15.

 Stanton Gustavson’s wish was to restore his 1974 Datsun 240z.

Those and more Pontiac goodness will cross the block soon…

Crash Champions, LLC, one of the nation’s fastest growing independent collision repair companies, on July 28 announced its 10th annual Make-A-Wish Foundation golfing fundraiser has raised $15,000, the highest one-year total in the event’s history. 

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford, and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) are extending their 18-year commitment to improving teen driving skills by awarding grants totaling $135,000 to six State Highway Safety Offices and announcing the return of Ford Driving Skills for Life hands-on driver training clinics. 

We’ve covered stories about several police departments switching from older gas cars straight to Teslas, usually Model 3s, but now we’re starting to hear about the benefits they offer over ICEs.

VeriFacts Automotive, LLC announced the next Guild 21 Webinar will be held at 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET Aug. 12 and focus on “All Things Honda.”

Since the introduction of the ASE Renewal App last year, more than 10,000 automotive service professionals are now using the innovative application to extend their A1-A9 certifications without stepping foot in a test center.

There has been a lot of talk surrounding the now famous GAA Classic Cars vehicle auction house.

Recently, when it comes to cars, the cops have been getting their butts kicked. In an age when the roads are populated by supercharged 700-horsepower Hellcats, even the famous 5.7-liter V8 Hemi AWD Charger cop cars can’t keep up.

Four days after announcing its hub in the Southwest, CarLotz said July 26 it has opened a hub in Denver, its first in Colorado.

General Motors announced the appointment of Kent Helfrich as vice president, Global Research and Development, chief technology officer and president, GM Ventures; and Omar Vargas as vice president and head of Global Public Policy.

Crash Champions, LLC, one of the nation’s fastest growing independent collision repair companies, announced July 28 the acquisition of Anderson-Behel Body Shop, a single shop located at 750 Aldo Ave., Santa Clara, CA.

Just recently, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla’s Supercharger Network would be opened to other electric vehicles later this year.

The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG), an Auto Care Association community of young industry professionals, is partnering with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) to raise support for the foundation through a nationwide TopGolf event.

When an electric vehicle (EV) catches fire, first responders face a new and evolving set of challenges and hazards.

The slowdown in sales at auto auctions in 2020 was not “completely unexpected,” amid a year that saw the remarketing industry and others like it adjusting to challenges from COVID-19.

Ford on July 27 announced Romulus, MI, will be the home of its new global battery center of excellence---Ford Ion Park---which is accelerating the company’s research and development of battery and battery cell technology, including future battery manufacturing.

July U.S. auto sales are expected to reveal a new-vehicle market that has a large problem---too few products to sell.

The importance of calibration was highlighted in a panel discussion in early June at Auto Glass Week 2021, and audience members heard it straight from the source in “Learning from Auto Glass Shops that Offer Calibration Services.”

MWACA is excited and honored to host Mitch Schneider for his inspirational and informative talk, "To Do What You've Never Done."

Curt McDowell of NA Williams has been appointed to CAWA’s Board of Directors.

There’s a saying in Texas that everything is bigger. New details about Tesla’s manufacturing plant just outside of Austin, known as Giga Texas, back up that statement, as Tesla is on its way to having the largest automotive manufacturing facility in the U.S.

The Volkswagen Group, which includes Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, SEAT and more, reported accelerating sales of plug-in electric cars in the second quarter of 2021.

Autotrader named the Hottest Cars of Summer 2021, but with a timely twist.

Distracted drivers aren’t the only vehicle threats on our nation’s highways. Count the proliferation of counterfeit vehicle parts as potential safety hazards too.

Nearly 4,000 workers at a General Motors plant near St. Louis must resume wearing face masks and social distancing starting late July 26 because of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the area.

LMP Automotive Holdings, Inc., an e-commerce and facilities-based automotive retailer in the U.S., on July 26 announced its entry into a definitive acquisition agreement for a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership in New York, along with the associated real estate, generating approximately $80 million in annualized revenue and $2.6 million in adjusted EBITDA.

Enterprise Fleet Management has been ranked as the largest fleet management provider in the U.S., according to Automotive Fleet's 2021 Fact Book.

Early bird registration has opened for ASA National’s CARS event, a one-day live industry event designed specifically for mechanical repair shop owners and their managers.