This edition of Market Insights with Mike provides an extensive look at the latest vehicle miles traveled (VMT) data in the U.S. and what the new trends in driver and migration behavior can mean for the auto care industry.

The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) is one of the best resources in the industry to improve the information you are using to get paid for your repairs---the repair plan.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on July 1 unveiled a new cloud-based recall dashboard to make searching for auto safety recall data easy and efficient.

On July 8, during Stellantis EV Day 2021, the Jeep brand revealed the first images of its all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid. 

During the Stellantis EV Day 2021, RAM teased an upcoming fully electric pickup truck, which might get up to 500 miles of range. Let's take a look.

A GM engine block heater recall includes more than 331,000 trucks equipped with Duramax diesel 6.6-liter engines and optional engine block heaters.

More than 80% of urban interstate highways in New Jersey are congested during peak hours, the third-highest share in the country, and the state’s traffic volume continues to increase.

Actor Mark Wahlberg has always wanted to be in the car business.

It’s gotten even more complicated.

Georgia's interstate system congestion and vehicle travel rate are among the highest in the U.S., a recent report shows.

On July 8, Halo launched one of the first commercial driverless car services in the U.S. running on the T-Mobile 5G network in Las Vegas.

J.D. Power, a global leader in data analytics and consumer intelligence, on July 7 announced it has acquired Superior Integrated Solutions, Inc./Darwin Automotive, a leading provider of automotive finance & insurance (F&I) software used by automotive dealerships.

At the CAWA June Leadership meeting, Wayne Schaack of the Pronto Automotive Distribution Network was elected as the 2022 secretary to the Board of Directors.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a measure intended to replace auto insurance personal injury protection (PIP) coverage with bodily injury coverage limits and a requirement that insurers offer medical payments coverage.

Toyota Motor Corp’s political action committee will halt donations to U.S. members of Congress who voted against President Joe Biden’s election certification in January, the company said July 8.

Recently, the Biden Administration announced its intention to issue an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address right to repair concerns for tractors and calling on the Federal Trade Commission to address repair barriers erected by manufacturers, specifically citing mobile phones.

The attorneys general of 16 states on July 6 urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to refrain from reinstating California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act which gives that state, and only that state, the authority to regulate which cars the rest of the nation drives.

In 2019, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham committed the state to tackling greenhouse gas emissions in the state, which contribute to climate change and harm public health.

About six months after its birth from the business combination of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Stellantis held a major event, Stellantis EV Day 2021, to present its plans.

A Tesla Model Y’s built-in dash cam recorded the face and license plate of a man who fired a projectile at the all-electric crossover along a Sacramento-area freeway.

SEMA representatives escalated their advocacy efforts by taking part in nearly 100 meetings with Republican and Democratic lawmakers from Capitol Hill during June and July.

Wholesale used vehicle prices, on a mix-, mileage- and seasonally-adjusted basis, decreased 1.3% month over month in June, after record highs for four consecutive months.

Sherwin-Williams received triple honors in the J.D. Power 2021 Paint Satisfaction Study, earning the top spot in customer satisfaction in the categories of Exterior Paints, Exterior Stains and Paint Retailers.

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc., a leading SaaS platform for the P&C insurance economy, and Buckle, an inclusive tech-enabled financial services company, announced Buckle has selected CCC to digitize auto claims for its community of rideshare and delivery drivers.

California Autobody Association (CAA) attorney Jack Molodanof emphasized during a CAA webinar in June the importance of collision repair shops’ final invoices accurately reflecting exactly what was done to each vehicle.

The automotive collision repair program at Richland Community College in Decatur, IL, was recently recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for receiving Master accreditation---the highest level of program accreditation recognized by the ASE.

Spots remain available for the upcoming 2021 ASE Instructor Training Conference, scheduled for July 26-30.

CIECA's Repair Order & Repair Status and Process Committees are being reactivated and are looking for volunteers.

Join the CAA via Zoom at 6 p.m. PDT July 8 for "Overcoming Insurer Objections to Payment for Needed Repair Procedures," presented by Industrial Finishes and Tim Ronak of AkzoNobel.

These dream cars come with some of the biggest price tags.

A woman in Cabot, AR, is once again mourning as her late father’s 1977 Chevrolet Corvette and 1968 Mustang were stolen.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E earned Car and Driver’s inaugural Electric Vehicle of the Year Award, adding another coveted honor to its trophy case and beating overall top-rated EV competitors along the way.

We’re living in transitional times. The age of the internal combustion-engined passenger and commercial vehicle is drawing to a close, after more than a century of planetary domination.

Ford has selected former U.S. federal lawyer Steven Croley to become its chief policy officer and general counsel, as the company continues to ramp up its capabilities and influence around the globe in rapidly evolving areas such as connectivity, electric vehicles and digital services.

The global semiconductor microchip shortage has been impacting vehicle manufacturing for the past year, but as the shortage persists, some experts anticipate its effects could be felt by the collision and automotive repair industries in the second half of 2021, potentially causing delays in cycle time as replacement parts become less available.

Progressive Insurance intends to hire up to 6,400 new employees during the remainder of 2021 to support the national insurance organization's growth.

In 1976, Eddie Lennox used a $10,000 loan granted to him by his neighbor, Charles Morgan, to open the very first Service King Collision in a three-bay tin building in Dallas.

It airs later this year on Discovery+.

With prices for both new and used vehicles hitting all-time highs, it can be daunting to think about trading in your car for a new set of wheels in the current marketplace.

Leading used car ecommerce platform Shift has launched two new markets for consumers to buy its cars in Texas.

Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, on July 7 announced it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire U-POL Holdings Limited from Graphite Capital Management LLP and other holders for about $590 million, subject to certain adjustments set forth in the sale and purchase agreements for the transaction.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Q1 2021 report tracking the average length of car rentals reveals Louisiana saw the largest increase in both drivable and non-drivable claims.

From ferrying paying customers to outer space to ferrying deliveries with zero carbon emissions, Amazon is carrying us into the future at an accelerated rate.

General Motors recently rolled out a significant overhaul of the vehicle inspections it calls on auto body shops to perform post-collision, saying the changes in no way compromise safety.

Where will the collision repair industry be in 2035?

Have you ever wondered about what will be done with the growing mountain of used electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries?

VeriFacts Automotive, LLC, announced its Guild 21 webinar, 11 a.m. PDT July 8, will feature Sean Carey, president of SCG Management Consultants.

An Australian-based advanced software company that develops immersive technology solutions for training and information delivery in the automotive and trade sectors has been getting rave reviews from students and teachers worldwide.

I think everyone can agree a well-designed car is a piece of art, like a Donatello or a Rodin.

Mobileum Inc., a leading global provider of analytics-based roaming and network services, risk management and testing and monitoring solutions, is pleased to announce Audi is deploying Mobileum's Connected Car Testing solution to test and monitor the end-to-end quality of service (QoS) of its connected cars and to ensure the highest standards of service assurance and control over customer experience.