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Magna, DuPont to Co-Host Women of Inforum@CES Networking Reception to Connect Women in Tech
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7 Members of LA-Based Fraud Ring Sentenced for Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Relief Scheme
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New California Laws Will Affect Auto Repairers in 2022
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Steakhouse Owner Busted for Classic Car COVID Fraud
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Navy Working to Ease Supply-Chain Shortage in LA County
Western News
Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska and Wyoming
Fire Guts Montana Shop, Causes $200,000 Damage
Fire officials estimate the damage to a Helena, MT auto body shop, Hazen Auto Repair & Custom Exhaust, at about $200,000 after an aggressive, quick-moving fire gutted the Euclid Avenue shop.
Richard Mattiussi Appointed to CAWA Board of Directors
Richard Mattiussi has been appointed to the California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association’s (CAWA) Board of Directors, representing Merles Automotive Supply in Tucson, Arizona.
He was appointed by Chair of the Board, Steve Sharp of WORLDPAC in Newark, CA. “Mr. Mattiussi has a diversified career in the automotive aftermarket industry and currently serves as the Sales and Marketing Director for one of our well respected members in Arizona” said Mr. Sharp. “Mr. Mattiussi’s breath of industry experience will be a great addition to the board of directors and we’ll welcome his contributions to the automotive aftermarket industry and its trade Association out west,” said Chair Sharp following the appointment.
CAWA is an automotive aftermarket trade association, which represents auto parts jobbers, warehouse distributors, retailers, manufacturers and manufacturer representatives in California, Nevada and Arizona. The Association provides education, legislative, regulatory and business support to the industry and its membership. It is one of the largest trade associations of its kind in the United States and recognized as a leader in the automotive aftermarket industry.
Calif.'s Tougher ZEV Mandate Sparks New Market for Clean-Air Credits
Calif.'s Tougher ZEV Mandate Sparks New Market for Clean-Air Credits
Big burden on Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Nissan
A new front is opening in the emerging market for electric vehicles - not for selling cars, but for credits required to meet clean-air rules.
Seattle Auto Body Students will give hydroplane a make-over
Students in South Seattle Community College’s Automotive Collision Repair program will have the opportunity to see their work making waves in the waters of Lake Washington this summer, after they finish their makeover of the Schumacher Racing unlimited hydroplane.
The No. 37 hydroplane currently housed at the college in West Seattle is owned by legendary Billy Schumacher (“Billy the Kid”), the former unlimited champion driver who won 17 races from 1967-1976, and is perhaps best known for his unprecedented string of wins with the Miss Bardahl team. Schumacher Racing pays a shop fee and materials costs for the project.
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Stolen Iguana Reunited with Owner at Bellflower Auto Body Shop
A man and his pet iguana were reunited and a suspected thief was behind bars today, nearly six months after the 4-1/2-foot long, 30-pound reptile was stolen from a Bellflower auto body shop. The 30-pound reptile was taken during a burglary that occurred at the shop in early December last year.
Sheriff's deputies returned the iguana name Lizard to its owner of 17 years on Thursday.
The lucky lizard was taken on Dec. 9 or 10 after someone forced his way into the Performance 4-Wheel Auto shop at 9817 Park Street in Bellflower, said Lt. Steve Sciacca of the Los Angeles County sheriff's Lakewood Station. The iguana was the only thing taken during the burglary, he said.
Investigators used "advanced investigative techniques" and identified a suspect, 19-year-old Jesus Alcaraz of Downey, who they knew from previous contacts, Sciacca said.
Blood found at the crime scene was matched to Alcaraz, and a search warrant was served on his residence, where investigators found the iguana, along with a loaded handgun, marijuana, hash oil and gang paraphernalia, Sciacca said.
Alcaraz was booked on suspicion of burglary, illegal possession of a firearm, cultivation of marijuana and possession of hash oil, according to Sciacca.
He was being held at the Lakewood Station jail in lieu of $35,000 bail, according to sheriff's online booking records.
Car West Opening 40,000 sq ft shop in San Jose
Car West Auto Body’s Craig Moe, President and CEO announced the acquisition of Auto Tech Collision Center in San Jose, CA, after renovation of one of the largest collision repair centers in the Bay Area at over 40,000 square feet.
The renovation includes state of the art waterborne paint booths, preparation booths, IRT paint curing technology, dedicated Aluminum welding booth and welders, Jollift, Chief and Car Bench frame straightening & measuring equipment, Hunter wheel alignment rack and tire handling equipment, factory-equivalent resistant spot-welding, and cutting-edge computer management systems. With the ultimate throughput management processes and best practices available, Car West will continue to set records in the industry for cycle time and volume capability in excess of one million dollars per month at this new location.
Using satellite estimating locations throughout the Bay Area to focus on customer satisfaction, Car West of San Jose will offer auto glass, a detail center, and mechanical repairs, as well as collision repair. “This location allows Car West to expand our Silicon Valley footprint to San Jose, further building on our goal of servicing all of the California Bay Area with the best collision repair experience available,” said Craig Moe.
For more information, visit their website at carwest.com
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Golden State Collision Centers Donates Two Vehicles
Golden State Collision Centers Inc., a five-shop collision repair operation based in Yuba City, CA, presented two refurbished vehicles to families in need during its “Celebrate Americana Benevolence Event,” on May 17.
Golden State Collision Centers said AAA Insurance provided the refurbished vehicles, and two local organizations—Mercy Ministries and Hands of Hope—helped identify the receiving families.
Auto Body World Opens 9th Shop in Phoenix, AZ
Auto Body World Collision Centers, with locations throughout Phoenix and Casa Grande markets, announced plans to open its ninth location in Phoenix in June. Auto Body World has been acquired by Texas-based Service King in a deal to be finalized this summer. The 13,000-square-foot facility will serve the Deer Valley community of north Phoenix and is located on 19th Avenue.
“This addition complements our footprint very nicely as it allows us to serve customers and our insurance partners along the 1-17 corridor in the north valley,” said Auto Body World President, Mark Turner. “This addition is another important step in Auto Body World’s overall growth strategy. With the recently announced partnership with Service King, we are excited about the opportunity to accelerate growing out across this market.”
Auto Body World Collision Centers continues to seek out collision repair centers throughout Arizona. Interested owners are asked to contact Auto Body World President, Mark Turner at m.turner@autobodyworld.com.
Drew Collision's Medallion Status
"Drew Collision-Fix Auto and Glass," the body shop at Drew Ford, a Ford dealer in San Diego County for over 75 years, has been awarded Medallion status for collision repair quality. The rating is very hard to achieve. There are only 54 Medallion-rated body shops in the U.S., but Drew Collision-Fix Auto is the first auto dealer facility ever to earn it. The unannounced Medallion inspections are conducted by VeriFacts. Inspectors electronically and meticulously document some 300 different aspects of the repair process. The Medallion rating must be continually re-earned with every inspection or status is revoked. Congratulations in particular to Larry Houk, the Collision Center Manager, and Ted Stein, Service, Parts and Collision Director.
Glendale-Foothill CAA Chapter Focuses on BAR Compliance
The May chapter meeting of the Glendale-Foothill California Autobody Association was held at the Brookside Country Club, 1133 Rosemont Ave. Pasadena, CA. An unusually large crowd turned out to hear Qasi Asad, Verifacts Automotive Compliance Director, speak on current BAR (Board of Auto Repair) policies, procedures and compliance. Qasi started out reminding the group of the BAR’s sting operation in Orange County a while back that closed several shops and arrested the estimators for false and fraudulent estimates. Qasi noted that most of those estimators will not be able to get a job estimating again.