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CAA Provides Update on Bills to Watch During 2022 CA Legislative Session
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Tesla Worker Collapses and Dies at Fremont Factory on Powertrain Line
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Tesla Driver Charged with Felony After Deadly Crash Killing 2
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EVmatch, Silicon Valley Clean Energy to Address EV Charger Accessibility in Santa Clara County, CA
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NAAA to Hold Spring Meeting During NADA Show in Las Vegas
Western News
Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Hawaii, Alaska and Wyoming
CA Paint Jobber Sues After BMW Implemented Its Own Paint Line
Nicolosi Distributing Inc. (NDI), a paint jobber in the San Francisco bay area, filed a lawsuit against BMW of North America earlier this year alleging intentional interference with a contract with a BMW-certified shop.
Arizona Insurance Department Increases Property Damage Threshold for Autos
The Arizona Department of Insurance has adjusted the threshold amount of property damages insurers may use to non-renew private passenger auto policies to $2,400.
According to the DOI, A.R.S. 20-1631(E) governs the limits on an insurer’s ability to cancel or non-renew a personal automobile policy after it has been in effect for 60 days, and A.R.S. 20-1631(E) lists additional conditions and limitations for cancellations and non-renewals, including a provision that: “An insurer shall not fail to renew more than one-half of 1 percent of its policies annually.”
For accidents occurring after Jan. 2, 2000, the ADOI must annually adjust and publish the threshold amount. Because the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for urban consumers is 1.6 percent, ADOI has increased the threshold.
For more information, e-mail jsneathen@azinsurance.gov.
East Bay CAA Chapter Hears From GM Collision/Powertrain and BECCA®
The theme was education and information, offered by GM and BECCA, a company that markets paint spray gun cleaning systems designed for automotive and industrial applications. Reps from both companies were the co-keynote speakers at a meeting held by the CAA East Bay Chapter in January, held at Scott’s Seafood restaurant in Walnut Creek, Calif.
First, GM Collision/Powertrain Wholesale Specialist Jeffrey James outlined the carmaker’s parts buying incentive programs for the body shops in attendance and stressed the corporation’s desire to get more of its OE parts into their repairs.
Valley Ventura CAA Chapter Discusses SCAQMD Compliance and Fraud
The Valley Ventura chapter of the California Autobody Association (CAA) held their monthly meeting on January 19 at Giovanni’s Steak & Seafood in Simi Valley. 52 guests were in attendance.
Wayne Barcikowski and Van Phan started off the speakers by outlining the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) rule 1147 and how it affects local shop owners.
Air Quality Management District Rule 1147, regarding low NOx burners, was recently postponed—making all shops required to be compliant by the end of 2011. According to Linda Holcomb with the Pasadena/Foothills Chapter, the postponement was a result of Barcikowski hearing a lot of shops speak out about their inability to afford to conform to Rule 1147 by 2011 at three CAA meetings he spoke at last year.
New BMW Dealership Slated to Open in Vista, North San Diego County
BMW of Vista, a full-service BMW dealership, is slated to open in Vista, CA on January 24. The dealership itself will be open to the public on that day, as well as the parts center.
Neighboring Oceanside, CA, housed a small BMW dealership a few years ago, but eventually shut its doors.
“There will be no delays, everything is being inspected now,” said Parts Manager Bill Cox.
Allstate Phases Out Your Choice Auto Program in California
Allstate Insurance has agreed to stop selling "Your Choice Auto" (YCA) insurance program in California, in response to a challenge brought by the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog. The company has stopped issuing new YCA policies, and will completely phase out the approximately 150,000 existing YCA policies in California by November 2011.
Consumer Watchdog said the program is "deceptive and overpriced," asserting that under the YCA program, Allstate charged drivers up to 15 percent higher-than-normal premiums with the promise that future tickets or accidents would not be used to increase premiums. The consumer action group said an investigation it conducted found that the purported benefits were not worth the premium being charged. According to the consumer group, Allstate was:
1. Violating California's good driver discount law;
2. Unfairly discriminating against drivers despite their good driving record;
3. Selling a deceptive product; and
4. Encouraging irresponsible driving.
More...
Inland Empire CAA Chapter Warns About EEEC Area Inspections
Please see attached flier for meeting information.
CAA Inland Empire Chapter Meeting-January 27, 2011, 6:00pm, The Royal Cut Restaurant in Ontario.
EEEC is stepping up unannounced auto body inspections this year, this meeting will cover what you need to know about these inspections and explain typical violations.
To sign up for this meeting or for more information please contact Cindy Shillito at radiatorgirl.socal.rr.com or 714-944-4028.
CLICK HERE for meeting flier.
PPG Spring MVP Conference Offers "Journey to Excellence"
Dedicated to providing collision shop managers and owners with the best in innovative support services and information, PPG will host an MVP Business Solutions Conference at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, California, March 27 – 29. Focusing on the theme “Journey to Excellence,” the conference will present prominent speakers, enlightening seminars and interactive workshops to give participants opportunities to tap into new ideas and strategies to enhance their continuous business improvement efforts.
“PPG continues to bring cutting edge support and vital programs to its customers in every way possible,” said Randy Dewing, senior manager, MVP Business Solutions. “Success for collision centers in this economy depends on keeping your organization heading in the right direction and accelerating performance from the bottom to the top. This MVP conference is geared toward helping owners and managers realize exceptional positive results—real results that will improve performance and keep our customers on the leading edge of process and business improvement. Our speakers—experts in their fields—will show how an organization can keep moving ahead and stepping up its performance through a number of approaches and techniques.”
AIA Western Region Announces New VP
The American Insurance Association (AIA) has announced that Marjorie Berte has joined the association as its new vice president for the Western Region.
Berte's career includes experience in both the public and private sectors, most recently with the state of California, where she has served since 2007 as undersecretary for the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (BTH). In this capacity, she coordinated oversight of 18 departments and programs with a total budget of $18 billion while working directly on issues such as transportation, public safety, economic development, and financial services regulation.
CAWA Appoints Ralph Barr to Manufacturers' Advisory Council
The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association’s (CAWA) has appointed Ralph Barr to its Manufacturers' Advisory Council (MAC). Barr will be representing United Components, Inc. from his office in San Marcos, California.
Barr was appointed by Chair of the Board, Tim Gerrity of General Auto Parts of Oakland, California. “We are pleased to welcome Mr. Barr back into the leadership of CAWA and look forward to his participation and contributions to the Association and the industry we represent out west”, said Chair Gerrity following the appointment.
“Mr. Barr had previously served on the MAC and Board of Directors in the late 1990’s and we are pleased that he, once again, has stepped forward in volunteer service to the Association” said Gerrity.
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.
For more information please visit www.cawa.org.