From new leadership appointments to product launches and vehicle donations, here's a roundup of recent industry news.
ASE announces 2026 officers, board members
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) announced its officers and board members for 2026. John Wolf, president of Snap-on Business Solutions, will serve as chair, with Tom Palermo, general manager of Preferred Automotive Specialists, as vice chair.
John Hanighen, president and CEO of Cloyes Manufacturing, is treasurer, and Gary Uyematsu, national technical training manager at BMW of North America, is secretary. Jason Rainey, vice president of NAPA AutoCare/AAA, transitions to past chair.
Six new governors join the board: Aaron Charbonneau of General Motors, Chris Charton of Toyota, Brent Franks of North Texas Automotive Dealers Association, Mike McSorley of Goodyear, Gerry Mead of TravelCenters of America, and Jake Sorenson of McNeil's Auto Repair.
"Together, we will continue to reinforce ASE's leadership in the transportation industry and explore new ways to best serve technicians, service providers, and vehicle owners," said Dave Johnson, ASE president and CEO.
PPG's SEM Products, 4Plastic introduce texture refinishing system
PPG's SEM Products division partnered with 4Plastic to launch an advanced texture refinishing system for non-painted, textured plastic components. The system addresses the growing use of textured bare plastic exterior parts on modern vehicles — components that are difficult to match when replaced.
"As automakers increasingly replace traditionally painted panels with textured bare plastic external components, the collision repair industry needs solutions to accurately restore these surfaces after damage," said Larry Trexler, PPG global allied products technical market support manager, automotive refinish.
“The SEM and 4Plastic range bring together scientific formulation, rigorous testing and practical usability, giving collision centers a true repair-first option for textured components. The ability to restore these parts rather than replace them not only reduces costs but also supports ongoing sustainability initiatives by preventing plastic waste and reducing parts-related emissions,” said Michael LoPrete, managing director of 4Plastic. The SEM and 4Plastic products will be available in the U.S. and Canada.
Certified Collision Group announces two new hires
Certified Collision Group (CCG) announced the addition of Ryan Ross as vice president of member development for Square One Systems and Steve Fardelos as director of vendor management for CCG.
Ross will focus on expanding member value through strategic initiatives and growth-focused engagement. Fardelos will lead vendor strategy, partner alignment and program optimization.
"As we continue to invest in resources, adding talented leaders like Ryan and Steve strengthens our ability to deliver value," said Michelle Sullivan, CEO of Certified Collision Group. "Their addition positions us to accelerate offerings and expand our capabilities for affiliates, members and partners."
Erin Solis, senior vice president of Square One Systems, added: "Ryan and Steve bring leadership, industry credibility, and a results-driven mindset that aligns with our mission and future growth."
NABC Recycled Rides program donates five vehicles
The National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program donated five refurbished vehicles to individuals in need during recent presentations.
In Alameda, Calif., on Jan. 15, Charly Vera Valle, a special needs instructional aide and community college student, received a vehicle donated by Allstate and refurbished by Fix Auto Alameda. Vera Valle was nominated by SparkPoint Contra Costa East.
In Connersville, Ind., on Jan. 20, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Tiffany Bell received a vehicle donated by GEICO and refurbished by CARSTAR Gulley's Auto Body. Bell served two combat deployments to Iraq and now volunteers driving veterans to VA appointments. She was nominated by the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
Also on Jan. 20, three recipients received vehicles at the NABC Palm Springs Changing and Saving Lives Golf Fundraiser in Palm Desert, Calif. Maria Flores, a single mother whose family was hit by a drunk driver, received a 2022 Honda Civic donated by Allstate and refurbished by Fix Auto Cathedral City.
Navy veteran Kevin James received a 2021 Honda Civic donated by Allstate and refurbished by Crash Champions. Cheryl Piccirilli, a phlebotomist at the Sy Kaplan VA Clinic, received a 2021 Toyota Camry donated by the Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club and refurbished by Class Act Auto Body — the shop's first Recycled Rides vehicle.
Hunter Engineering to showcase new products at NADA 2026
Hunter Engineering will highlight recent product releases and a Q1 sales promotion at NADA 2026 in Las Vegas.
New products on display include the Road Force WalkAway wheel balancer with autonomous inflation, Inspection Live cloud-based software, the HawkEye Elite X expandable alignment and ADAS calibration system, and the Maverick Pro tire changer.
The company's Ultimate ADAS system has added OEM approvals from Subaru, Toyota, Lexus, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Mazda since the previous NADA show, bringing the total to 10.
U.S. dealerships can take advantage of a 1% discount on all Hunter equipment through March 31, with an additional 3% discount on select products. Canadian dealerships receive a 3% discount on all equipment. Dealerships do not need to attend in person to qualify.
HD Repair Forum releases 2026 conference agenda
The HD Repair Forum released details for its 2026 conference, taking place March 18-19 at the Music City Convention Center in Nashville. The event focuses on heavy-duty, medium-duty and commercial vehicle collision repair.
This year's event will be co-located with the American Trucking Association's annual TMC meeting. Presentations include economist Dr. Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics, along with sessions from Pro Spot, BeeLine, KPA, Bendix, 3M, PPG and others. Topics include industry trends, OSHA compliance, new vehicle technology, and welding and rivet bonding.
Gemba Automotive launches in Arizona
Jacob Tilzer, in partnership with Accrual Equity Partners, launched Gemba Automotive, a technology-enabled automotive services platform headquartered in Phoenix.
The company launches with eight mechanical service locations in greater Phoenix offering diagnostics and repair services. The leadership team includes COO Scott Sniffin and Executive Chairman John Jamison, who built and operated Greulich's Automotive for more than 20 years before its sale to Sun Auto.
"This platform was built to be large enough to scale and small enough to care," Tilzer said.
Abra Cloquet collects 296 items in winter clothing drive
Abra Cloquet in Minnesota, owned by the KLST Group, collected 296 winter clothing items during its third annual winter clothing drive — exceeding its goal of 200.
The drive ran Nov. 1 through Dec. 19, with contributions from the Cloquet community and fellow KLST-owned Abra locations across Minnesota. All items were donated to United Way of Carlton and Pine County.
"This drive is something our Cloquet team truly pours their hearts into every year," said Kedrick Johnson, owner of the KLST Group.
Auto Care Association welcomes Automotive Communications Council
The Auto Care Association announced the Automotive Communications Council (ACC) as its new community member. The ACC engages marketing and communications professionals in the automotive aftermarket and is the oldest continuously operating council in the aftermarket with more than 80 years of history.
"ACC's legacy of advancing marketing and communications excellence in the aftermarket makes them a natural fit as a community within our association," said Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association president and CEO.
CAWA winter forum set for Jan. 27-29 in Napa
The California Automotive Wholesalers' Association (CAWA) will hold its Winter Leadership & Educational Forum Jan. 27-29 at the Silverado Resort & Spa in Napa, Calif.
The general session will feature presentations on CAWA's 2026 focus from Chair Dan Hanson Jr. of Blue Streak Electronics and a panel on state and federal legislation with Lisa Foshee of Auto Care Association, Ryan Pierini (CAWA California legislative advocate), and Jennifer Zins (CAWA director of government affairs).
A separate panel on AI's impact on the automotive aftermarket will be moderated by Rick Schwartz of Schwartz Advisors, with panelists Chris Gardner of MEMA, Lauren McCullough-Tromml, and Ryan Henderson of carparts.com.
Applications for CAWA's Memorial Scholarship Awards are open through March 31 for students in California, Nevada, and Arizona pursuing auto care industry careers.
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Jess Fritsche