Caliber Expands Into New England With Key Collision Acquisition
The Caliber family of automotive repair and service brands announced its entry into Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont through the acquisition of Key Collision, bringing the company's 10 locations across the three states into the Caliber network and growing Caliber's footprint to 44 states.
Founded in 1992, Key Collision operates repair centers in Portland, Maine; Concord, Keene, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth, Rochester and Salem, New Hampshire; and Colchester and South Burlington, Vermont.
"This expansion gives drivers throughout New England access to the repair experience Caliber is known for," said Val Fichera, senior vice president of operations for the Northeast at Caliber. "We are excited to welcome the talented teammates of Key Collision, as their longstanding commitment to quality repairs and customer service makes them a natural fit with the Caliber family."
John Stolz, former chief operating officer of Key Collision, said joining Caliber was an opportunity to bring additional resources and technology to the team while preserving what the company built over more than 30 years in the region. Focus Advisors represented Key Collision in the transaction.
Crash Champions Opens New Pennsylvania Shop, Adds Eighth Mississippi Location
Crash Champions opened a newly constructed 20,000-square-foot repair center at 846 Flory Mill Road in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, marking the company's 28th location in the state and its second shop in Lancaster. The I-CAR Gold Class facility is located near U.S. Route 30 and Pennsylvania Route 283.
"Adding capacity in this market allows us to serve more customers and business partners while maintaining the quality, expertise, and customer experience that define Crash Champions," said Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions.
Separately, Crash Champions began operations at a new repair center in Southaven, Mississippi, its eighth location in the state. The shop, formerly Key Collision of Southaven, expands the company's ability to serve customers in the greater Memphis metropolitan area. Focus Advisors represented Key Collision of Southaven in that transaction as well.
Crash Champions now operates more than 650 repair centers across 38 states.
Open Road Collision Enters North Carolina With Wilson Collision Center Partnership
Open Road Collision announced a partnership with Wilson Collision Center in Gastonia, North Carolina, marking the MSO's entry into the state. The deal brings Wilson's team into the Open Road network while the shop retains its local brand and identity.
"This is exactly the type of partnership we look for. Great people, strong operators, a great culture, and a business that shares our commitment to taking care of customers and employees," said Brandon Hawkins, chief operating officer of Open Road Collision.
Open Road Collision now comprises 41 locations across nine legacy brands.
MOTOR Announces 2026 Top 20 Awards Winners
MOTOR Information Systems, a Hearst company, named the winners of its 2026 Top 20 Awards, recognizing products spanning diagnostics, ADAS technology, shop management platforms, and service equipment. Winners are selected through voting by automotive professionals.
Collision-relevant honorees include Autel's MaxiSYS Ultra S2 Diagnostic Tablet, Opus IVS's ADAS MAP, Innova Electronics' INNOVA SDS43 OE-Level Smart Diagnostic System, Snap-on Diagnostics' TRITON Scan Tool and Solera's ShopCentral, among 20 total winners across the automotive and transportation industry.
"What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that the winners are selected through voting by automotive professionals," said Stephen Carroll, vice president of marketing at MOTOR. Winners will be featured across MOTOR's digital and social channels and recognized at AAPEX 2026 in November.
Surventis Partners With WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 to Support Refinish Workforce Training
Surventis, formerly BASF Coatings, is partnering with WorldSkills International as a Global Industry Partner and Silver Partner of the 48th WorldSkills Competition, set for Sept. 22-27 in Shanghai. Through its Glasurit refinish brand, the company is providing training capabilities and technical knowledge to help young professionals prepare for careers in automotive refinishing.
Ahead of the competition, Surventis is offering finalists and WorldSkills experts training through its Refinish Competence Centers, digital learning modules and Refinity webinars, with participants in more than 20 countries training on the Glasurit 100 Line waterborne coating system. SATA and 3M are also contributing to the preparation program.
"Tomorrow's refinish professionals need more than technical excellence. They must be able to work efficiently, embrace digital tools and contribute to more sustainable repair processes," said Steve Arndt, executive vice president of refinish coatings at Surventis. Surventis is also backing the Sustainable Practice Excellence Award, recognizing competitors who pair technical skill with efficient, responsible work practices.
NABC Recycled Rides Delivers Vehicles to Pennsylvania Veteran, Georgia Mother
The National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program presented two refurbished vehicles this week. In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. Army veteran Caitlyn Kelley received a 2023 Nissan Kicks SV donated by GEICO and refurbished by Faulkner Collision Center, an I-CAR Platinum Certified facility and member of Certified Collision Group. Kelley, nominated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, served from 2009 to 2013.
Near Atlanta, Katrina Watkins received a 2023 Honda HR-V Sport donated by Travelers and refurbished by Wren's Collision Centers in Canton, Georgia. Watkins was nominated by The Children's Haven.
"This is going to change my life so much. I'm forever grateful and appreciate it," Watkins said.
Since the program's 2007 inception, NABC members have donated more than 3,750 vehicles valued at roughly $67 million.
ASE Connects Launches Weekly 'Beyond the Wrench' Podcast
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence launched a weekly podcast, "Beyond the Wrench," hosted by Jay Goninen, vice president of industry advancement at ASE. New episodes release every Wednesday featuring shop owners, technicians, instructors and other industry professionals, and are available on major podcast platforms and the ASE Connects YouTube channel.
Fix Auto Minnesota Feehan Group Raises $9,500 for Charity at Golf Tournament
The Fix Auto Minnesota Feehan Group, consisting of Fix Auto Maple Grove, Fix Auto Brooklyn Park and Fix Auto Monticello, raised $9,500 for the Minnesota Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and local nonprofit Pause 4 Paws through its annual charity golf tournament Aug. 3 at Monticello Country Club. The event drew about 175 attendees and 15 sponsors.
"The Feehan Group continues to demonstrate what it means to be more than a collision repair business," said Damien Reyna, chief operating officer of Driven Brands Collision Group. Fix Auto Minnesota is part of Fix Auto USA, a Driven Brands Collision Group brand with more than 200 locations.
