House Passes Cash for Clunker Program
from Automotive Service Association
 The U.S. House of Representatives has passed House Bill 2751, The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act, sponsored by Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio. This "Cash for Clunkers" bill, which passed with a margin of 298-119, aims to accelerate motor fuel savings nationwide and provide incentives to registered owners of high-polluting automobiles to replace such automobiles with new fuel efficient and less polluting automobiles. Advocates argue that this bill aims to spur new car sales in a relatively short period of time. More 
Related story: Cash for Clunkers: What Might it Really Mean to Car Buyers? ( TIME magazine )
Fiat Deal with Chrysler Seals Swift 42-day Overhaul
from The New York Times
With the touch of pen to paper and a simple wire transfer, Chrysler completed its alliance with Fiat, largely ending its quick trip through bankruptcy. The reorganization was completed in 42 days. The last obstacle to an exit — a temporary stay imposed by the Supreme Court — was lifted late Tuesday, after the nine justices declined to hear a challenge of the deal by three Indiana state funds and several consumer groups. More
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ASA Announces Presence on Facebook, Twitter
from Automotive Service Association
 You may now follow the Automotive Service Association (ASA) on Facebook and Twitter. ASA's presence on these social networking sites will allow you to keep up with all that ASA is doing on behalf of its members, business partners and the industry as a whole. Connecting on these sites is just one more way ASA is creating an online community of its members and consumers to build awareness for the ASA brand and to drive more motorists to ASA shops. To access ASA's Facebook and Twitter pages, search "Automotive Service Association" on the following Web sites: www.facebook.com and www.twitter.com. Or use the links located on ASA's home page at www.ASAshop.org. More
Whitacre Vows to 'Learn About Cars' as Chairman of New GM Board
from Bloomberg
Edward E. Whitacre Jr. built AT&T Inc. into the biggest U.S. provider of telephone service over a 43-year career. By his own admission, he becomes chairman of General Motors Corp. knowing nothing about the auto industry. The 6-foot-4-inch Texan nicknamed "Big Ed" said steering the nation's largest automaker after bankruptcy is "a public service." People who know him say he can meet GM's need for the type of transformation he orchestrated at Dallas-based AT&T. More
Hail Damage Historic in Central Massachusetts
from Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Commuters in several Blackstone Valley, Mass., towns have recently been seeing signs most of them have never seen — at least in this part of the country. Many auto body shops in Grafton, Millbury and Sutton, and at least one in Auburn, have large — in some cases electric — signs advertising free estimates and the mechanical knowledge to repair vehicles damaged during last month's hailstorm that pounded those communities with hail reportedly larger than golf balls. More
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URG Offers Quality Recycled Parts Search Engine
 United Recyclers offers body shops and mechanical repair shops the ability to search used parts for cars and trucks. Each URG member provides quality assurance to the product. The result is a nationwide label that delivers consistently high quality parts and maximizes consumers, collision center, and estimator confidence. More info
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This Week is Automotive Service Professionals Week
from Motor Age
For 2009, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has declared June 8 through 14 as National Automotive Service Professionals Week. Building on the success of Automotive Service Professionals Day established in 2001, ASE launched National Automotive Service Professional's Week in 2005 to honor the commitment and dedication of automotive, truck and collision technicians, along with parts specialists and other support professionals who serve the motoring public. More
Parts Sales Boom as People Keep Cars Longer
from The Associated Press via Product Design & Development
Business is buzzing at B.J.'s Transmission Service in Reidland, Ky., as people repair used vehicles rather than trade them. "People are skittish about the economy," owner B.J. Allen said. "They say their older cars get better gas mileage than new ones." Shop work has increased, and revenue is up 10 to 20 percent in 2009 because the average transmission job costs $200 to $600 more than just a few years ago. More
Lean Collision Repair Shops: the Big Picture
from ABRN
Beyond the symposiums, consultants, panel discussions and trade press attention focused on lean are some real-world shop operators ready to share their experiences – both good and bad – with trying a new model in their shops. Aaron Marshall has seen lean make a positive difference at his shops. Marshall, operations manager for Marshall Auto Body in Waukesha, Wis., touts some numbers that have to make even the most jaded give the idea of lean another look. More
ASA Members Have Rare Opportunity to Make Their Voices Heard
from Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association will host a Capitol Hill Fly-In for its members July 28-29, in Washington, D.C. Join ASA on Capitol Hill and urge policymakers to institute federal regulation of Property and Casualty Insurance and the repeal of McCarran-Ferguson. Why is federal regulation important? Federal regulation will address: steering; labor rates; paint and material caps; insurer-owned collision repair facilities; and other "state issues" at the federal level. ASA will schedule key appointments with policymakers about these important issues. Attendees will receive a briefing Tuesday evening, July 28, and then spend a full day on Capitol Hill Wednesday, July 29. To register for ASA's Capitol Hill Fly-in, ASA members should visit www.TakingTheHill.com or contact ASA's Collision Division at (800) ASA-SHOP (272-7467), ext. 236. Members can also e-mail Denise Caspersen at denisec@asashop.org. More
Report: Auto Suppliers to Seek New Government Aid
from Reuters
U.S. auto suppliers, who negotiated federal loans earlier this year, plan to ask the Obama administration's auto task force this week for $8-$10 billion in loan guarantees. Industry trade groups plan to request the U.S. Treasury to back at least a part of loans for auto suppliers from banks to reduce risk and increase lending, the news agency said, citing Neil De Koker, president of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association. More
NACE, CARS Expand Conference to Deliver Timely Education for Industry Professionals
As the industry’s educational leaders, the International Automotive Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) have developed an expanded 2009 conference program delivering a total of 84 sessions (or 138 hours) of compelling and relevant education focused on today’s industry professionals – all for the same cost as 2008. The NACE and CARS conferences delve into topics that are dealt with by both the mechanical and collision industry professionals on a daily, weekly and annual basis. Sessions will be offered in both 90-minute and 3-hour timeslots. Tracks include management, vehicle repair (collision), technical (mechanical), women’s professional development, train the trainer, estimating, jobber, auto glass, and the all-new tracks for lean and heavy duty truck (due to the overwhelming request from post-show attendee surveys). Both NACE and CARS are sponsored by Automotive Service Association (ASA) and co-located at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nov. 4-7, during the second annual Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW).
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Brembo Bringing Carbon-Ceramic Brakes to the Masses
from The Motor Report
You know you’re looking at a proper supercar when you can spot a set of carbon-ceramic brake discs - with that signature gritty look - behind the massive wheels propping up its corners. Soon enough though, you might start to see those gritty rotors on a lot more cars, thanks to a new partnership between famed brake manufacturer Brembo and carbon-fibre specialists SGL Group, which aims to develop carbon-ceramic brakes suitable for mass production. More
NACE and CARS Announce 2009 Event Chairmen Appointments
from Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association, NACE and CARS proudly announce that Jerry Burns, president and owner of Automotive Impressions, Inc., will serve as the NACE 2009 event chairman. President and owner of C & C Automotive, Aaron Clements will return as the event chairman of CARS. Each chairman is responsible for leading an Attendee Advisory Council for their respective shows. Both the upcoming International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) are sponsored by ASA and are co-located at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, November 4-7, during the second annual Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW). More
Installing the Spyntec Hub Conversion Kit
from Four Wheeler
It used to be that "locking the hubs" was a fundamental first step when heading off-highway. Over the years though, OE manufacturers defected from the lockout hub. Most four-wheel-drive vehicles built nowadays have front axles with internals that spin full-time with the wheels. Blame it partly on cost and partly on vocal buyers who want the convenience and simplicity of just pushing a button or pulling a lever to deliver power to all four wheels without having to lock hubs. Sure, these new systems are easy to use, but here's the thing: in many ways they create far more problems than they solve. More
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