Panel for Auto-dependent Sectors Formed
from United Press International
 The White House has formed a panel for workers and communities dependent on the auto industry, Vice President Joe Biden said at a meeting in Ohio. The White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers was created by executive order, Biden said. This inter-agency council will work to address the issues facing the automotive industry and protect the hardest-hit communities and workers. More 
ASA Member Featured on "Cash For Clunkers" TV News Story
from KSHB-TV 41
ASA member Jerry Holcom, who runs S&S Service Center in Kansas City, Mo., was recently featured on NBC affiliate KSHB-TV’s “Cash For Clunkers” news story. Holcom talked his opposition to the legislation due to the bill’s lack of a vehicle repair option. More
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Product Showcase:
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House Searching for Right Insurance Reform Mix
from AutoInc.
 Although there is growing interest in the reform of the current state system of insurance regulation, there is limited consensus among members of Congress. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has indicated some interest in a life insurance option federal program only. More
See also: President Obama Announces Insurance Reform Proposal
( Automotive Service Association )
Certified Master Auto Technician Finalist for National Top-Soldier Competition
from WTVC-TV
Sgt. Mike Headrick, a Tennessee National Guard soldier from Dunlap, in East Tennessee, will be among seven National Guardsmen from across the entire United States competing next month for the prestigious title of Non-commissioned Officer of the Year. Headrick, 40, has been in the Tennessee National Guard for only six years, but will be going head-to-head against the Guard's best of the best. In his civilian life, Headrick is a certified master auto technician at Bavarian Auto, an ASA member shop in Chattanooga, Tenn. More
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Product Showcase:
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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ASA Revises 'Open Platform' Position Statement
from Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has approved a newly revised position statement proposed by the volunteer leadership of its Collision Division. The position statement reads: "ASA supports an individual collision business owner's selection of an estimating system that meets the individual's business needs and commends those insurers that allow for the use of an 'open platform.' More
Study: Industry Needs Cultural Change to Survive
from Aftermarket Business
A rapid cultural transformation — which hinges on replacing current management teams — is needed to successfully turn around the automotive industry, according to a new University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) report, "Fixing Detroit: How Far, How Fast, How Fuel Efficient?" The report finds that the existing culture within the domestic auto companies systematically underestimates the value of fuel economy, which has crippled profitability. More
NA3SA Assessment Widely Accepted
from National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
The National Automotive Student Skills Standard Assessment (NA3SA), the new comprehensive end-of-program assessment test, has been enthusiastically adopted by secondary and post-secondary automotive technology programs nationwide. The NA3SA is a series of tests designed to measure students’ knowledge of course content and learning outcomes within an automotive training program. NA3SA was developed by ASE in partnership with AYES, NATEF, and SkillsUSA to replace the existing end-of-program assessment used by NATEF programs and others. More
ASA Welcomes New Mexico Chapter
from Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is pleased to announce its most recent new chapter agreement, ASA-Central New Mexico, and the launch of the chapter's Web site (www.ASAshopNM.com). The Central New Mexico chapter was established to provide additional services, networking opportunities and a legislative voice in New Mexico. The chapter will represent ASA members in Santa Fe, Belen, Cedar Crest, Albuquerque, Los Lunas and Rio Rancho. More
Does Your Site Measure Up?
AutoInc. is looking for the best ASA member-shop automotive repair Web sites, which will be featured in its annual Top 10 Automotive Repair Sites coverage to be published next January. Online submissions are now being accepted at www.AutoInc.org/top10entry.htm. While you are there, view the previous Top 10 winners and pick up some pointers for your own site. Judging begins in September, so make sure your sites are ready to go!
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GM Advisers Want $40M for One Month, U.S. Trustee Says
from The Detroit Free Press
U.S. officials have objected to General Motors Corp.'s contracts with two financial advisers hired to guide the automaker through bankruptcy, saying the firms sought $40 million for 30 days of work. The firms, Evercore Partners of New York and Alix Partners of Southfield, are GM's chief financial consultants, and helped craft the plan for GM to sell most of its assets to the U.S. Treasury, Canada and the UAW health-care trust fund in a $40-billion transaction. 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
Choosing Green Suppliers
from ABRN
One way to boost your company's environmental initiative is to work with as many "green" suppliers as possible. In the collision repair industry, that usually means purchasing energy efficient equipment that can help reduce emissions. But many equipment vendors have instituted their own programs to reduce their carbon footprint. By showing an interest in environmental practices, you can encourage your vendors to step up their own programs, and gain some additional talking points to add to your shop's eco-friendly marketing message. More
Goodyear to Buy Out 550 Workers, Cut Production in Tennessee
from CNN Money
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will buy out 550 workers and reduce production at a plant in Tennessee to match its operations to lower demand. The recession has slashed sales almost 30 percent as consumers and auto makers skipped purchases or cut orders. On July 6, Goodyear's consumer tire plant in Union City, Tenn., will change from continuous operations to a five-day, three-shift operation. The cuts represent just less than a quarter of the 2,300 employees at the plant. More
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