Bad Economy is Good Business for Auto Repair Industry
from KSL-TV
 The shaky economy is prompting many to cut back on spending, but one industry is reporting a spike in business. Auto repair shops across the country say business is up. You may not be able to afford a new car right now, but you can't afford not to keep it running. At Master Tech Automotive, an ASA shop in Salt Lake City, Utah, the repair jobs are coming in faster than they're going out. "The last couple weeks have been very busy," owner Dennis Roennebeck said. More
California Crash Parts Bill Vetoed by Governor
from the Automotive Service Association
 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed California Assembly Bill 2825 regarding automotive repair crash parts after holding the bill on his desk since Aug. 18. Assembly Bill 2825 would have amended the existing Automotive Repair Act, which requires all work completed by an automotive repair dealer to be recorded on an invoice. This includes both service work and parts used. More
Credit Crisis Adds to Pressures on Auto Dealers
from The Associated Press via Newsweek
Hundreds of thousands of new cars and trucks that would have quickly made their way to people's driveways a year ago are now stacking up on dealer lots across the country. For auto dealers already suffering under the worst U.S. sales downturn in 15 years, the increasing cost of the credit they use to keep inventory in their showrooms means every Ford Focus and Jeep Grand Cherokee with a sale sticker in the window is chipping away at dealers' razor-thin profit margins every day and threatening to send more of them out of business. More
New Feature in 2010 Ford Vehicles Will Let Parents Limit Teen Drivers' Speed, Stereo Volume
from the Associated Press via the Chicago Tribune
So you think junior is a little too lead-footed when he drives the family car? Starting next year, Ford Motor Co. will give you the power to do something about it. The company will roll out a new feature on many 2010 models that can limit teen drivers to 80 mph, using a computer chip in the key. Parents also have the option of programming the teen's key to limit the audio system's volume, and to sound continuous alerts if the driver doesn't wear a seat belt. More
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Product Showcase: Team PRP
 Team PRP, a service of United Recyclers Group, offers body shops and mechanical repair shops the ability to search used parts for cars and trucks. Each PRP alliance member uses an identical quality assurance program based on ISO9000 standards. The result is a nationwide label that delivers consistently high quality parts and maximizes consumer, collision center, and estimator confidence. More info
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Honeywell Plans for Growth of Turbochargers in Small Engines
from ABRN
Honeywell is scheduled to launch turbo applications that will be fitted on over 200 small engine vehicles in the next two years. The focus on small engines reflects a market trend that sees small turbo engines growing from 33 percent of all turbocharged engines in 2008 to over 50 percent by 2013. More
ASA Division Holds Fall Meeting at Sherwin-Williams
from the Automotive Service Association
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collision Division Operations Committee held its fall meeting Sept. 9-10 at the Sherwin-Williams Training Center in Grand Prairie, Texas. Over the course of the two-day meeting, the ASA volunteer leadership focused on waterborne refinishing, ASA legislation for 2009, a new Internet application to locate recycled parts, and lean processes. More
Chapter 11 Means a Smaller Delphi
from The Detroit Free Press
While Delphi Corp. has used the last three years to overhaul its business, it has spent the last few months renegotiating deals with its largest stakeholders, including creditors and former parent General Motors Corp., to put it in a position to shop for the financing it needs to exit bankruptcy. More
Autoliv Inc. Introduces New Environmentally Friendly Steering Wheel Material
from ABRN
Autoliv Inc. — the global leader in automotive safety systems — has developed a new material for steering wheels that is more environmentally friendly, among other advantages. Set to be introduced on the new 2009 Renault Mégane at the Paris Auto Show, the new material replaces polyurethane as a covering material on the steering wheel rim and other parts of the steering wheel armature. It is a thermoplastic substance that is injection molded onto the magnesium or steel structure of the steering wheel. More
No Time to Retreat
from the Automotive Service Association
The economic news over the past few weeks certainly wouldn’t inspire confidence among independent automotive service and repair professionals to invest or expand their business. However, it may be precisely the right time to capture a competitive advantage. From a strategic point of view, the best time for taking market share is when your competitor is at a disadvantage. More
ASA President's Blog
Don't Miss a Thing!
from CARS and NACE
The inaugural Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) promises to be packed with education, networking opportunities and exhibitor showcasing that is unmatched in the collision and mechanical repair industries. And with AutoInc.'s ASRW online daily, ASRW Now, you can be sure that you won't miss a thing while you're in Vegas! From the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) to the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), ASA's ASRW Now has got you covered. Check your e-mail inbox net week for our preshow edition that highlights the entire show's upcoming activities! Register for CARS, Register for NACE
ALLDATA TSBs solve problems!
 ASA members and ALLDATA® subscribers understand the value of OEM Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs). Technicians at dealerships, independent repair shops, collision shops and multi-location shops rely on TSBs to quickly identify and resolve time-consuming diagnostic issues. More info
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Ford to Offer Collision-avoidance Technology on Vehicles in 2009
from Automotive Business Review
Ford Motor Co. has announced it will offer the new Collision Warning with Brake Support active collision-avoidance technology on certain Ford and Lincoln vehicles in 2009. According to the company, the Collision Warning with Brake Support system uses radar to detect moving vehicles directly ahead. More
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Adds Repair Center in Colorado
from The Wall Street Journal
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a Minneapolis-based damaged vehicle repair company, announced the opening of their second repair center in Colorado Springs, Colo. This newly constructed facility brings the total number of ABRA repair centers to 93 in 11 states. More
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The Industry Leader in D.C. Welding Technology
A.R.C. Manufacturing is the leading manufacturer in battery-powered dent pullers, mig welders, spot welders and jump starter equipment. More |
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