|
As 2008 comes to a close, ASA would like to wish its members, partners, and other industry professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year for the industry, we would like to provide the readers of the AutoInc.'s AutoLinks, a look at the most accessed articles from the year.
|
Auto Repair Shop Waiting Rooms are Going Upscale
from the Poughkeepsie Journal
 The traditional auto-service waiting room is going the way of the drive-in movie. To be sure, you can still find waiting areas decorated with stacking chairs, a cement floor spiffed with gray epoxy paint, a blaring TV in one corner and the stack of gear-head magazines in another and the scent of rubber completing that special auto-shop ambience. More
Related Link: AutoInc.'s "Best Waiting Area" Contest Winner
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 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
Worries Grow as GM-Chrysler Talks Gain Momentum
from USA Today
In the doomsday scenario raising anxiety around the Motor City, General Motors Corp. makes a deal for Chrysler LLC, keeps Jeep and the minivans, and vaporizes the rest of the company. Tens of thousands of Chrysler's 66,409 employees lose their jobs as cash-desperate GM swiftly cuts redundant operations and sheds unprofitable models. Factories and dealerships are closed, and the lights go out at Chrysler's gleaming corporate headquarters campus in the northern suburb of Auburn Hills. More
The Importance of Using the Right Motor Oil
from AutoInc. Magazine
Basically, engine oil keeps the engine parts lubricated in both low and high temperatures and it helps protect the emission system and provides enhanced fuel economy. Different components that are added to the oil can aid it in performing certain other tasks, such as reconditioning seals in older engines or increasing the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. What makes one type of motor oil different from another? To begin with, one must understand that there are three main types of motor oil that can be used in most popular car models. More
 |
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
|
Sagging Economy Gives Auto Repair Shops a Boost
from The Dallas Morning News
Car repair companies across the country, including North Texas, are reaping the benefits of a scaled-down economy as people patch up aging vehicles instead of splurging on newer ones. More
Auto Dealerships Teeter as Big Three Decline
from The New York Times
The National Automobile Dealers Association predicts that roughly 900 of the nation’s 20,770 new-car dealers will go out of business this year, and automobile analysts say the number of failed dealerships could rise into the thousands next year. Even if Ford, Chrysler and G.M. survive, many believe a comeuppance is inevitable among dealerships; indeed, for years the nation has had more dealers for domestic brands than warranted by the sales volume of the Detroit automakers. More
Future of Auto Industry Up for Grabs with GM's Volt Debut
from Seeking Alpha
General Motors –the lumbering, money-losing giant of American industry–formally unveil the Chevy Volt to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The event, though, will mark more than a new car for GM and a triple-digit anniversary. It will set the stage for a turn in the balance of power in the automotive business. More
Automakers' Plans Slash Pay; Ford Plans to Break Even by 2011
from USA Today
This is crunch time. The Detroit 3 automakers unveiled their reorganization plans ordered by Congress before it would consider federal aid. Hearings begin, with a vote possible next week. Two of the three companies said that without immediate help, they could run out of money. Conditions in the industry are so tenuous, if one goes down, it could bring the others with it. More
So-Called 'Right to Repair' Legislation Moves to New Jersey Senate for Debate
from the Automotive Service Association
The New Jersey Senate will now consider the so-called Right to Repair Act after recent action by the New Jersey Assembly on Assembly Bill 803. This is just one of many steps in the legislative process. The New Jersey legislature has rejected Right to Repair legislation in the past along with other states and the U.S. Congress. "If this were a Halloween contest, this bill would have won best costume. It's nothing more than a big parts manufacturer bailout bill masquerading as a consumer repair bill," commented Charles Territo, spokesperson for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. More
The Gap: Feather, Fill and Block
from AutoInc. Magazine
In collision repair, the term that has become known as "The Gap" refers to the part of the repair process that exists from the time the repair ends and where the refinish process begins. The repair area is finished up to150 grit and void of any surface imperfections. Once this stage is reached, the panel is handed off to the painter, who will work the area more to get the panel to accept the paint. More
|
Looking for New Customers? It’s Time to Get Creative.
Find out how we’ve helped some of the country’s biggest automotive brands drive sales and get results with marketing, promotions, email, and more. More |
|
|
|
|
|
