Oct. 1, 2009 Ultimate Buyers Guide for Service Professionals >  AutoInc. Quick Links >   Home    Previous Issues    Industry Statistics    Print Subscriptions
Government to Consider Limits on Distracted Driving from The Associated Press via Google News With more drivers yakking on their cellphones or texting from behind the wheel, the Obama administration is taking its first hard look at highway hazards with an eye toward potential new restrictions on using mobile devices while driving. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood is kicking off a summit this week involving researchers, automakers, safety advocates and lawmakers to find ways of preventing distracted driving from leading to widespread deaths and injuries. More     Automakers to Give Access to Key Software; Repair Shops Say Deal Lacks Teeth from The Canadian Press via Google News Automakers have agreed to allow independent garages access to the key software and training needed to repair newer-model cars, but the auto-repair industry says the voluntary agreement has no teeth. Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement said the agreement over what is called the right to repair will cover all Canadian auto manufacturers and distributors and will make for more competition and lower repair bills for consumers. More Early-Bird Discount Extended Through Oct. 1 Today is your last chance to register for NACE and CARS and take advantage of early-bird registration discounts! NACE and CARS offer attendees four days of management and technical education, along with great networking opportunities and an exhibitor showcase. Stay up-to-date on industry trends, happenings and information, and increase your knowledge and understanding of an industry that is constantly changing. We hope to see you in Las Vegas! Click here to register for NACE. Click here to register for CARS. General Motors to Close Saturn After Deal Fails from The New York Times General Motors said that it would shut down its Saturn division by next year after Roger Penske abruptly cut off talks to acquire the brand. The Penske Automotive Group said it could not proceed with the deal because another auto manufacturer, which it did not identify, said it would not build vehicles to be distributed under the Saturn brand name. More Bly Named ASA's Top Recruiter, Chairman's Club winner for 2009 from Automotive Service Association The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced the winner of its 2009 Chairman's Club Award, the association's grassroots member recruitment program. This year's recipient is Jeff Bly of Maywood Transmission Inc., an ASA member-business in Independence, Mo. The Chairman's Club award honors ASA members who recruited or provided leads for prospective shops to become members of the association. More    Product Showcase:    Visit Toyota’s Booth at CARS (#C9001) Toyota’s presence at CARS has never been bigger! Stop by booth #C9001 for a live demonstration of the all-new Electronic Parts Catalog and Toyota’s Techstream diagnostic tools. Plus, enter for a chance to win Techstream and TIS products in daily drawings. To learn more, go to the Toyota Wholesale Parts website and register today! Recession Delays Car Repairs from WABC-TV The economic crisis has most people cutting back on spending. And for some people, that means putting off car repairs and maintenance, and that decision may be putting other people on the road in danger. More AMI Announces 2009 Scholarship Recipients from The Automotive Management Institute The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) has announced the recipients of three scholarships, with each scholarship winner receiving $1,000 to be used toward attending CARS or NACE in Las Vegas, Nov. 4-7. The scholarship recognizes management-oriented members of the Automotive Service Association. More Can You Trust Your Car Technician? from Daily Chronicle As George Brown waited for technicians to finish replacing the brakes on his car, the DeKalb, Ill., man tried to remember what led him to choose that auto repair shop over the many others in the area. Word of mouth. In addition, AAA and trade group the Automotive Service Association have both established guidelines that shops carrying the group's seals must meet. 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 From Clunkers to Technology from Aftermarket Business Attention in Congress post-Clunkers is already shifting from propping up new vehicle sales to strengthening supplier-base component technology development. Now that dealers have cleared their lots of inventory — the short-term goal of the Clunkers program — and some auto factories temporarily begin to hum, long-term questions are coming to the fore. The biggest one is "What can the U.S. do to assure the domestic auto industry, including OEM and aftermarket suppliers, develops next-generation technology to assure that Detroit never goes in the tank again?" More Toyota Recall: 3.8 Million Cars with Risky Floor Mats from CNN Money Toyota issued a safety recall for 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota cars because of potentially deadly floor mats. The world's largest automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned drivers to remove the mats or risk a forced-down accelerator pedal that could lead to a fatal crash. More    Product Showcase:    Introducing MORE, from Snap-on MORE is Snap-on’s automotive parts catalog for independent repair facilities. Now, you can find and order OEM parts from one Web site. Get parts from the dealerships you want to do business with, without picking up the phone. Learn more. U.S. Auto Sales in September Slump Post-"Clunkers" from Reuters U.S. auto sales likely fell in September back to the nearly three-decade lows of early 2009 without government incentives to spur buying, leaving in doubt the timing and pace of a recovery for the battered industry. Nearly 700,000 new cars and trucks were bought by U.S. customers through the government "cash for clunkers" incentive program from late July through the first three weeks of August, a leap from recession-stunted sales earlier in 2009. More Diesel Mechanic Shortage Looms When Boomer Technicians Retire from Transport Topics A good portion of diesel mechanics today are baby boomers, and with the boomers reaching retirement age between 2010 and 2030, industry experts are predicting that a severe diesel mechanic shortage is on the horizon. In 2004, the Department of Labor estimated there were 606,000 diesel technicians, figures that include bus, truck, heavy-duty and farm equipment mechanics. The department estimated that mechanic shops would need 205,000 more diesel technicians by 2014 to fill new positions that will be created and to replace positions that will open up when workers change fields or retire. More   Finally, there's one place to find current-model, high-tech parts! Check out CARDONE's online catalog of 37,500+ SKUs featuring import and domestic, early to current model applications. If your part is in our catalog, ask for it at your local parts supplier. More	AirVANTAGE® Tools Available in 3/16" Orbital for body work & 3/32" Orbital for color sanding 888-278-3888 More info

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This AutoLinks is a weekly roundup of articles compiled from independent worldwide news sources. The opinions and ideas appearing in this publication are not necessarily representative of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

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