GM, Chrysler Seek Nearly $22 Billion More U.S. Loans
from Reuters
General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC requested nearly $22 billion in additional U.S. government loans and said they had reached tentative deals with the United Auto Workers union to reduce labor costs. The two automakers, which have so far received $17.4 billion in loans from the U.S. Treasury, also detailed plans to cut jobs and idle plants as part of sweeping restructuring plans submitted under the terms of their federal bailout. More

Online Registration Open for ASA Annual Convention
from Automotive Service Association
Online registration for the Automotive Service Association's (ASA) 2009 Annual Convention is now available by visiting www.ASAshop.org/Annual09. The convention will be held April 30-May 2 at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Attendees may use the secure online form to register for a variety of activities, including three Automotive Management Institute (AMI)-approved seminars, as well as arrange housing accommodations for the event. More

Airbag Issues: Collision Industry Addresses Fraud, Repair Challenges and Salvage Airbags

It’s a potentially deadly problem that remains hidden until the need is greatest – faulty airbags. Your customers may be asking questions about the reliability of these systems as this issue receives more publicity, as it did recently during investigative reports on National Public Radio’s "Weekend Edition." A review by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of 1,446 fatal accidents from 2001 and 2006 found 255 instances – almost 18 percent – of missing airbags that had not been repaired following a previous wreck. More

Goodyear to Slash 5,000 Jobs

Goodyear Tire & Rubber, blaming low demand for its products as car sales wane, said it would cut 5,000 jobs this year. Goodyear said the 5,000 job cuts slated for 2009 would be in addition to the 4,000 job cuts announced last year. The company, based in Akron, Ohio, said its fourth-quarter sales fell to $4.1 billion, from $5.2 billion in the year-ago quarter. More

Domestic Automakers Use Chicago Auto Show to Gauge Public Opinion

The Chicago Auto is the nation’s largest show in terms of square footage and true attendance. Of all the domestic shows the car manufacturers attend, Chicago is always “the show” for gauging public reaction and displaying important coming attractions – this is especially true for the domestic auto manufacturers. More

Auto Body Shop Sees Increase in Hit-and-Run Damage

At Gurley-Leep collision repair in South Bend, Ind., there is a new trend emerging: cars with damage from a hit-and-run. "It seems as though recently we've seen more of that happening," said manager Bryon Whitford. "A gentleman just this morning came to our office and said he was involved in a hit-and-run." The front right bumper on the Audi was smashed in, and Whitford estimated it might cost over $1,000. More

Mitchell 1 Holds Shop Management System Training Workshop in Richmond
from Automotive Management Institute
Mitchell 1 will hold this year’s first Shop Management System Training Workshop in Richmond, Virginia, March 19-21, at the Omni Richmond Hotel. The training workshop, designed for those who have been using their shop management system for six months or more, will guide users through advanced functionality in the Mitchell 1 Manager and ManagerPlus system. More

Recession Fills Repair Shops

With the economy in a downward slide, fixing up what they already have may be a better option than buying new for some people. “We’re busy — real busy,” said Howard Van Slyke, owner of Van Slyke Body Shop in Pratt, Kansas. In business since 1967, first in Turon and for the last 13 years north of Pratt on U.S. 281, he has weathered some tough times. More

Parts Suppliers Submit Formal Financial Request to Treasury

On behalf of the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and its affiliate, the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA), submitted a formal request to the U.S. Department of the Treasury seeking financial assistance specifically for motor vehicle parts suppliers. More

BMW GINA Light Visionary Model...A Car Made From Cloth?
from Car Junky
The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model a car made of cloth? Take a look at what BMW has in the works. There have been many innovative designs that have appeared over the past 50 years of automobile production, and over time a number of different construction methods and materials have been employed in the pursuit of the ultimate balance of economy, style and durability. More

Proper Paintless Dent Repair Estimating
from AutoInc.
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a technique in which dings and dents in an auto body panel are eliminated using specific tools. PDR can be performed when the paint has not been chipped or broken. Most paintless dent repairs are performed to correct hail damage or the minor "bumps and bruises" an automobile may suffer at the mercy of shopping carts and other vehicle doors. More