U.S. Car Repair Shops Getting Mileage Out of Thriftier Times
from CNN
As he walks past the tiny, dingy waiting area into an equally cramped garage, Nui Srisook says business at his car repair shop, an ASA member shop in Hyattsville, Md., is thriving. Sales are up 20 percent this month and Srisook spends most nights working late, helping his customers to get extra mileage out of their old cars. As more cash-strapped Americans turn to do-it-yourself projects and bargain shopping, car repair shops like Srisook's are feeling the boon. More

AutoInc.'s March Issue Provides ASA Members with Savings Opportunities to Ride Out Tough Times
from Automotive Service Association
AutoInc., the official publication of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), has published a "Membership Spectacular" section in its March 2009 issue that provides valuable information and specific details on cost savings and other benefits available to repair shops that are members of ASA. "We know our members are seeking business tools to stay successful in today's market, and we wanted to spotlight the many savings that they can take advantage of that can make a positive impact on their bottom line at the end of the day," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. More

Now for the Car-parts Bailout

President Barack Obama's automotive task force entered the race to save Detroit last week with a $5 billion program to aid the nation's auto-parts suppliers. This comes on top of the $17.4 billion given last December to General Motors and Chrysler. The bigger issue, though, is that parts suppliers are limping along with just half the revenue they were getting two years ago. It won't help much to guarantee payment on parts that aren't getting ordered. Which explains that while auto-parts executives rejoiced last week when they learned the task force was about to make an announcement, they were underwhelmed when they actually saw it. More

An Air-Bag Check

You're looking to buy a used car and want to know if the air bag in it works. Solution: First, inspect the steering wheel and dashboard for signs of tampering, says Ron Nagy, owner of Nagy's Collision Center, an ASA member shop with three locations in northeastern Ohio. Thieves often make dents and dings in the interior plastics as they pry out the air bags. Also, the air-bag indicator light in the dashboard should glow briefly when the car is first started − part of the car's diagnostics system. More

Some SUVs Don’t Do Well on Safety Test

Only four of the dozen small SUVs evaluated in a new test to see how well their roofs held up in a rollover crash got "good" ratings, and some of the country's most popular models did not fare well. The new roof-strength test, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, is far more demanding than the minimum standard set by the federal government. More

Cash-for-Clunkers Could Drive New Sales

To put a stop to sliding auto sales that were dragging down Germany's stalwart automakers, the German government offered drivers a few thousand dollars to scrap their old cars and buy new ones. In February, while auto sales fell throughout Europe, German auto sales jumped 21 percent. Now the United States is contemplating whether such a tactic can work here, where sales have plummeted to the lowest levels in more than two decades. More

New Automobile Voucher Program Introduced in Congress, $5,000 Voucher for New Vehicle Purchases
from Automotive Service Association
U.S. Reps. Donald Manzullo, R-Ill., and Timothy Ryan, D-Ohio, have introduced the New Automobile Voucher Program to Congress to provide a one-time boost to vehicle sales in 2009. Specifics of The New Automobile Voucher Act of 2009 include providing an electronic voucher of $5,000 for any new vehicle purchase for a six-month introductory period, among others. More

India's Tata Motors Unveils the World's Cheapest Car

With the flash of cameras and oohs and aahs from the crowd, an Indian company Monday launched what is billed as the world's least expensive car, six years after it was conceived and six months behind schedule. The tiny Nano car, being sold at a base price of $2,200, already has 1 million applicants for the 60,000 expected to roll out this year. Environmentalists fear the impact of such a cheap car clogging streets. More

Over $7 Billion Potential Aftermarket Sales Boom

If the recession deepens and extends through 2009 (which seems probable), annual new car and light truck sales in the U.S. will fall well below 11 million units. This will be nearly a 40 percent annual sales free fall between 2006 and 2009, Lang Marketing Resources predicts. Founded in 1980, Lang Marketing Resources, www.langmarketing.com, is an independent consulting and marketing analysis company specializing in the vehicle products industry. Click here for more information on Aftermarket Insight online. More

Car-repair 'School' Reborn

Frank Hill had trouble finding a job in a tight economy and with a prison record. Last year, at a job fair he met Dave Moore, the founder of Southside Rides Foundation Inc. in Winston Salem, N.C., and decided to enroll in Moore's program to learn auto body repair. Southside Rides is a nonprofit organization that teaches young men and women how to repair and custom-paint cars. Hill graduated from the program in June and stayed on to work for Moore. He said he likes the work, and he likes being surrounded by people who want to work hard and support each other. More

Men Fuel Auto Body Repair/Paint Searches in April

April showers bring hail damage. This spring, when consumers need auto body repair, they'll turn to the Yellow Pages. The "Auto Body Repair/Paint" heading receives more than 51 million references annually, with the highest usage levels in April. "The weather is a major determining factor of auto body repair," said Automotive Service Association President Ron Pyle. Of the people referencing this heading, 49 percent need dent, fender, windshield, bumper, or front end work. The average dollar amount spent by these consumers is $1,010. More