Iowa House to Consider Vehicle Emission Standards
from Automotive Service Association
 Iowa State Rep. Nathan Reichert has introduced House Bill 422, which establishes motor vehicle emissions standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles beginning with model year 2011. H.B. 422 is based on and similar to the California motor vehicle emissions standards and is consistent with federal law. More
Total Losses: How Automakers, Repair Costs… Are Crippling the Collision Repair Industry
from ABRN
During the past 10 years, an overall decline in collision insurance claims and a dramatic increase in the number of total loss declarations have had devastating consequences for the collision repair industry. Between 2000 and 2005, by most estimates the percentage of total loss vehicles doubled and nearly a fifth of all cars involved in a claim are now declared total losses. More
House Consumer Protection Subcommittee Discusses Options for Consumer Protection in Used, Subprime Car Market
from Automotive Service Association
 The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce's Subcommittee on Consumer, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing March 5, 2009, to discuss "Consumer Protection in the Used and Subprime Car Market." The Honorable Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill., chairman, said in his opening remarks, "While the mortgage and home foreclosure crisis has garnered much deserved attention in Congress and in the media, there has been much less focus on similar problems in the purchase of automobiles ..." More
GM Delays Innovative New Diesel Truck Engine
from AutoWeek
General Motors' deteriorating financial situation has caused the company to delay one of the most advanced engines that it has ever designed, a 4.5-liter diesel for light-duty trucks. "We have to make tough decisions right now," GM Powertrain spokeswoman Susan Garavaglia said. Truck enthusiasts were eagerly awaiting the engine, which would have started production next fall at GM's plant in Tonawanda, N.Y. More
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 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
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DCR Systems Receives Patent
from ABRN
Following a full review by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Ohio-based DCR Systems has been granted a full U.S. Patent on its vehicle collision repair process and system. "This landmark patent fully validates the awareness, vision, passion and above all, commitment of not only our entire team in developing this unique operating model, but also the invaluable support we’ve received from our strategic industry partners," says DCR Systems President and CEO Michael Giarrizzo, Jr. More
Repairers Focused on Investing in Their Business Can Learn Success Strategies for Today's Market at ASA's Annual Convention
NEW: Industry Impact Sessions!
The Automotive Service Association's 2009 Annual Convention offers an agenda filled with industry news and education sessions designed to benefit today’s shop owner and employeess. The convention will be held April 30-May 2 at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Online registration is now available by visiting www.ASAshop.org/Annual09. Attendees may use the secure online form to register for a variety of activities, including three Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars; informative, division-specific Industry Impact sessions; and ASA's Celebration of Excellence. Members who register before the early-bird deadline of March 31 will enjoy significant savings! Click here to register today!
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BMW Aims to Put Rocket Science in Your Car
from Reuters via MSNBC
Germany's BMW wants to use NASA technology to boost the fuel efficiency of its luxury cars and lower emissions of harmful greenhouse gases. Engineers at the BMW's high tech experimental lab in Palo Alto, Calif., are attempting to adapt the thermoelectric system for cars that NASA scientists employ to help power their deep space probes navigating the far reaches of the solar system. More
Judiciary Committee Holds Patent Reform Hearing
from Automotive Service Association
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing March 10 on "Patent Reform in the 111th Congress: Legislation and Recent Court Decisions." The hearing focused on the importance of intellectual property to the economy and on Senate Bill 515, the Patent Reform Act of 2009. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman, said: "Intellectual property is critical to our nation's economy. It is an engine that drives our contemporary economy and will fuel our future." More
U.S. Court Acts to Stop CCC, Mitchell Merger
from Reuters
U.S. regulators won a preliminary injunction to temporarily stop the merger of CCC Information Services with Mitchell International, the Federal Trade Commission said earlier this week. The commission asked for the injunction on the grounds that the merger would hurt competition in the market for electronic systems used to estimate how much repairs will cost after a collision and how to value totaled cars, the commission said. More
Obama, Auto Industry Favor Single Fuel Standard
from Reuters
The Obama administration and automakers favor maintaining a single national standard for fuel efficiency, officials said, as a bid by California to set its own requirement revs up. Separately, Congress is close to setting a June 30 deadline for the Environmental Protection Agency to decide whether California can proceed with its politically charged initiative that would improve efficiency by sharply reducing tailpipe emissions. More
AT&T to Spend $565M on Ford Hybrids
from The Detroit Free Press
AT&T said it would spend up to $565 million over the next decade on more than 15,000 hybrid and natural gas-powered vehicles, with Ford Motor Co. as the major beneficiary. The telecommunications giant said the move was not just an environmental decision, but an effort to help restart the U.S. economy, estimating the spending would create or save 1,000 jobs over the next five years. More
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