Dealer Shutdowns Mean Extra Towing for Some Owners
from The Associated Press
 There are 789 fewer Chrysler dealers this week. And by the end of next year, there will be 1,100 fewer General Motors dealers. As the automakers terminate contracts with dealers across the nation as part of their bankruptcy reorganization, many owners of Chrysler and GM vehicles will have to find new sources for oil changes, tune-ups and major repairs. More 
Servicing Hybrids: What Your Shop Needs to Know
from AutoInc.
 This December the ACDC Honda Insight will be 10 years old. That is old by most standards for a car, let alone a hybrid car. I have been actively involved with hybrids for a decade. You may have lots of experience with hybrids or none at all but they are here, all 1.5 million of them in North America and they are not going away. More
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Product Showcase:
Get the Genuine Toyota Parts You Need Fast
 With the click of a button, independent repair and collision shops can order Genuine Toyota parts quickly and easily. Go online to the Toyota Wholesale Parts website today and register for FREE access. Communicate with your preferred dealer, access the latest technical information, and much more. Don’t delay!
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More Auto Industry Bankruptcies Loom
from CNN
A plea by struggling auto parts makers for $8 billion to $10 billion in additional federal loan guarantees was turned down by the Obama administration's auto task force last week. Neil De Koker, the CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, said that widespread bankruptcies throughout the sector would likely result. Hundreds of suppliers are facing a cash crunch due to long production shutdowns at Chrysler and General Motors. More
ASA Provides Convenient Access to CIC Database Task Committee Documents
from Automotive Service Association
ASA previously published its concerns regarding the reintroduction of the bumper prompt currently included in CCC Information Services’ Pathways 4.5 product. The CIC Database Task Committee recently distributed its comments on the bumper prompt, as well as several paint manufacturer comments on the topic. Those documents are available as downloadable PDFs in their original form, as received by the committee members on the ASA Resources Web page. ASA continues to monitor this situation on behalf its members, and has provided this information for your convenience. More
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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
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Bloomfield, Conn., Body Shop Acupaint LLC Finds a Niche in the Paint
from The Hartford Courant
Life is full of dents and dings. But sometimes all that's needed to repair a minor scrape is a fine coat of body filler and a Dixie cup full of paint. "We don't do full collision work. We do nips and tucks — not reconstructive surgery," said Colin Wheeler, president and owner of Acupaint LLC, an auto body repair shop that specializes in cosmetic repairs. More
'Cash-For-Clunkers' Vote May Open Path for $4,500 U.S. Vouchers
from Bloomberg
U.S. consumers may be able to collect as much as $4,500 by September on vehicle trade-ins under “cash-for-clunkers” legislation up for a vote in the House. The provision, scheduled to be taken up by the Senate after the House vote, gives vouchers to encourage Americans to swap older cars and light trucks for new, more fuel-efficient models. Automakers, whose U.S. sales fell 34 percent in May, support the plan as a way to get consumers into showrooms. More
IIHS Study Says Bumpers on Small Cars too Easily Damaged, Expensive to Repair
from ABRN
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced results of a study conducted on bumper damage on mini and microcars. The IIHS reports none of the bumpers on seven mini and microcars earns the top rating of good, and just one, the Smart Fortwo, is acceptable. Five out of the seven earned poor ratings and one earned a marginal. More
Ford's Bumpy Road Ahead
from CNN Money
For much of the last year, Ford Motor has been the strongest U.S.-based automaker. But with Chrysler already out of bankruptcy and General Motors possibly six weeks away from its own exit from bankruptcy, Ford could soon find itself in the weakest position of the traditional Big Three. More
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ASA is asking readers to take a five-minute break and answer a few questions about their social networking activities. Start the Survey Now!
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Toyo Adds New Tire Sizes for Cars and Light Trucks
from ABRN
Toyo has added several tire sizes to its product portfolio. New passenger car fitments are available in the Extensa A/S, Versado LX, Proxes 4 and Proxes T1R lines. For pickups, additional sizes have been applied to the Open Country M/T, Open Country H/T and the Open Country H/T with Tuff Duty. The recently released Extensa A/S is a symmetric, non-directional all season tire for cars and minivans. It is now available in 46 sizes fitting wheels from 13 to 17 inches in diameter. More
Chrysler to Resume Production at Seven Plants
from Reuters
Chrysler Group LLC said it will resume production of vehicles in seven North American assembly plants by the end of the month, the first large-scale resumption of production since the Fiat SpA (FIA.MI) led company acquired Chrysler assets earlier in June. Chrysler said two of the plants are in Michigan, one is in Ohio and one in Missouri. Two other plants are in Ontario, Canada and one is in Toluca, Mexico. More
Judge OKs Delphi’s Use of $250M Credit Facility
from The Associated Press via The Detroit Free Press
A bankruptcy judge says Delphi can have access to a $250 million credit facility. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain today gave final approval to the use of the credit facility, which will be provided by Delphi Corp.’s former parent General Motors Corp. Delphi will use the funding to keep itself going until the expected sale of some of its assets to an affiliate of private equity firm Platinum Equity or another party. More
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