Survey: Colorado Small-Business Owners Against Increased Taxes, Fees for EV Infrastructure

Written by Joe Mueller, The Center Square
Published Dec. 30, 2022

A survey of Colorado’s small businesses found little support for increasing taxes, fees or assessments to pay for building infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Colorado conducted a four-question survey before the Colorado General Assembly begins its legislative session Jan. 9. The research also found small businesses aren’t in favor of Colorado's state agencies considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions with financial

Tesla Fremont Factory Pickup Center Packed with Cars Amid End-of-Year Push

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Dec. 30, 2022

All signs are pointing to Teslapushing deliveries to the end of the year. This was hinted at in a recent flyover of the Fremont Factory, Tesla’s California-based EV production facility.

Tesla’s Fremont Factory is no longer the company’s largest plant by volume, with the title now being

Tons of Cars Need Repairs After Freezing Rainstorm, OR Auto Shops Say

Written by Julio Mora Rodriguez, KEZI 9 News
Published Dec. 30, 2022

After freezing rain just before Christmas took its toll on vehicles, repair shops in Eugene, OR, are seeing a lot more action than usual and some drivers are going to have to sit tight for a while.

Dustin Caldwell, president and owner of Old Dominion Collision Repair Center, said, "Our phones have definitely been ringing. We are a busy shop already and so as I'm talking to a friend they're like 'oh boy it'd been nice if this ice storm had happened sooner.'"

Many drivers were involved in collisions as a result of the storm. During the night of

Furnace Catches GA Auto Shop on Fire Amid Freezing Temperatures

PublishedDec. 30, 2022

Employees at a Cobb County, GA, auto repair shop are safe after the building caught fire Dec. 27.

Kennesaw police said the fire started at Caliber Collision on Moon Station Road.

Firefighters said employees evacuated the building and tried putting the fire out themselves.

To read more, see WSB-TV News.

Michigan Auto Shops Repair Numerous Vehicles Damaged in Recent Winter Storm

Written by Justin Kent and Samantha Sayles, WWMT
Published Dec. 30, 2022

Sliding through a stop sign on a path of black ice might land your car needing some repair.

After the ice and snow, local collision places and tire shops are hard at work.

Busted glass, mirrors and mangled wreckage, just some of what is left behind from last week's winter storm.

To read more, see WMMT.

Family: Houston Man 'Ambushed,' Executed Over $500 Car Repair Bill Days Before Christmas

Written by Mycah Hatfield, ABC 13 News
Published Dec. 29, 2022

The family of a man gunned down two days before Christmas is pleading with the public to help find his killers.

Family identified the man killed in the 7600 block of the North Freeway in Houston on Dec. 23 as 29-year-old Luis Manuel Casillas.

They said he was at his body shop with a customer whose truck he had fixed. They got into a dispute over the $500 charge and things took a turn for the worst.

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Wall Collapses at Yonkers, NY, Auto Body Shop

PublishedDec. 29, 2022

The owner of a Yonkers, NY, auto body shop said they discovered their wall collapsed Dec. 23.

Theresa Boulvin, the owner of P and T's Auto Care, received a call from a next-door resident who usually parks her car nearby that the shop's wall had collapsed.

"She called me in a panic. She said that she had almost literally drove her car into the hole. Thank God if she didn't see it, she would have collapsed down obviously into the hole," said Boulvin.

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Cleveland Body Shop Seeing 6-Month Backorder on Some Parts for Damaged Kias, Hyundais

By Tara Morgan, News 5 Cleveland
Published Dec. 29, 2022

What used to take about a week for one car repair shop now takes several and maybe more to get some Kiaand Hyundai owners back on the road.

The cars were damaged either when stolen, or when someone tried to take them.

One auto body shop owner said parts are hard to get.

To read more, see News 5 Cleveland.

New Auto Body Shop Planned for Hesperia, CA

Published Dec. 29, 2022

The City of Hesperia, CA, Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to allow for the construction of a 14,010-square foot auto body shop building.

The proposed body shop will include four service bay doors, one display bay door area and a 2,447-square foot two-story office on approximately 1.2 gross acres, located at the southeast corner of Joshua Street and Caliente Road, the plans showed.

The subject property as well as the surrounding properties are within the Commercial Industrial Business Park (CIBP) zone of the Main Street and Freeway Corridor Specific Plan.

The site is currently vacant with the properties to

Independent Adjusters Charge Florida Insurers with Doctoring Damage Estimates

Written by William Rabb, Insurance Journal
Published Dec. 29, 2022

Do some Florida property insurance companies hire independent adjusters to inspect property claims, then routinely alter their inspection reports to reduce estimated losses?

Yes, and it’s a widespread and fraudulent practice, according to three adjusters who spoke Dec. 13 at a Florida House of Representatives committee hearing.

“The insurance companies were directing file reviewers to change my estimates to repair the roofs rather than replace a totaled roof,” said Ben Mandell, a licensed all-lines adjuster. “However, the insurer was leaving my

Colorado EV Plan Will Not Ban ICE Engines

Written by SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
Published Dec. 28, 2022

Despite being a CARB state, the current draft of Colorado's 2023 EV Plan will not follow California by banning the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles.

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) are currently drafting the state’s 2023 EV Plan.

SEMAbelieves Coloradans, not the government, should be allowed to choose the type of vehicle technology that best serves them and their families, and encourages its members and enthusiasts to ...

Portland, OR, Tow Trucks, Auto Shops Slammed After Ice Storm

Written by Adrian Thomas, Fox 12
Published Dec. 28, 2022

Some in the Portland, OR, metro area have been busy around the clock drivers who got stuck or damaged their cars because of the ice.

Fox 12 met Nathan Anaya from Anaya Towing before the worst of the storm on Dec. 22. On Dec. 26, Anaya shared some video to show just how bad the previous week’s ice storm was for drivers in the metro area. Anaya and his colleagues said the work was constant from Dec. 23 through Dec. 24.

“There were a lot of people that were sliding,” said Anaya. “There were a couple situations where people’s wheels were falling off. You know,

Oklahoma Family Out $1000s After Auto Repair Shop Shuts Down Without Finishing Repairs

Written by Kaylee Olivas, KFOR
Published Dec. 28, 2022

A Yukon, OK, family is out thousands of dollars in parts and labor after the auto repair shop they were working with closed before finishing repairs.

Bob Tomko said he was in a car accident back in December 2021.

“Took a little while for me to find somebody to work on the truck knowing full well that things can get a little expensive out there,” said Tomko.

His wife, Mary Tomko, said she knew of a mechanic who could get the job done without breaking the bank. The shop that came to her mind, Blockheads Auto Repair

New York Hertz Rental Lot Hit by Car Thieves

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published Dec. 28, 2022

On Dec. 11, a dozen vehicles were stolen from a Hertzlocation in Gates, NY, sometime in the night.

At first, Hertz thought 17 cars were stolen; after cross-referencing inventory with other locations, that number was changed to 12.

Gates Police Chief Robert Long said the heist was “definitely something out of a movie.” About five suspects broke into the secured lot by cutting through the chain link fence. Once inside, they boosted a ChevySuburban, using it to push a box truck parked in front of the gate out of the way. Then they used the big SUV to push the gate

Over $600K in Muscle Cars Stolen From North Carolina Dealer

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published Dec. 28, 2022

In the wee morning hours of Dec. 9, in the Raleigh, NC, area, a group of thieves were busy cleaning out a local dealership. Within a mere 15 minutes, the group drove off in $600,000 worth of muscle cars in what appears to be quite the coordinated effort caught on surveillance cameras.

The whole thing started at the dealership in Lillington, just south of Raleigh, when a U-Haul truck pulled up near Heister Chrysler Dodge Ram Jeep and several people jumped out. The dealership’s operations manager said everything looked “almost like it was rehearsed” with everyone seemingly knowing

3 Missouri Men Sentenced for Scheme to Transport Stolen Catalytic Converters

PublishedDec. 28, 2022

Three Rogersville and Springfield, MO, men have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a scheme to transport tens of thousands of stolen catalytic converters across state lines as part of a multi-million-dollar business.

“These three defendants were the ringleaders of a scheme that impacted thousands of area residents,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. “We worked closely with a number of our law enforcement partners to shut down their multi-million-dollar operation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Evan Marshall, 25, of Rogersville; Cody Ryder,

Frank’s Auto Body in Madison Township, OH, Finishes Construction of New, Larger Shop

Written by Bill DeBus, The News-Herald
Published Dec. 28, 2022

The completion date for construction of the new Frank’s Auto Body & Restoration building in Madison Township, OH, was pushed back several times over the past two years.

But owner Frank Latin was determined to have the building finished by Jan. 1 for a good reason.

“That’s because it’s a new Christmas present,” Latin said.

By mid-December, the gift Latin desired was delivered, in the form of a brand new 22,500-square foot building at 7277 North Ridge Road. The new edifice sits directly west of the 9,000-square foot shop

EVs Helped Keep Lights on At Dealership After Major Earthquake

Written by Iulian Dnistran, InsideEVs
Published Dec. 28, 2022

After a 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook Northern California and left about 70% of the homes and businesses without electricity, one dealership managed to keep the lights on with help from a couple of EVs.

Harper Motors in North Eureka, CA, which has operated in Humboldt County since 1912 and sells both new and used cars, including EVs, posted two photos on its Facebookpage showing how it managed to stay open for business during the blackout.

Using the vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature of a FordF-150 Lightning and KiaNiro EV, the dealership had

Tesla Not Allowed to Call Software ‘Full Self-Driving’ in California

Written by Johnna Crider, Teslarati
Published Dec. 28, 2022

California passed a new law banning Teslafrom calling its software Full Self-Driving (FSD), after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles claimed calling it FSD was false advertising.

Though Tesla is developing the technology for fully autonomous vehicles, it has never claimed FSD is there yet, and says drivers must be alert and ready to take over at all times when engaging FSD or Autopilot.

California lawmakers, however, disagree with the labels of FSD. Senate Bill 1398---one of hundreds Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed into law---takes effect

Crash Champions Acquires 4-Location Capitol Body Shop in Mississippi

Published Dec. 22, 2022

Crash Champions, LLC, one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent collision repair service providers, on Dec. 22 announced it has grown its presence in Mississippi through the acquisition of Capitol Body Shop.

One of the largest and most respected auto body repair organizations in Mississippi, Capitol Body serves customers at four locations in the Jackson metro area.

With the addition of Capitol Body, Crash Champions now provides customers access to collision repair service at seven locations in the Magnolia State, complementing the company’s national footprint of more than 590 repair centers

Tesla’s Megapack Megafactory in Lathrop, CA, Abuzz with Activity

By Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Dec. 21, 2022

A look at Tesla’s vehicle production facilities in Texas and Fremont, CA, show the EV maker is putting the pedal to the metal as 2022 comes to a close.

If recent images of the company’s Lathrop, CA, Megafactory are any indication, it appears Tesla Energy is also digging deep to end the year on a strong note.

Tesla’s Lathrop Megafactory produces the company’s flagship battery storage product, the Megapack. The facility held its groundbreaking ceremony last year.

Recent drone images and footage taken by members of the Tesla community have indicated the Megafactory is

60 Cars Inside High-End Automotive Shop When Fire Starts in SW Houston

Written by Lea Wilson, KHOU
Published Dec. 21, 2022

At least 60 cars were inside a high-end automotive garage that caught fire Dec. 20, the Houston Fire Department said.

The fire started around 4 a.m. at Uptown Automotive on Mapleridge Street near Elm Street. The business services antique and classic cars, according to HFD Cpt. Sedrick Robinett.

Because of the number of cars and four 50-gallon drums of oil inside, firefighters had to stay outside the building while putting the fire out.

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Video Shows Brazen Theft of Luxury Vehicles from Chicago Auto Shop

Written by Alyssa Donovan, WGN TV
Published Dec. 20, 2022

Police are searching for a group of thieves who stole several high-end vehicles from a Chicago Northwest Side auto body shop.

Surveillance video shows an SUV parked in an alley behind the business and multiple offenders exit the vehicle together, lifting the secure garage door.

“They overpowered the door, they had six of them and they just lifted it so hard that the latch bent,” said Eddie Zipperstein, owner of Richard’s Body Shop on West Lawrence Avenue.

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7 Catalytic Converters Stolen from Stewartville, MN, Auto Body Shop

Written by TJ Leverentz, KROC Radio
Published Dec. 20, 2022

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the reported theft of seven catalytic converters in Stewartville, MN.

Lt. Lee Rossman said deputies were dispatched to the theft report at a body shop and car dealership in the 900 block of Main St. North.

The reporting party told deputies the car parts were taken from five vehicles throughout the week of Dec. 5-12.

To read more, see KROC Radio.

Innovation Drives Family-Owned Auto Company's 100-Year Run

Written by Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press
Published Dec. 20, 2022

After a century as one of the world’s leading makers of convertible tops, family-owned manufacturer Haartz Corp. produces materials founder John C. Haartz might not have been able to imagine, but the company’s essential principles haven’t changed much, to hear CEO Eric Haartz describe it.

“We’ve always had an inclination to innovate. Otherwise, you fossilize and die,” said Haartz, the third generation to run the Acton, MA-based company, which was founded in 1897 and began making convertible tops in 1922. “There’s been a consistent family

Bremerton Collision Repair in Washington Joins 1Collision

PublishedDec. 20, 2022

1Collisionis excited to announce the addition of Bremerton Collision Repair in Bremerton, WA.

Ty Sunkel and his wife, Sarah, opened the facility about four years ago. Their daughter, Taylor, works in the front office and their son, Cole, is a technician.

“We're a family-owned shop and care about customers,” said Ty. “We treat people like we want to be treated.”

The Sunkels learned about 1Collision after attending the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, in November.

"During our initial conversation with Ty Sunkel at

NH Kia Dealership to Pay $1.25M to Settle Deceptive Acts Allegations

PublishedDec. 20, 2022

A $1.25 million settlement agreement was reached with DMO Auto Acquisitions, LLC, dba Dan O'Brien Kia, to resolve allegations of unfair and deceptive acts or practices committed at the Dan O'Brien Kia dealership in Concord, NH, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced Dec. 19.

The settlement, approved that day by the Merrimack Superior Court, requires DMO to comply with a series of strict injunctive terms over the next five years to ensure consumers are protected from similar practices in the future.

An investigation by the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau

Burl’s Collision Center Hosts Events for High School Students, First Responders

Written by Ed Attanasio, Autobody News
Published Dec. 20, 2022

On Nov. 17, Burl’s Collision Center in Henderson, TX, hosted two events as part of its approach to community outreach, something President Burl Richards has always viewed as a priority.

For the first time, the shop hosted approximately 25 Henderson High School students. During a tour, the students were introduced to the complexities of today’s modern car repairs, technology and career opportunities within the

Fire Destroys Longtime Easthampton, MA, Business Ed’s Auto Body

Written by Emily Thurlow, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Published Dec. 20, 2022

The Massachusetts state fire marshal’s office is investigating a Dec. 11 fire that destroyed an Easthampton auto body shop that’s been in business for more than four decades.

Easthampton’s public safety complex received an alert at 5:08 a.m. from an alarm monitoring company for an alarm activation at Ed’s Auto Body & Repair Inc. at 24 Mechanic St. and shortly thereafter, a slew of 911 calls came in confirming a fire at the city business.

When emergency personnel arrived, they observed a large blaze roaring from the roof and the two garage doors at the

Winter Driving Conditions in Illinois' Near Future

Written by Kevin Bessler, The Center Square
Published Dec. 19, 2022

With a threat of winter weather in Illinois, insurance officials are reminding Illinoisans about winter driving conditions and to be prepared.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 70% of the nation's roads are in regions that average more than 5 inches of snow a year, and nearly a quarter of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy or icy pavement annually.

In February, more than 100 cars were involved in multiple crashes during a winter storm which shut down an interstate north of Bloomington-Normal.

Bob Passmore, vice president,