Speeding Dealership Worker on Test Drive with Customers Slams into Home, IL Cops Say

Written by Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star
Published Dec. 7, 2022

A test drive ended with two customers in a hospital and a car dealership employee in handcuffs after crashing into a suburban Illinois home, police told news outlets.

The 18-year-old employee was driving a BMW with two passengers when he lost control of the vehicle on a residential street in Elmhurst on Dec. 5, the police department told TV station WGN.

The SUV barreled across the front yard and slammed into the home of Eric Bowgren, who was sitting in his office when he heard a loud crash, he told

Louisiana Toll Road Unable to Cover Debt Service Due to Hurricane Ida Damage

Written by Victor Skinner, The Center Square
Published Dec. 7, 2022

Damage from Hurricane Ida cut toll revenues for the Louisiana Transportation Authority by 78% in fiscal year 2022, leaving the LTA unable to cover its required debt service payments, according to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

Louisiana Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack issued an audit report for the LTA that highlights the impact of Hurricane Ida on the agency and how it’s dealing with the fallout.

Hurricane Ida "severely affected fiscal year 2022 revenue" with widespread damage and power loss when it made landfall on Aug. 29, 2021,

PG&E Customers Invited to Pre-Enroll in EV Charging Pilot Programs to Reduce Their Bills

PublishedDec. 7, 2022

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) on Dec. 6 announced the launch of a pre-enrollment website for customers interested in joining the company’s three upcoming Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) pilot programs.

The new programs will offer customers financial incentives to integrate new bidirectional EV charging technology, which allows a customer’s electric vehicle to become a mobile battery, capable of storing electricity that can be used to provide onsite power or send power back to the grid during periods of peak electricity demand.

As outlined in its first ever Climate Strategy

Rivian Inks Wind Energy Deal to Power Illinois Manufacturing

PublishedDec. 6, 2022

Rivianand Apex Clean Energy on Dec. 5 announced the signing of a power purchase agreement for 50 megawatts of electricity from the renewable energy company’s proposed Goose Creek Wind farm in Piatt County, IL.

As Rivian’s first large-scale procurement, the agreement supports the company’s long-term vision of enabling high-impact renewable energy projects that reduce its carbon footprint while also benefiting customers, communities and the electrical grid.

This purchase, along with other renewable sourcing and on-site generation, will allow Rivian to power as much as 75% of its Normal, IL, plant

Tyler, TX, Maaco Owner Named Rookie of the Year

PublishedDec. 6, 2022

David Martin of Tyler, TX, was recently recognized as the Maaconew franchise owner who exemplifies operational excellence and outstanding performance among the more than 400 independently owned and operated franchises in the whole North American network.

Martin was named the Maaco Rookie of the Year Award Winner at the 2022 Maaco Convention held recently in Carlsbad, CA.

“David Martin exemplified exceptional performance in his first year as a new owner,” said Chris Dawson, paint and collision president, Driven Brands. "David comes from the tax industry, with no experience in automotive

Dealership Keys Stolen from Car Trunk

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published Dec. 5, 2022

A dealership in Tulsa, OK, is missing a couple of cars thanks to the owner not locking up a personal vehicle sitting six miles away.

Per a local report, thieves swiped a green 2001 ChevyCorvette convertible and a 2011 Chevy Silverado from the lot at 2nd Generation Motor Co.early in the morning of Oct. 10.

Thankfully, both vehicles were quickly recovered, but the owner seemed perplexed by the crime, saying it was the first time anyone had boosted a car from his lot.

It all started when someone didn’t lock the guy’s DodgeChallenger. In the trunk of the Moparwere

Report: New York Power Grid at Risk

Written by Steve Bittenbender, The Center Square
Published Dec. 5, 2022

A nonpartisan advocacy organization for upstate New York is raising concerns about the state’s future power grid after a report found demands could stress the system, especially during extreme weather.

Upstate United said in a statement Dec. 2 the state’s future seems “problematic” after the New York Independent System Operator released its 2022 Reliability Needs Assessment the week before. The coalition of business and trade groups cited a push by New York officials to implement a zero-emissions policy by 2040.

The assessment found New York will transition from being a peak summer usage

Ford Breaks Ground on $5.8B Blue Oval SK Battery Park in Kentucky

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Dec. 5, 2022

Fordhas officially broken ground on its $5.8 billion Blue Oval SK Battery Park in Glendale, KY, where the automaker’s joint venture with SK will produce 5,000 new jobs in the region when it begins production in 2025.

Ford announced Dec. 5 the Blue Oval SK Battery Park is officially under construction, with two massive battery manufacturing plants capable of more than 80 gigawatt hours of production annually at the forefront of the project.

The plant is expected to help increase Ford’s production output of electric vehicles to 2 million units per year,

Classic Collision Adds 3rd Location in Minnesota

PublishedDec. 5, 2022

Classic Collision, LLC, announced a new closing Dec. 2---the acquisition of Roering Auto Body in Saint Paul, MN.

Roering Auto Body has been serving Saint Paul and the surrounding areas since 1982. Through its quality workmanship, attention to detail and prompt service, it has built a solid reputation of customer satisfaction.

“Our mission is to provide our customers with the most professional, courteous service and quality workmanship, and we believe that Classic Collision will continue that here in Saint Paul,” said Lisa Roering, former owner of Roering Auto Body.

"We are excited to be adding

Police SUV Stolen While Being Repaired

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published Dec. 2, 2022

If you’re looking for the police to stop car theft in your area and you live in High Point, NC, you might have to wait a little longer---the car thieves there are stealing police cars, making it so the cops have to track down their own rides so they can go looking for yours.

On Nov. 12, a black 2019 DodgeDurango unmarked police vehicle was stolen while it was at the shop for repairs. The theft took place at about 5:18 am when nobody was present.

The thieves also stole three Dodge Challengers from the same shop. According to a local report, two were orange and one as purple. One of the orange cars

Car ADAS Opens 18th Location in Decatur, GA

PublishedDec. 2, 2022

Car ADAS Solutions, a leading provider of ADAS calibration technology and services, announced the addition of its 18th location, Georgia ADAS Calibrations in Decatur, GA. 

After operating in Conyers, GA, George ADAS Calibrations opened a second location in the Atlanta market, in Decatur. 

“We welcome Georgia ADAS Calibrations to the Car ADAS family of best-in-class calibration centers,” said Greg Peeters, founder and CEO of CAR ADAS. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with their team to deliver complete and precise advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) calibrations to all of their

Sun Prairie, WI, Resident Receives Refurbished Car from NABC Recycled Rides Program

PublishedDec. 2, 2022

A Sun Prairie, WI, business helped kick off the giving holiday spirit with the presentation or a refurbished vehicle to a deserving Sun Prairie recipient to provide them independence and the ability to work, thanks to Gerber Collision & Glass, Allstateand the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.

The presentation was held at Sunshine Place in Sun Prairie. Allstate donated a 2021 KiaK5, which was refurbished by the repair professionals at Gerber Collision & Glass of Sun Prairie. The Bank of Sun Prairiewas a sponsor of the

Lithia & Driveway Expands in Texas

PublishedNov. 30, 2022

Lithia & Driveway announced Nov. 29 it has expanded its footprint in Texas with the purchase of Meador Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram (CDJR), the second largest CDJR store in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

"We are thrilled to welcome this experienced and dedicated team to the Lithia & Driveaway family," said Bryan DeBoer, Lithia & Driveway president and CEO. "Meador CDJR has a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional service, earning them the FCACustomer First Award for Excellence."

Meador CDJR is located in Fort Worth and serves the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. The store is projected

Report: Illinois Small Businesses Lead the Way in Job Recovery

Written by Andrew Hensel, The Center Square
Published Nov. 30, 2022

Small mom-and-pop shops in Illinois are leading the way when looking at post-pandemic recovery, according to a new report.

The Illinois Policy Institute report showed small businesses in Illinois have gained 309,000 jobs in the aftermath of COVID-19.

"Businesses with under 20 employees have been the only firms that have grown jobs since 2020," IPI's Justin Carlson said. "Businesses with over 20 employees have lost jobs since the onset of the pandemic."

Carlson told The Center Square that one of the main factors in the

Tesla Still Expanding Many Areas of Giga Texas Amid Production Ramp

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published Nov. 30, 2022

Drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer continues to provide extensive updates on the happenings at Tesla's newest EV factory, Giga Texas, recently taking to his YouTubechannel to put out a video showing further expansion at the colossal automotive factory in Austin.

Tegtmeyer

NY Auto Business Owner Convicted of Filing False Tax Returns, Hiding Cash Income

PublishedNov. 30, 2022

A federal jury in Central Islip, NY, on Nov. 9 returned a guilty verdict on all five counts of superseding indictment charging Lorraine Pilitz---also known as "Lorraine Christie" and "Lorraine Storms"---with illegally structuring financial transactions, corruptly obstructing the IRS and filing false tax returns.

The verdict followed a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert.

Pilitz owned and operated several automobile-related businesses on Long Island.

Financial institutions are required to file a currency transaction report (CTR) with the IRS for

Chris Slack manages a parts department at Ivan Gandrud Chevrolet in Green Bay, WI, that employs 30 people, including eight counter people and three service technicians.

The department carries an inventory of approximately $5.5 million, consisting of mechanical, collision and performance parts, and is an authorized Mopardealer that sells genuine Mopar parts online.

With 30-plus years of experience under his belt, Slack is succeeding in a very competitive marketplace. He’s well-known for being one of GM’s largest parts operations in the country, serving all of Wisconsin and part of Michigan with a fleet of 18 trucks.

Gandrud has been exhibiting at SEMAfor the past four years, after attending it the four years

East Brunswick, NJ, Maaco Owner Recognized for Top Sales Growth

PublishedNov. 30, 2022

East Brunswick, NJ, business owner Michael Vahdat was recently recognized as the Maacofranchise owner with the top sales growth among the more than 400 independently owned and operated franchises in the whole North American network.

A former IT executive, Vahdat always wanted to own his own business. His dream became a reality when a broker presented a turnkey opportunity for him to purchase an existing Maaco facility, and he knew it was the right decision.

Vahdat has been with Maaco for less than five years, and since taking over in 2018, he is on track to have the shop’s best year ever in its

Greensboro, NC, Maaco Owner Recognized Nationally for Outstanding Performance

PublishedNov. 30, 2022

Greensboro, NC, business owner Phil Collins was recognized by Maacoas the Multi-Shop Owner (MSO) of the Year across the whole North American network.

This recognition celebrates the top multi-shop owner in the Maaco network, who is excelling in all areas of the business---sales, quality, operational excellence and leadership.

Collins, owner of 19 Maaco locations across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, has been a part of the Maaco family for almost three decades. Throughout this period of time, he has continued to grow, maintaining consistency in his production quality and

Step One Automotive Group Announces 25 Days of Giving Across FL, GA, AL

PublishedNov. 30, 2022

Starting Dec. 1, Step One Automotive Group will dedicate 25 Days of Giving within the communities it serves in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Throughout the month, expect to see Step One Automotive Group team members spreading holiday cheer to those in need.

"At Step One Automotive Group, this is our favorite time of year. We get to go out as a team and make an impact in our communities. We cannot think of a better way to spend the month of December," said Maureen Bierman, marketing director for Step One Automotive Group.

A full list of planned community event participation is

NABC F.R.E.E. Program Educates New Jersey First Responders on Extrications from Advanced Vehicles

PublishedNov. 29, 2022

Driving can be daunting, but when drivers in eastern New Jersey have an accident, they can rely on the community’s first responders to have the latest guidance on rescuing accident victims from a late-model vehicle with numerous airbags, advanced technology or electric/hybrid engines.

Benner’s Auto Body, located at 606 S. Ave E, Cranford Township, NJ, hosted first responders from the Cranford and Westfield fire departments at a special National Auto Body Council® First Responder Emergency Education (F.R.E.E.™) program Nov. 19, to help ensure New Jersey drivers have the best prepared

California to Expand Clean Transportation in Underserved Communities

PublishedNov. 29, 2022

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Nov. 18 lifted up two major actions to advance the state’s groundbreaking efforts to get more clean cars, trucks and buses on the road through expanded vehicle purchase incentives and clean transportation infrastructure, especially in underserved areas, to make the transition to electric vehicles more accessible and affordable than ever.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Nov. 17 approved a $2.6 billion investment plan to support a wide range of ZEV projects, with 70% of the funds directed to disadvantaged and low-income communities---the state’s largest-ever investment

Crash Victims Say They’re Waiting Long for Repairs, Insurance Won’t Extend Rental Car

Written by Jason Stoogenke, WSOC-TV
Published Nov. 29, 2022

Some crash victims are frustrated after waiting for repairs from auto body shops running behind schedule because of parts shortages. In some cases, insurance won’t pay or keep paying for their rental car.

Amanda DeBrun said she was eight months pregnant when a car crashed into her SUV that she and her other child were in. No one was seriously hurt, but her SUV had extensive damage.

She took it to 3Masters Auto Collision in Charlotte, NC. The owner, David Padilla, told Action 9's Jason

10 San Diego Veterans, Military Members Receive NABC Recycled Rides

PublishedNov. 29, 2022

Recently, 10 deserving veterans and military members and their families were honored at the Armed Services YMCA in San Diego, CA, and presented with National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® vehicles.

All the cars were donated by USAAand were refurbished by collision repair partners Service King/Crash Champions, which repaired five of the vehicles; Certified Collision Group affiliates Auto Body of Escondido, Auto Body of Murrieta and Auto Body of San Marcos; Caliber Collision; and Fix Auto USA.

The presentation was

Emery High Auto Team Scores in New Mexico

By Julie Johansen, ETV News
Published Nov. 29, 2022

Chandler Peacock, automotive instructor at Emery High School in Castle Dale, UT, took seven high school students to Farmington, NM, on Nov. 18 for an automotive competition.

Competing against 67 other high school students, three Spartans placed in the top 15. Kaylum Garrett took seventh, Shane Guymon earned 12th and Braxton Ward came in 14th.

Peacock remarked that his team scored more points than quite a few college students.

Other students attending the competition were Wyatt Gardner, Tryston Alton,

Eldridge Auto Sales & Body Shop a Rogersville, TN, Institution

Written by Randy Ball, The Rogersville Review
Published Nov. 29, 2022

Eldridge Auto Sales & Body Shop owner Otis Eldridge is well-known for his classic car collection and the “Memory Lane” village he built beside his business and his home.

But, none of the would have been possible were it not for the fact he earned iconic status as an ace body man over the past five decades.

Otis, who opened his auto body shop May of 1971, started early in auto body work.

He remembered, “I was painting cars when I was in high school. In 1966, I started doing body work and painting with my brother. I worked at

Labor Rate Bill Fails in MA, but Supporters Hope for Passage in New Session

Written by Dave LaChance, Repairer Driven News
Published Nov. 29, 2022

Although a bill that would have forced insurers to raise Massachusetts’ lowest-in-the-nation auto body labor rate failed to make it into law this year, supporters are expecting the issue to be brought up again in the 2023 legislative session.

The labor rate bill was one of more than 100 outside sections that had been attached to the $3.76 billion economic development bill, all of which were stripped from the

Crash Champions Acquires Historic George V. Arth & Son in Oakland, CA

PublishedNov. 29, 2022

Crash Champions, LLC, on Nov. 29 announced it acquired George V. Arth & Son in Oakland, CA. 

One of the oldest automotive repair centers in the U.S., Arth & Son’s I-CAR Gold Class-certified repair facility is located at 110 10th St. in Oakland and has served customers and business partners for more than 140 years. 

“This is a marquee addition to our team,” said Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions. “It is a remarkable achievement to remain in business for more than a century, and within moments of stepping inside the facility and meeting the

Tennessee Officials Approve $40M Incentive for LG Chem's $3.2B Facility

Written by Jon Styf, The Center Square
Published Nov. 28, 2022

Tennessee officials approved a $40 million incentive payment for LG Chem, which is planning to spend $3.2 billion to build a new cathode manufacturing facility in Clarksville.

Cathodes are an essential part of the electric vehicle battery supply chain. The facility will be the largest foreign direct investment in Tennessee’s history.

LG Chem committed to creating 860 net new jobs with an

Texas Custom Corvette Shop 1983 Triple Murder Goes to Trial

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

Shocking news came out of League City, TX, the morning of Nov. 3, 1983, when three employees were found dead inside Corvette Concepts.

The custom auto shop was usually a place where customers’ dreams were made reality, contrasting sharply with the grisly triple homicide, which eventually went cold.

However, authorities now believe they have their man and prosecutors will have their shot in court for the suspect to be found guilty.

The man police believe is responsible for the murders of Thomas Earl McGraw, 28, Beth Yvette Wilburn, 25,