Straightaway Tire & Auto Acquires 2 Repair Shops in Minnesota

Accurate Auto & Tire Service and Wayne's Automotive have a combined experience of more than 60 years in the industry.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 30, 2023

Straightaway Tire & Auto expanded its reach in Minnesota by acquiring Accurate Auto & Tire Service and Wayne's Automotive, facilitated by O2 Investment Partners, which announced the move.

"We're very excited to welcome the teams at Accurate Auto and Wayne’s to the

Texas Auto Dealership Heir Facing Life in Prison for Orchestrating Murders

Erik Maund hired three men to murder the woman he'd had an affair with and her boyfriend, who were trying to extort him.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 30, 2023

Erik Maund, 48, an executive at his family’s automobile dealership in Austin, TX, was convicted by a federal jury of hiring three men to murder the woman he'd had an affair with and her boyfriend, who were attempting to extort him.

The jury also found guilty two of the three men Maund

Owner and early Tesla investor Steve Jurvetson also donated his Roadster and Model X to the museum.

3 Killed, 1 Injured in Ohio Auto Repair Shop Explosion

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 29, 2023

Officials in Hillsboro, OH, said an explosion and subsequent fire Nov. 28 at an auto repair shop caused the death of three people and injured one more.

According to WLWT5 News, Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District Chief David Manning said the fire started around 4 p.m. at Jimbo’s Auto Repair after the explosion, the cause of which is under

Carvana Launches Same-Day Delivery in Central Florida

Local buyers can now receive their vehicles within hours of purchase from Carvana.com.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 29, 2023

Carvanahas introduced same-day delivery to its Central Florida customers, allowing local buyers to receive their vehicles within hours of purchase from Carvana.com. In addition, select customers seeking to sell their vehicles to Carvana can benefit from same-day drop-off at designated locations across the state.

Savannah E., a recent

Orange County, CA, Auto Body Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to $1M Tax Evasion

Chung Ku Sin admitted to using a check-cashing business to cash checks made payable to his shops, and not disclosing the transactions to his tax preparer.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 29, 2023

Chung Ku Sin, 68, owner of three auto repair businesses in Orange County in California, pleaded guilty to a charge of filing a false tax return, admitting to a near $1 million tax loss to the U.S.

According to the plea agreement, Sin, who operates

Mercedes-Benz Manhattan Incorporates UVeye's Cutting-Edge Vehicle Inspection Technology

The UVeye system uses advanced artificial intelligence and computer vision to conduct comprehensive vehicle inspections.

Written by Autobody News Staff
PublishedNov. 28, 2023

Mercedes-Benz Manhattan, located on 11th Avenue between 53rd and 54th streets in New York City, unveiled a state-of-the-art Automated Vehicle Inspection machine in partnership with UVeye, making it the first Mercedes-Benz dealer in the Northeast to embrace the technology.

The UVeye

Fix Auto Recognizes Veterans Among its Ranks

Ian Morton, who owns two Fix Auto locations in Arizona, is a U.S. Army veteran and descendant of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 28, 2023

Fix Auto USA honored veterans among its franchise partners and corporate team members for their military service.
 
Ian Morton, a U.S. Army veteran, owns Fix Auto Tucson-Thoroughbred and Fix Auto Sierra Vista collision repair facilities in Arizona. His

Michigan Community College Launches Auto Apprenticeship with Local Dealership

The two-year program allows participants to earn a living wage that increases as they acquire new skills.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 28, 2023

Washtenaw Community College (WCC) in Ann Arbor, MI, received approval from the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to launch an automotive service technician apprenticeship program in partnership with Toyota & Subaru of Ann Arbor. This initiative is the first of its kind in the region, and opens the door for WCC to develop

TSTC Celebrates First Graduates of Auto Collision Tech Program

The two students are the first to complete the new degree, affiliated with the Collision Engineering Program backed by Enterprise Holdings and Ranken Technical College.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 28, 2023

Two students at Texas State Technical College in Waco, TX, are scheduled to be the first ever to graduate with degrees in the college’s newest auto collision and management technology specialization at this fall's upcoming commencement.

Bryam Herrera, of

Orbia's First LiPF6 Facility in North America Boosts EV Battery Production

Located in St. Gabriel, LA, the new facility will produce lithium hexafluorophosphate, vital electrolyte salt used in batteries.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 27, 2023

Orbia Advance Corporation's new lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) production facility in St. Gabriel, LA, marks a significant stride in North America's electric vehicle (EV) battery material supply chain, enhancing the region's clean energy prospects and economic growth.

U.S. Department of

3 People Convicted of Running Lottery Scheme, Using Proceeds to Purchase Salvage Cars

The scheme bilked elderly victims out of more than $1.1 million, which was used to buy and repair vehicles that were shipped to Jamaica for sale.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 27, 2023

A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict Nov. 17 against three permanent residents of the U.S., originally from Jamaica, for their involvement in a fraudulent Jamaican lottery scheme. Caron Pitter, Rohan Lyttle and Charlene Marshall

New Jersey to Ban Fossil-Fueled Vehicle Sales by 2035

The new rules will apply to cars and medium and heavy-duty vehicles, requiring at least 5% sold by 2027 to be electric and 60% by 2035.

Written by Christian Wade, The Center Square
Published Nov. 27, 2023

New Jersey will join a handful of states in banning the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles over the next 12 years, despite critics claiming the shift to electric vehicles will be too costly for consumers.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced he has finalized new regulations that will require car manufacturers to ramp up sales of electric vehicles in New Jersey, leading to a ban on the sale of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles by

FL Judge Finds Reasonable Evidence Tesla Knew Autopilot Defective

The lawsuit, filed by the widow of a man killed in a 2019 crash, can proceed to trial.

Written by Iulian Dnistran, InsideEVs
Published Nov. 27, 2023

A Florida judge found “reasonable evidence” that Tesla, along with its CEO Elon Musk and other managers, knew the so-called Autopilot advanced driver assistance system was defective but still allowed cars to be driven unsafely, according to Reuters.

The news comes after Judge Reid Scott, in the Circuit Court for Palm Beach County, ruled the plaintiff in a lawsuit over a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model

Jack Molodanof answers questions from California auto body shops owners on how to avoid fines by complying with state regulations.

Tim Wright Wins Maaco’s Tony Martino Legendary Hall of Fame Award

Wright owns Maaco Farmington in Michigan and has served as a mentor and brand champion for more than a decade.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 27, 2023

Tim Wright, owner of Maaco Farmington in Michigan, was selected for this year's Tony Martino Legendary Hall of Fame award, Maaco announced the first night of its annual convention, held Nov. 7-10 in Cancun, Mexico.

The Tony Martino Legendary Hall of Fame award recognizes an owner who personifies Maaco’s

Texas- and Oklahoma-Based Owner Wins Maaco MSO of the Year Award

Helmuth Mayer Jr. takes on struggling Maaco locations and leads them to reach their potential.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 22, 2023

Helmuth Mayer Jr., who owns a network of nine Maacolocations in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma areas, was named the winner of Maaco's MSO of the Year award.

Mayer was presented with the award on the first night of the 2023 Maaco Convention, themed “The Future of Better," where Maaco celebrated with franchise partners,

Ford Says Michigan EV Battery Plant Moving Forward, But on Smaller Scale

The plant is now expected to employ 1,700 workers---down from 2,500---with a planned capacity of 20 GWh, down from 35.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

Fordsaid Nov. 21 it “right-sizing” its investment in its upcoming BlueOval Battery Park Michigan, in Marshall, cutting down job creation projections from 2,500 to 1,700, and planned capacity from 35 GWh to 20.

The facility is still expected to begin producing lithium iron phosphate batteries in 2026, the

Minnesota Owner Named Maaco Cup Award Winner

Jason Liesenfeld's Maaco location in Burnsville, MN, grew its sales nearly 40% in the past year.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

Jason Liesenfeld, owner of Maaco Burnsville in Minnesota, was announced the winner of this year's Maaco Cup award, announced at the 2023 Maaco Convention held Nov. 7-10 in Cancun, Mexico, themed “The Future of Better." 

On the first night of the convention, Maaco celebrated the successes of the year with Maaco franchise partners,

Sheehy Auto Stores Raises $340,000 for Heart Health

The dealership group's annual campaign has now raised $2.6 million for the American Heart Association since 2014.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

Sheehy Auto Stores' "Sheehy Has Heart" annual campaign raised $341,476 for the American Heart Association this year, promoting heart-healthy living across multiple states.

This year's fundraising spanned Sheehy's dealerships in Washington, D.C., Richmond, VA, and Baltimore and Hagerstown, MD. Since its inception in 2014, the

Ava, EV Realty to Build Oakland's Largest EV Charging Hub

The 33-stall charging station, to be located at Oakland City Center Garage, will boost the city's public fast charging capabilities by nearly 45%.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

Ava Community Energy, the primary energy provider in Alameda County and the City of Tracy, alongside EV Realty, a developer of EV infrastructure, announced they will build Oakland, CA's largest public electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging hub to enhance local charging infrastructure and promote

Mercedes-Benz Launches EV Charging Network in Georgia

The automaker plans to establish more than 400 charging hubs with over 2,500 chargers across North America by the end of the decade.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

Mercedes-Benz High Performance Computing North America (Mercedes-Benz HPC NA), in collaboration with MN8 Energy, unveiled its first Mercedes-Benz Charging Hub. Located at the Mercedes-Benz USA headquarters in Sandy Springs, GA, this launch marks the beginning of a broader initiative to expand the EV charging

Missouri First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills Through NABC F.R.E.E. Program

The program teaches first responders how to safely respond to emergencies involving newer vehicles with advanced technology.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

First responders from the Liberty, MO, Fire Department and surrounding areas donned their rescue gear Oct. 18 for a hands-on demonstration of the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication, preparing them to provide the best response for car accident victims, all thanks to CARSTAR Wicklunds

North Carolina Dealership Licensed to Sell Mullen EVs

Production of the Class 1 and Class 3 vehicles has started at Mullen's facility in Mississippi, as has deliveries to the first customers.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 21, 2023

Mullen Automotive Inc., an emerging EV manufacturer, announced Randy Marion Automotive Group (RMA) received its North Carolina license to retail Mullen’s commercial EVs. This required dealer license in combination with Mullen’s previously received OEM license allows the movement of vehicles to

Arkansas Woman to Represent U.S. in 2024 WorldSkills Car Painting Event

Lily Williams of Jonesboro, AR, won the gold medal in automotive refinishing at the 2023 SkillsUSA Championships.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 20, 2023

Lily Williams of Jonesboro, AR, has been officially selected to represent the U.S. in the car painting category at the 2024 WorldSkills Competition, set to take place Sept. 10-15, 2024, in Lyon, France.

Williams, a former student at the Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center,

Indiana CARSTAR Serves Lunch to Thank Local First Responders

The owners of CARSTAR Liss Auto Body of Crown Point and Schererville hosted a taco bar.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 20, 2023

The municipal offices of Winfield, Lake County, IN, including the police department, fire department and the town management, enjoyed a festive lunch recently as a “thank you” for their service, courtesy of Coreyand Charlotte Liss, owners of CARSTAR Liss Auto Body of Crown Point and Schererville.

The Lisses,

Rivian Can Begin Construction on $5B Manufacturing Plant in Georgia

The plant will be the EV company's second production facility in the U.S., joining its existing one in Normal, IL.

Written by Zachary Visconti, Teslarati
Published Nov. 15, 2023

EV maker Riviangained approval to start construction on a new manufacturing plant outside of Atlanta, GA, state officials announced.

Rivian was granted final approval for the project by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDECD) and the Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton counties, the agencies announced Nov. 9 via WSB-TV. The approval gives Rivian long-term rights to construct an

Edward McDonald is accused of selling multiple customers vehicles---some with the same VIN---and never delivering.

Canoo Delivers Its First Made-in-Oklahoma EVs to State Government

The company's Lifestyle Deliver Vehicles were delivered to the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 15, 2023

Canoo Inc. on Nov. 13 announced it delivered its first EVs made in Oklahoma to the state, a milestone marking the start of Canoo's phased-ramp manufacturing in the state and its shipment of Lifestyle Delivery Vehicle (LDV) models to key customers and partners in 2023, with increasing units in 2024.   

"This

Pennsylvania Collision Repair Center Hosts First Responders for NABC F.R.E.E. Program

First responders learned the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication to rescue accident victims from late-model vehicles.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Nov. 14, 2023

More than 60 first responders from the Lancaster, PA, Fire Department and surrounding areas donned their rescue gear on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, for a hands-on demonstration of the latest techniques in emergency vehicle extrication, preparing them to provide the best response for car accident