Michigan Bill Aims to Allow Electronic Transfer of Vehicle Titles

The bill is part of the Secretary of State's goal to save wait times at branch offices.

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Oct. 10, 2023

A new bill aims to allow the electronic transfer of titles or interest in vehicles in Michigan.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson testified before the Senate Transportation & Infrastructure Committee supporting Senate Bill 533.

“Since taking office as Secretary of State, I have made it a priority to provide residents with convenient options that allow them to complete their transactions without needing to visit a branch office," Benson said

NC Man Sentenced for Stealing IDs to Buy $1M in Vehicles

Basilio Rafael Garcia used victims' Social Security cards and birth certificates to buy dirt bikes, SUVs and more from dealerships in North Carolina.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 10, 2023

Basilio Rafael Garcia, of Raleigh, NC, was sentenced Oct. 5 to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring with others to use the personal identifying information of Puerto Rico residents to finance more than $1 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in North Carolina. 

Garcia pleaded guilty May 11 to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

Garcia

Largest Electric Semi-Truck Charging Site in U.S. Open in Ohio

The site power system can accommodate up to 30 MW of charging in its current configuration.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 10, 2023

One Energy Enterprises Inc. unveiled the initial configuration and energization of its 30 megawatt (MW) electric semi-truck fleet charging site, located at its first Megawatt Hub in Findlay, OH, it announced in a news release.

The company’s plans to use its Power Island™ concept to configure electric semi-truck charging infrastructure to support multiple corporate trucking fleet operators at the same time.

The Findlay Megawatt Hub is the largest constructed or publicly

Maine Legislator Opposes State’s Right to Repair Referendum

State Rep. Tiffany Roberts said Question 4 on this year's ballot is a poorly-written policy that could open the state to litigation and data security risks.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 10, 2023

Maine State Rep. Tiffany Roberts wrote a commentary for the Portland Press Herald asking voters to oppose Question 4 on this November’s ballot, which will ask them whether or not the state should require automakers to provide remote access

NABC Recycled Ride Donated to Frisco, TX, Veteran

U.S. Army veteran LaFonda Roberson received a 2016 Hyundai Accent she she can drive her son to necessary medical appointments.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 9, 2023

On Oct. 6, a deserving Frisco, TX, veteran was presented with a vehicle thanks to the National Auto Body Council(NABC) Recycled Rides^® program along with car donor Allstateand repair partner Texas Collision Centers.

The presentation was held as part of the Dallas Growth Conference at the Dallas Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. The deserving recipient was selected by Soldiers’

Safelite Group Acquires Sun Auto Glass

The Colorado-based auto glass center has three locations in Cortez, Pagosa Springs and Durango.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 9, 2023

Safelite Group, owner of Safelite AutoGlass, announced in a news release Oct. 4 it acquired Colorado-based Sun Auto Glass in a transaction completed Sept. 29.

“It’s an exciting time in our business as we continue to expand our reach and provide the quality service our customers expect,” said Safelite President and CEO Renee Cacchillo. “We look forward to leveraging the skills our new team members bring and making them feel right at home.”

Sun Auto

Geri and Jerry Kottschade Named Abra Franchisee of the Year

The longtime owners created an environment that put customers at ease and built cooperative relationships with insurance partners.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 9, 2023

Geriand Jerry Kottschade, owner of Jerry’s Abra in Mankato, MN, are legends in the collision repair industry, earning accolades and accomplishments as trailblazers in collision repair. They recently added another to their collection: AbraFranchisee of the Year for 2023.

Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the Abra family, representing the top performer in the Abra

Western New York Entrepreneurs Named CARSTAR Franchisee of the Year

Jon Rowcroft and David Snell, who own three CARSTAR stores, are tirelessly committed to finding engaging ways to keep the business moving forward.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 9, 2023

Jon Rowcroft and David Snell of the Rowcroft Group, two Western New York-area entrepreneurs, were honored as the CARSTAR Franchisee of the Year for 2023.

Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the CARSTAR system, representing the best of the best that is CARSTAR. This winner was chosen on criteria such as using all vendors possible, attending the annual

Vatche Derderian Named Fix Auto USA Franchisee of the Year

The owner of four Fix Auto locations in California was one of the first franchisees to join the network in 2011.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 9, 2023

Vatche Derderian, California-based entrepreneur and owner of Fix Auto Pasadena, Fix Auto Santa Ana, Fix Auto Montrose and Fix Auto Express–Anaheim North, was named the Fix Auto USA Franchisee of the Year for 2023.

Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the Fix Auto USA family, representing the top performer in the Fix Auto USA network. Derderian was chosen based on

Ohio Ford Workers to Be Laid Off Due to Strike

About 370 total workers are expected to be impacted by the layoff.

Written by J.D. Davidson, The Center Square
Published Oct. 9, 2023

More than 300 striking auto workers at Ford’s Brook Park plant in Ohio are preparing Oct. 9 for layoffs as the United Auto Workers strike against the nation’s Big Three automakers continues.

The UAW Local 1250 on its website told laid-off workers to register for strike assistance pay and Ohio unemployment benefits. About 370 total workers are expected to be impacted by the layoff.

In a memo to workers, the union said Ford “blatantly disregarded our seniority agreements and has decided to

Classic Collision Acquires 3 Locations in North Carolina

CarSmart Collision Repair serves customers in Chapel Hill, Pittsboro and Burlington.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 6, 2023

Classic Collision, LLC, announced in an Oct. 6 news release three new closings, the acquisition of CarSmart Collision Repair in North Carolina.

For more than 30 years, CarSmart has served the community with second-to-none auto body repair centers in Chapel Hill, Pittsboro and Burlington.

“There are fewer repair centers that still share our commitment to customer service and guarantee satisfactory results to every person who walks through our doors; I trust that

1 in 4 Vehicles Sold in CA in First Half of 2023 Were Electric

California was by far tops in the U.S. in EVs' share of total passenger vehicle sales through the first six months of the year.

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published Oct. 5, 2023

While EV adoption is on the rise nationwide, EV market share is far from being homogenous, as pointed out by BloombergNEF's latest research that takes a detailed look at the speed of adoption across all U.S. states.

The paper revealed the share of passenger EV sales in the U.S. exceeded 7.5% in 2022 as major automakers including Tesla, GMand Hyundai-Kiaoffered a wider selection. A total of 972,000

Autel Energy Starts EV Charger Production in North Carolina Plant

The facility will eventually produce 5,000 DC Fast chargers every year and employ 400 people.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 5, 2023

Autel Energy announced Oct. 5 in a news release it will begin production later in October at its North Carolina facility with the MaxiCharger 180kw–240kw DC Fast EV charger.

Autel plans to produce up to 5,000 DC Fast chargers at the facility annually, employing 150 people initially and 400 within five years.

The 200,000-square-foot facility in Greensboro, NC, has undergone significant renovation and modernization since being purchased in May of this year. Autel chose

Judge Denies 3rd Trial for Tesla Discrimination Case That Once Had $137M Jury Verdict

The plaintiff's lawyers asked for another trial based on their claims Tesla's legal team had engaged in misconduct.

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
PublishedOct. 5, 2023

A federal judge in California rejected former TeslaFremont, CA, factory elevator operator Owen Diaz’s appeal for a third trial in his racial discrimination case against the electric carmaker. In doing so, U.S. District Judge William Orrick rejected claims that Tesla’s legal team had engaged in misconduct.

In a written order, Orrick upheld a $3.2 million verdict that was awarded to

WA Senator Moving Forward on Bill to Detect Price Gouging at Gas Pump

State Sen. Joe Nguyen is the lead in crafting anti-profiteering legislation for oil companies that could be introduced in the Legislature next year.

Written by Brett Davis, The Center Square
Published Oct. 4, 2023

Washington State Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, thinks the state's high gas prices are the result of oil companies gouging customers, not the state's cap-and-trade law that went into effect at the beginning of the year.

Washington's cap-and-trade law, part of the Climate Commitment Act of 2021, involves polluters buying allowances at state-run auctions to offset their carbon emissions. The money

California Has Given Out 523,011 EV Rebates for $1.2B Since 2010

One state program offering up to a $9,500 credit for a zero-emission vehicle hit a record 14,000 applications in July.

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Oct. 4, 2023

California has given out 523,011 electric vehicle rebates for a total cost of $1.2 billion since 2010.

California is leading the nationwide race to register electric vehicles with more than 1.5 million, trailed by Texas and Florida.

About $929 million, or 68% of rebates, subsidized the purchase of 359,315 battery electric vehicles. The second most popular rebate was $240 million, or 28% of rebates funded the purchase of 149,621 plug-in

Auto Service Groups Object to New CT Rule Requiring Repairers to Notify Customers of Recalls

The rule appears to only apply to independent service and repair shops, but not dealerships.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 4, 2023

Five automotive service industry groups sent a letter to Connecticut DMV Commissioner Tony Guerrera, asking for clarity on his intended implementation of a new rule that would require independent repair shops to provide customers with written notice of open recalls on their vehicles before doing any work.

The groups said the new rule, which went into effect Oct. 1, “could impose burdensome and potentially anti-competitive requirements upon

Amanda Funkhouser and Jess Unruh lost their home and business, but are determined to rebuild with the support of the collision repair industry.

On Aug. 8, devasting wildfires burned parts of the island of Maui in Hawaii. The hardest hit area was the resort town of Lahaina. Nearly 3,000 structures were reportedly damaged or destroyed and about 115 people were killed. Many residents lost their homes and businesses, including Amanda Funkhouser and her husband, Jess Unruh, owners of Ka’anapali Collision. 

Before opening the body shop in 2012, Unruh previously worked in Maui for three years. He moved back to his hometown of Portland, OR, where he met Amanda, who has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and worked

Some Oppose Planned Darien, IL, Auto Body Shop

A former planning and zoning commissioner said an auto body shop would not fit into the area's character.

Written by David Giuliani, Patch
Published Oct. 3, 2023

Some are against a proposed auto body shop replacing the closed CVS Pharmacy at a key Darien, IL, intersection.

One of the opponents is a former city planning and zoning commissioner.

Gerber Collision & Glass wants to set up shop at 8325 Lemont Road, southeast of Lemont Road and 83rd Street.

The matter is set to go before the city's Planning and Zoning Commission at Oct. 4 at City Hall.

According to the company's application, the

Tesla Owners' Lawsuit Shifted to Arbitration in Recent California Ruling

Four Tesla owners wanted to bring a class action lawsuit, but a judge ruled they agreed to arbitrate any legal claims when they purchased cars on the brand's website.

Written by Suvrat Kothari, InsideEVs
Published Oct. 3, 2023

A California judge has diverted a class action lawsuit brought by a group of Teslaowners to individual arbitration. The Austin-based automaker is the subject of several ongoing trials and investigations over the Autopilot driver assistance feature, but this particular case will no longer be handled by the court.

U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland,

State Farm Asks for Steering Lawsuit in Maryland to Be Dismissed

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 3, 2023

On Sept. 27, State Farm filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought against it earlier this year by Total Recon Auto Center in Rockville, MD, which claims the auto insurance giant is steering Teslacustomers away by intentionally giving its insureds false information.

A report from GlassBytes.com said in the lawsuit filed in mid-August in a U.S. District Court in Maryland, Total Recon claimed State Farm initially agrees to pay the auto body shop’s Tesla labor rate of $50 an hour, but then “steers” away its customer so they don’t have to pay out of pocket the

CAWA Members Convene at U.S. Capitol to Promote Right to Repair Legislation

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 3, 2023

CAWAwas in full force at the Auto Care Association Fall Leadership Days and Legislative Summit, Sept. 20-23 in Washington, D.C., as members were ready to take action to advocate for the federal REPAIR Act, aimed at guaranteeing consumers' right to get their vehicle fixed by the repairer of their choice.

CAWA members attended educational sessions and legislative briefings as well as receptions on Capitol Hill, where they mingled with members of Congress and their staff. The culmination of the summit was a full court press on Capitol Hill.

Summit

Vermont Has Given 3,534 EV Rebates Since 2019

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
PublishedOct. 2, 2023

Vermont has given 3,534 electric vehicle rebates since 2019 across four programs.

In 2012, the state had 180 registered electric vehicles. Through July, residents have registered 10,022, 55% of which are all-electric vehicles powered by a battery and 45% of which are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that can run on electricity and gasoline.

The Vermont Legislature has authorized four vehicle incentive programs for income-qualified Vermonters. The plug-in electric vehicle incentive program, enacted in 2019, provides up to $5,000 to eligible Vermonters with higher incentive amounts for

Joe Hudson’s Collision Center Acquires 4 Stores in Arkansas

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 2, 2023

Joe Hudson’s Collision Center announced in a news release four new closings in September, with the acquisition of Steve’s Auto Body in Arkansas.

With locations in Jonesboro, Marion, Paragould and Searcy, Steve's Auto Body is one of the largest independently owned collision repair groups in Northeast Arkansas. The team at Steve’s Auto Body prides itself on building relationships with each customer and taking exceptional care of their collision repair needs. 

"We chose Joe Hudson's Collision Center because they operated similarly to the way that we operated," said

Auto Shop Owner, Former Customer Both Die After Exchanging Gunfire

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 2, 2023

The owner of a Florida auto repair shop and a former customer both died after the customer shot at the owner, who then shot back, the Largo, FL, Police Department said in a Facebookpost.

Police said they responded to Stout's Automotive, at 1801 S Belcher Road in Largo, at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 27 after receiving multiple 911 calls about an active shooter. They found two men with gunshot wounds in the shop's office. Both were transported to local hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead.

Investigators learned the former customer, Eugene Becker, 78,

FL Claims Adjuster Arrested for Alleged $11.6M Auto Insurance Fraud Scheme

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 2, 2023

Angela Augustine, an insurance claims adjuster in Broward County, FL, was arrested for allegedly conducting an $11.6 million auto insurance fraud scheme, allegedly re-opening numerous claims and issuing settlement checks to approximately 326 alleged co-conspirators.

An investigation revealed between December 2018 and October 2022, Augustine allegedly re-opened previously closed or settled claims and made approximately 1,255 fraudulent payments to co-conspirators for more than $11.6 million. 

Augustine allegedly fabricated claims on insurance policies,

Classic Collision Opens New Location in Bloomington, MN

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 2, 2023

Classic Collision, LLC, announced in a news release the opening of a newly renovated facility in Bloomington, MN.

Classic Collision Bloomington is conveniently located near the Mall of America, a few miles south of downtown Minneapolis. This spacious 20,500-square-foot building is Classic’s eighth Minnesota location.

“We are pleased to have found this great facility to serve the Bloomington community as our newest Classic Collision repair center. We recognize the need to add additional options for our customers in the Minneapolis area. We look forward to servicing the

U.S. Senator from Ohio Wants to End EV Subsidies, Start Gas-Powered Tax Credits

Written by J.D. Davidson, The Center Square
Published Sept. 29, 2023

More than $100 million in electric vehicle subsidies would go to gas-powered vehicles built in America if U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-OH, gets his way.

Vance wants to eliminate President Joe Biden’s plan for $100 million in federal electric vehicle subsidies and replace it with taxpayer subsidies for gas-powered vehicles. He said it will help current striking United Auto Workers members.

“Right now, the official policy of the Biden administration is to spend billions of dollars on subsidies for electric vehicles made

Denver-Area High School Reinstating Shop Classes

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Sept. 29, 2023

Elizabeth High School in Elizabeth, CO, outside Denver, recently announced it has brought back shop classes to its offerings.

KDVR News reported instructor Derek Spohn will teach students metal fabrication, auto repair and welding.

Spohn said he thinks the class used to be known as industrial arts and later shop class before being eliminated altogether, likely in the ‘90s during the tech boom.

Principal Bret McClendon told KDVR News there are 170 students enrolled.

Jerry’s Abra Auto Body & Glass in Minnesota Donates $5,100 to Alzheimer’s Association

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Sept. 29, 2023

Jerry’s Abra Auto Body & Glass in Mankato, MN, announced in a news release Sept. 28 it donated $5,100 to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The donation is the result of a summer-long partnership between Jerry’s Abra and the Mankato MoonDog’s Summer Collegiate baseball team. Each time a MoonDog’s player scored a home run, Jerry’s Abra donated $100 to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The MoonDogs hit 51 home runs this season---25 of which were hit at the ISGField---resulting in the $5,100 donation. The Kottschades decided again this year to