Earthling Automotive Launches in San Francisco to Offer EV Repair

PublishedApril 5, 2023

Earthling Automotive, formerly known as Luscious Garage, opened its doors to provide expert electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid repair services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Under the leadership of CEO Carolyn Coquillette, Earthling Automotive will serve the growing EV market, setting a new standard for the independent automotive repair industry.

“Vehicle innovation, consumer adaptation, and California’s push for EV adoption demanded that we rethink our aftermarket service concept from the ground up,” said Coquillette. “Earthling Automotive proudly offers independent EV and hybrid service

Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show On Track for Exceptional Experience, May 19-20

Written by Abby Andrews, Autobody News
Published April 5, 2023

The 2023 Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show, set for May 19-20 at the Overland Park Convention Center outside Kansas City, KS, will bring together the collision repair industry for two days of networking, product demos and education.

The show is doubling in size after its successful inaugural run in 2022.

“We’re pretty excited to get our second show under our belts,” said Gina Cotton, co-coordinator and executive director of the Nebraska and Missouri autobody associations, which is hosting the show along with the South Dakota

Philip Maxwell Auto Expanding to New Location in Pawtucket, RI

Written by Ethan Shorey, The Valley Breeze
Published April 4, 2023

The owner of Philip Maxwell Auto on Humbert Street in North Providence, RI, is set to open a new multi-function auto shop at 501 Main St. in Pawtucket, RI.

David Greaves Jr.sought and received licenses from the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners to operate in the former Maacobody shop across from Atlantic Furniture and The Guild brewery and just up the road from the new Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station.

Greaves, a North Providence resident, told The Breeze he’s not sure yet about whether he’ll

Wyoming Automotive Named PPG Distributor of the Year

PublishedApril 4, 2023

PPGon March 29 announced it has honored Wyoming Automotive of Casper, WY, as its Automotive Refinish 2022 Platinum Distributor of the Year.

The annual award recognizes distributors with exceptional service, loyalty, product knowledge and support as part of the PPG PLATINUM DISTRIBUTOR™ program.

Natalie Scott, PPG director, PPG Platinum Distributor program, Automotive Refinish, U.S. and Canada, presented the award to Wyoming Automotive owner Eric Robinson during PPG’s annual Platinum Distributor Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony in February.

“Platinum Distributor of

ProColor Collision Opens Location in North Hollywood, CA

PublishedApril 3, 2023

ProColor Collision opened its newest U.S. collision repair location in North Hollywood, CA.

ProColor Collision North Hollywoodis a full-service collision repair facility equipped to handle advanced collision repair services for drivers in the greater Los Angeles area. Located at 6872 Lankershim Blvd., the 17,000-square-foot I-CAR Gold Class® facility recently upgraded to accommodate the latest state-of-the-art equipment to fulfill complex repairs that comply with OEM specifications.

ProColor Collision North Hollywood reflects owner-operator Pargev Adamyan’s commitment to providing

Tesla Giga Texas Hits Milestone with 4,000 Model Y Production in 1 Week

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published April 3, 2023

Teslarecently posted to Twittera new milestone for Giga Texas, announcing the facility successfully produced 4,000 Model Y crossovers in a week.

Tesla commemorated Giga Texas’ milestone by posting a short aerial video of the facility’s workers posing and celebrating around a Model Y. “Congrats Giga Texas team on building 4k Model Y this week!” Tesla wrote.

Giga Texas achieved its previous milestone of 3,000 Model Y in a week in December. A few days after that, Tesla’s Germany factory, Giga Berlin, achieved the same milestone.

Since then, Giga

CAWA Joins Global Right to Repair Movement for Vehicles

Published April 3, 2023

CAWAhas joined other association leaders to support the critical global Right to Repair movement by signing a new position statement.

The statement enumerates the core beliefs of the movement and the objectives and intended outcomes of Right to Repair legislation. Importantly, the document sets forth 10 best practice principles to developing a framework for Right to Repair legislation any supporting country can use and adapt to its needs.

Globally, the automotive aftermarket keeps 1.5 billion vehicles on the road while contributing $1.8 trillion to the global economy. After vehicles exit their warranty period, independent

Tesla Proposes Dealership and Service Center in Chicopee, MA

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published March 31, 2023

Tesla’s dealership and service center proposal in Chicopee, MA, received mixed reviews from the community. 

City officials said the proposed Tesla facility would be built on a 7.1-acre parcel of land. It would include a 50,000-square-foot dealership with a showroom and a 48-vehicle service area. Tesla’s proposal also included the installation of a charging station. According to local reports, the dealership is expected to create approximately 30 jobs and generate additional tax revenue for the city.

Some residents welcome the idea of having a Tesla dealership and service

Texas Senate Transportation Committee Kills Vehicle Inspection Bill

PublishedMarch 31, 2023

The Texas Senate Transportation Committee rejected legislation that would have eliminated Texas’ vehicle safety inspection program.

Senate Bill (SB) 684’s committee substitute failed by a vote of three in favor and five against.

Research clearly demonstrates regular testing of a vehicle’s tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights and beams, seat belts and airbag systems plays a critical role in preventing many injuries and deaths.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA)appreciates State Sens. Royce West, Carol Alvarado, Sarah Eckhardt,

Tesla to Expand IT Facility, Install New Automation Equipment at Fremont

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published March 30, 2023

Teslawill expand the Information Technology (IT) building and install new automation equipment on production lines at the Fremont Factory in California, filings show.

Tesla filed to expand the IT buildings on the north end of the Fremont Factory property on March 29. The $1.5 million project will make the IT building larger and also upgrade the facility, according to filings with the City of Fremont.

Additionally, Tesla will make improvements to the production lines at the Fremont Factory by installing new MINOautomation equipment. MINO is a China-based

Lemonade Car Launches in Oregon

PublishedMarch 30, 2023

Lemonade, a digital insurance company powered by AI, on March 29 announced the launch of Lemonade Car in Oregon, marking the fifth state where the full suite of Lemonade insurance products are available.

As a state known for its environment-friendly ways and low-mileage drivers, Lemonade Car will be a welcome option for those in Oregon looking for car insurance that aligns with their values---and their wallet. 

Lemonade Car offers drivers the ability to only pay for the miles they drive on top of a low monthly base price, perfect for those opting for their bike commute or working from home throughout the week. With the Lemonade app, this

Ascend Elements Opens EV Battery Recycling Facility in Georgia

PublishedMarch 30, 2023

Ascend Elements celebrated the grand opening of its first commercial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility at the end of March.

Located in Covington, GA, the $50 million Base 1 facility is North America's largest electric vehicle battery recycling facility. As demand for EVs increases, lithium-ion battery recycling is becoming an increasingly important part of the EV battery materials supply chain.

The facility began partial operations in August 2022 and now has an annual capacity to process 30,000 metric tons of used lithium-ion batteries and manufacturing scrap---equal to 70,000 EV batteries per

Tesla Facing Lawsuit in 2019 Deaths of California Couple 

Written by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com
Published March 29, 2023

A TeslaModel 3 wrongful death lawsuit alleges a defective Autopilot system caused the deaths of two California residents.

Plaintiffs Becky Edwards and Tamara Neuhaus, the children of Davidand Sheila Brown, the couple killed in the Tesla Model 3 crash, contend their parents "reasonably believed the Tesla Model 3 was safer than a human-operated vehicle."

David Brown believed this based on Tesla's alleged claim the "self-driving safety components engineered into the vehicle and advertised by

Carvana Launches Car Vending Machine in New York

PublishedMarch 29, 2023

Carvana on March 29 debuted its newest car vending machine near Long Island, located in Garden City, NY. The state-of-the-art steel and glass structure stands eight stories tall with a 27-vehicle capacity.

Carvana customers can save valuable time by shopping online and skipping the dealership, and can either select a convenient time to pick up their vehicle at the vending machine or choose to have the vehicle delivered to their home.

If a customer selects the vending machine, upon arrival, they will be greeted by a customer advocate and receive a commemorative, oversized Carvana coin to activate the automated vending process.

Maaco Rockwall in TX Wins Excellence in Customer Focus Award

PublishedMarch 29, 2023

Maaco Rockwall, located in the heart of the Rockwall County community in Texas, has placed an increased focus on customer service year after year. The team, led by owner Shane Hollas, believes in treating every customer like family and ensuring they give each person that walks through their door an incredible experience.

Members of the Rockwall community have embraced this auto body shop because of its dedication to its customers, propelling votes to ultimately award Maaco Rockwall the Excellence in Customer Focus award from the Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce. The award recognizes a company whose

Matt Lachowitzer Named VISION Awards 2023 Humanitarian of the Year

PublishedMarch 29, 2023

The Midwest Auto Care Alliance hosted its annual Celebration of Independents Awards Dinner during the VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo event on March 4, where VISION honored automotive service professionals and students pursuing careers in the industry. 

The 2023 Humanitarian of the Year Award was presented to Matt Lachowitzer of Matt's Auto Care in Moorhead, MN.

The VISION Humanitarian Award was established in 2012 to recognize outstanding contributions in the community. The recipient must endeavor to improve the human condition through saving lives, improving the

Gary Force Paint and Body Shop in Kentucky is a Family Force

Written by Diann Nichols, Bowling Green Daily News
Published March 29, 2023

When Larry Woodcock retired from Gary Force Paint and Body Shop in 2020, his son, Jason, took over the family-owned business that started in 1991.

Along with Jason’s son, Tanner, and wife, Carey, they continue to serve the Bowling Green community with the area’s best auto body repair team.

A member of DuPont Performance Alliance, their team of AWS-certified welders, certified hybrid vehicle technicians, Spies Hecker-certified painters and I-CAR-certified

Chariot Collision Center in Indiana Joins 1Collision

PublishedMarch 29, 2023

1Collisionis excited to announce the addition of Chariot Collision Center, based in Kokomo, IN. The collision repair facility is part of Chariot Auto Group in North Central Indiana, established in 1926.

Ric Pugmire, Chariot's director of collision operations, said the company is committed to providing world-class customer service and investing in employee education and training to ensure a proper and safe repair on every vehicle.

“We are delighted to be bringing on operators like Ric Pugmire and the Chariot team,” said John Hollingsworth, director of new location

MA Agency’s Budget Request to Focus on Clean Energy Plan

Written by Dave Fidlin, The Center Square
Published March 28, 2023

The multi-pronged series of short- and long-range goals in place in Massachusetts’ clean energy and climate plan will serve as a bedrock for one agency’s fiscal year 2024 budget, according to officials.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means on March 27 held a lengthy series of hearings on the state’s upcoming fiscal year 2024 budget---the first under Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. The session was held at an offsite location, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

Much of the hearing focused on anticipated spending

Ford Expects $3B Loss on Tax-Subsidized EV Venture in 2023

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published March 28, 2023

Michigan taxpayers bet $1.6 billion in subsidies on Ford Motor Company's new BlueOval electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall, but Ford expects to lose $3 billion on its EVs this year, it recently told investors.

John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Accountability, a nonprofit organization for transparent economic development policy, told The Center Square in an email the major financial loss “[H]ighlights the dangers of turning taxpayers into speculative investors through so-called ‘economic development’

South Carolina Approves $9M Grant for Lithium Hydroxide Facility

Written by T.A. DeFeo, The Center Square
Published March 28, 2023

The South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved a $9 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant for Chester County.

The money will help the county cover infrastructure improvements, mitigation costs and site preparation related to Albemarle Corp.’s plan to build a "Mega-Flex" lithium hydroxide processing facility near Richburg, SC.

The council also awarded job development credits for this project.

A South Carolina Department of Commerce spokesman previously told The Center Square the value of JDCs depends on the wage rate

Auto Glass Now Colonial Heights Opens in Virginia

PublishedMarch 28, 2023

Auto Glass Now announced the opening of Auto Glass Now Colonial Heights located at 1115 Blvd., Colonial Heights, VA 23834.

Derek Merriweather, manager of Auto Glass Now Colonial Heights, joined the growing auto glass family with 14 years of industry experience. As an avid motorsports enthusiast, Merriweather’s passion made for a natural transition into the industry. His previous work experience encompassed everything from traditional preventative maintenance all the way to completely custom one-off builds.

“My diverse experience has truly allowed me to become a jack of all trades in this industry and I

Crash Champions, NABC Restore and Donate Vehicle to Charlotte U.S. Army Veteran

PublishedMarch 28, 2023

In a celebratory giveaway event March 26, the Crash Champions Collision Repair Team partnered with the National Auto Body Council®, GEICOand local partners to donate a vehicle to a local U.S. Army veteran.

The giveaway to veteran Cyril Smith took place at the Charlotte Marriott City Center following his nomination by the Mecklenburg County Veteran Service Office.

“It’s always a particularly special moment for our team to step up and lend a small token of our great appreciation for those who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Crash Champions founder and

With Thefts Still High, CA Prius Drivers Wait Months for New Catalytic Converters

Written by Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
Published March 27, 2023

When the catalytic converter was stolen from Vanessa Reimer’s ToyotaPrius in Long Beach, CA, she thought the repair would be a simple one, taking a few weeks at most.

Then her local dealership delivered the bad news: The replacement part could take six months to arrive. Reimer, who is pregnant, may have a baby before her Prius has a new catalytic converter.

“At first, I thought there must be something I could do,” said Reimer, 32, a speech language pathologist at an elementary school, before she learned that there were 100

Self-Driving Cruise Chevy Bolt Rear-Ends Municipal Bus in San Francisco

Written by Iulian Dnistran, InsideEVs
Published March 27, 2023

A driverless ChevroletBolt operated by GM’s Cruiserobotaxi company was involved in a light accident March 23 in San Francisco, where it rear-ended a municipal bus in the right lane of the road.

Photos of the crash were posted on Twitterby several users, including @d_bau13 and @BrokeAssStewart (via @realpaintedladies_sf on Instagram), and judging by the images, the San Francisco Muni bus sustained minor damage, while the electric Chevy Bolt seemed to be in rougher shape.

Cruise replied to one of the tweets by saying there was

LGES to Quadruple Investment in AZ Battery Plant to $5.5B

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published March 27, 2023

LG Energy Solution plans to increase its investment in an Arizona battery plant from $1.4 billion to $5.5 billion due to strong demand for EVs, which is increasing the need for battery cells.

The LGES battery plant is located in Queen Creek, AZ. The South Korean battery manufacturer plans to build two manufacturing facilities in Arizona. One facility will start making cells for EVs by 2025. The second facility will produce energy storage systems beginning in 2026.

The Arizona plant will be able to produce 27 GWh of 2170 cylindrical battery cells for EVs and 16 GWh of LFP

AkzoNobel Appoints Ricardo Rosso as Pontiac, MI, Site Manager

PublishedMarch 27, 2023

AkzoNobelannounced Ricardo Rosso has accepted the position as the new site manager for Pontiac (MI) Automotive and Specialty Coatings, effective March 1.

Rosso started with AkzoNobel in 2011 in Brazil and then joined the North America team (NAM) in 2018 as the production manager for Marine, Protective and Yacht (MPY) Coatings at the Houston, TX, factory. Previously, Rosso held various roles in AkzoNobel’s supply chain, logistics and manufacturing teams, and has supported several projects across the wood, packaging and coil business segments.

Rosso reports to Nate Norris, NAM

Explosion at Auto Supplier Caused by Sparks that Ignited Aluminum Dust

Written by Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press
Published March 24, 2023

Investigators have determined the explosion and fires at the Dicastal Inc. facility on March 17 in Greenville, MI, were caused by sparks from a hand grinder that ignited aluminum dust, according to the Greenville Department of Public Safety Fire Investigation Unit.

The automotive supplier, which makes lightweight aluminum alloy wheels for Ford, General Motors, Stellantis,

The Boring Company Vegas Loop to Double in Size

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published March 24, 2023

The Boring Company (TBC) submitted applications to double the size of the Vegas Loop to 65 miles of tunnels with 69 stations.

The proposed 65-mile network of tunnels would run through the Las Vegas strip and central Las Vegas. A map of the proposed Vegas Loop expansion shows the massive tunnel network would start at Blue Diamond/Las Vegas Boulevard on one end and reach the Fremont Street Experience on the other.

Currently, only a portion of TBC's Vegas Loop is operational, including the tunnels connected to the LVCC-Riviera Station and the Resorts World Station. The active Vegas Loop

Ford's Future EV Mega Factory in Tennessee Taking Shape

Written by Tom Moloughney, InsideEVs
Published March 24, 2023

Construction at Ford's new electric truck and battery manufacturing mega campus, BlueOval City, in West Tennessee is on track and projected to begin production in 2025.

InsideEVstoured the facility, currently just a massive construction project, and spoke with Ford reps about its progress.

The 3,600-acre site covers nearly 6 square miles of land and will create 6,000 new jobs, providing a huge boost to the local economy. To prepare the local workforce, the vast majority of which have never worked in the automobile manufacturing industry, Ford announced the introduction