Car Dealer, Repair Complaints Led NJ Consumers' Concerns in 2022

Written by Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch
Published March 9, 2023

Did you make a complaint last year about a motor vehicle seller or a home improvement company in New Jersey? You weren’t alone---the Division of Consumer Affairs released the top 10 list of consumer complaints made last year, and complaints about motor vehicle sales and repairs topped the list, followed by complaints about home improvement.

And, the state reached “significant settlements” last year with nine car dealerships whom consumers had reported to be violating consumer protection laws.

National Consumer Protection Week runs from March 5-11, which prompted the state’s

5 Cars Catch Fire Behind Providence, RI, Repair Shop

Written by Allison Shinskey, WPRI News
Published March 9, 2023

An investigation is underway into what caused five cars to catch fire behind a transmission repair shop the afternoon of March 6.

Firefighters rushed to Robin Auto Transmission off Reservoir Avenue in Providence, RI, just before 4 p.m. for reports of several cars on fire in the back lot, according to Providence Battalion Fire Chief Edward Dwyer.

Dwyer said a “large amount” of brush near the lot was on fire. It’s unclear at this time whether the fire started inside one of the cars or in the brush.

No injuries were reported, though Dwyer said the business

Tesla’s Autopilot Involvement Suspected in CA Fire Truck Crash

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published March 9, 2023

A 2014 TeslaModel S is suspected to have been operating in Autopilot during a fatal crash in February in California, according to investigators. 

The collision occurred when the all-electric sedan struck a fire truck, resulting in the driver’s death and critical injuries to a passenger.

On March 8, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it dispatched a specialized crash investigation team to probe the Feb. 18 crash, after which emergency responders had to cut open the Tesla to extricate a passenger. The crash also resulted in minor injuries to

Focus Advisors Represents CARSTAR Collision Clinic in WA in Sale to Puget Collision

PublishedMarch 9, 2023

Focus Advisors announced the sale of CARSTAR Collision Clinic in Edmonds and Bellevue, WA, to Puget Collision.

The transaction represented a successful exit for owner Bruce Lingle, who started in the industry as a technician and later built his highly successful MSO for more than 44 years in the Edmonds market.

“After spending my career in the collision industry, I knew it was time for me to step back and enjoy spending more time with my wife, family and traveling,” said Lingle. “From the start, Dave Roberts, Chris Lane and the

Auto Glass Now Expands with 3 New Locations in NJ, NY, PA

PublishedMarch 9, 2023

Auto Glass Now, known for fast, friendly and convenient auto glass services, has announced the opening of three new facilities.

Each new Auto Glass Now is a premier shop equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Focused on providing quality service with speed and efficiency, these new Auto Glass Now facilities are prepared to provide each community with next-level service.

“It is an exciting time for our Auto Glass Now brand as we continue to quickly grow at this incredibly fast pace,” said Michael Lopez, president, Auto Glass Now. “By expanding into new markets across the U.S., we can further pave

Massachusetts Attorney General to Enforce Right to Repair Law

PublishedMarch 9, 2023

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell is moving forward, despite the lack of a decision by a federal court, with implementing the Right to Repair law passed by the state’s voters in 2020.

On March 7, Campbell filed a “notice of intent to terminate non-enforcement stipulation” as of June 1, meaning she will take action to implement the law.

The Attorney General’s Office had suspended enforcement of the law pending the results of the court case, which has been repeatedly delayed for more than two years.

The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition thanked Campbell for her

Washington State House Votes More Funds to Combat Auto Theft

By Jeremy Lott, The Center Square
Published March 8, 2023

On March 7, the same day the Washington state House of Representatives refused to consider a bill that could reform the state's police pursuit law, it approved a bill making more funds available for local law enforcement to deal with auto thefts.

"Statewide auto thefts have increased by 93% since the summer of 2021," said Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic, chief sponsor of the bill after it cleared the chamber.

House Bill 1682 was approved by the House on March 7 by a vote of 94-1. Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, was the only representative to vote

Battery Developer to Build New Factory in Colorado

Written by Iulian Dnistran, InsideEVs
Published March 8, 2023

Fremont, CA-based Amprius Technologies will build a new battery-making facility at an existing site in Brighton, CO, in a push to expand production of its proprietary silicon anode lithium-ion battery cells, which offer greater energy density than conventional graphite cells.

The new factory will be built in phases and is expected to become operational in 2025 with an initial output capacity of 500 megawatt-hours. Later, when the final stage of construction has been completed, the facility will have a footprint of 775,000 square feet and a potential output of 5 gigawatt-hours per

Florida Senator Aims to Ban EVs from Evacuating State Amid Hurricanes

Written by Steven Loveday, InsideEVs
Published March 8, 2023

Republican Florida State Sen. Jonathon Martin believes the state should not allow electric cars to evacuate during a hurricane. His reasoning is based in part on misinformation already debunked when others have made similar suggestions in the past.

According to a recent article published by Electrek, Martin, of Fort Myers, serves on the Florida Senate's Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Select Committee on Resiliency. He reportedly asked the state's Department of Transportation to consider banning EV evacuations, since the cars could run

TX Student Named Grand Prize Winner in Annual FutureTechs Rock Awards

PublishedMarch 8, 2023

Taeler Coverdale, a collision repair student at Universal Technical Institute in Houston, TX, has been named the grand prize winner in TechForce Foundation®’s 2023 FutureTechs Rock Awards.

TechForce created this prestigious award to honor aspiring technicians and recognize students with a promising future in the transportation industry. Learn more about the 2023 grand prize and category winners here.

“This is amazing! I’m in utter shock right now,” said Coverdale upon learning she is this

Tesla Owners Club of LA Gets Up-Close Look at Repair Experience at Bistagne Bros.   

Written by Ed Attanasio, Autobody News
Published March 7, 2023

On Feb. 19, Bistagne Bros. Body Shop in Glendale, CA, hosted a meeting of the Tesla Owners Club of Los Angeles, so Tesla owners could witness a certified shop in action. 

Members came to Glendale for two hours on a Sunday morning for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a shop. They were able to mix and mingle with other club members, grab snacks and drinks, and find

Washington Pump Price Up 8th Week Since Carbon Tax Became Law

Written by Timothy Schumann, The Center Square
Published March 7, 2023

March 6 marked the eighth week of price increases at the pump for Washingtonians since the new carbon tax was implemented earlier this year.

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was sitting at $4.23 statewide on March 6, up from $4.22 a week prior according to AAAdata.

This single cent per gallon increase moved with the national average, which rose from $3.36 per gallon to $3.40 per gallon, a 4 cent per gallon increase, over the same time period.

“The seasonal switch to summer blend gasoline is underway, which may account for this bounce in

Report: Michigan Needs $3.9B Annually to Fix Roads

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published March 7, 2023

A report from Public Sector Consultants concluded Michigan has a $3.9 billion annual funding shortfall to fix roads and bridges.

At a press conference March 7, leaders from Michigan’s road-building industry and business community gathered to share their reactions to the new report.

“This report makes it crystal clear that it’s time to take our infrastructure funding crisis seriously,” said Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association. “The data speaks for itself. Michigan faces an

Aging TX State Vehicle Fleet Fuels 10s of Millions in New Money Requests by Agencies

Written by Karen Brooks Harper, The Texas Tribune
Published March 7, 2023

The first thing Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson noticed when she peered into the tiny cab of her office’s only state vehicle was the manual window crank.

“I haven’t used these in years,” she exclaimed, rotating the squeaking handle of the 1998 FordRanger and chuckling as the window scudded open.

The pristine white 25-year-old pickup, owned by the agency since George W. Bush was governor, is way overdue for a replacement, according to the state’s vehicle maintenance plan---which recommends new

Midwest U.S. Senators Renew Push for Year-Round E15 Fuel Use

Written by Kim Jarrett, The Center Square
Published March 7, 2023

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators from several Midwestern states is asking the Biden administration again to allow the sale of E15 fuel throughout the year.

The Environmental Protection Agency bans the sale of gasoline mixed with 15% ethanol during the summer months. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-ND, and 16 other senators said in a letter to the administration the prohibition should be removed as soon as possible.

"Taking early action on E15 will send timely and necessary signals across the energy supply chain so that fuel producers and retailers will have the certainty

Florida Audit Finds Issues with Road Ranger Program

Written by Andrew Powell, The Center Square
Published March 7, 2023

A recent audit from the Florida Auditor General’s office showed uncorrected discrepancies with a program designed to assist stranded motorists.

The Road Ranger Service Patrol Program provides highway assistance services to improve safety for the public and first responders and to reduce delays on the highways.

Primary services include coordinating with the Florida Highway Patrol and other law enforcement, assisting in clearing the roadways and controlling traffic during major incidents.

Road Ranger patrol vehicles also assist motorists and are able to help with minor

MN Auto Body Shop's 2nd Location Features Full Transparency

PublishedMarch 7, 2023

In an age where everyone covets transparency and information, a body shop in Brainerd, MN, is taking it to a new level.

In his latest shop, Josh Shaw, COO of Shannon’s Auto Body, is incorporating a layout that enables his customers to see the workings of a body shop in action while they wait to drop off or pick up their vehicles. It’s his second facility, and he is excited to be part of a revitalization of Brainerd, in the eastern part of this city of approximately 14,500

Crash Champions Opens 30th Washington State Location 

PublishedMarch 7, 2023

The Crash Champions Collision Repair Team on March 7 announced another step in the organization's continued and rapid expansion across the Pacific Northwest by opening the doors to its 30th location in the state of Washington. 

The newest Crash Champions collision repair center officially opened March 6, and customers can now begin scheduling repairs. The repair center features 10,000 square feet of production space and is conveniently located at 303 Washington Ave. North in Kent, WA. 

"The opening of our Kent, WA, repair center is another great step for the Crash Champions team," said founder and CEO

GKN Automotive Opens Aftermarket Warehouse in Dallas-Fort Worth

PublishedMarch 7, 2023

GKN Automotive on March 7 announced the opening of its new Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, warehouse. The new facility will house its extensive and constantly updated portfolio of products for its aftermarket customers, including axle assemblies for light-duty passenger vehicles, driveshafts, joint and boot kits for all common makes and vehicle types.

The new 3PL facility, finished in December, is located in Fort Worth, and features 80,000 square feet of warehouse space, 4,000 pallet locations and 10 dock doors with room for expansion up to 240,000 square feet. This warehouse will be the hub for all U.S. independent parts distributors

4 Ferraris Stolen from Service Center in New York

Written by Brad Anderson, CarScoops
Published March 6, 2023

A trio of thieves managed to flee with four Ferrarisafter smashing their way into the Ferrari of Long Island Service Center just before 4 a.m. Feb. 25.

Local media outlet 1010 WINSsaid the burglars broke through the glass doors of the dealership and proceeded to steal some Ferrari merchandise. They then turned their attention to the cars in the service center and were able to locate and steal a number of key fobs.

Police didn’t detail what kind of models were stolen but said the thieves made off with a gray 2014 convertible, a blue 2016 convertible, a white 2018 coupe

OR Students Ready for Auto Body Career with Surprise Gift of Required Tools

Written by Les Zaitz, Salem Reporter
PublishedMarch 3, 2023

Three students in the auto body program at the Career Technical Education Center in Salem, OR, recently got a surprising boost to launch their professional careers.

Daniel Mendoza, Julian Moran and Eddie Ceja were awarded a prestigious national scholarship that gave them each $1,000 worth of tools and a tool box. They also recently got a trip to the national Collision Industry Conference in Palm Springs, CA, where they were recognized on stage before 500 professionals.

The seniors are in their second year

Toyota Announces New Certified Collision Center in Cincinnati, OH

PublishedMarch 3, 2023

Toyota Motor North America, Inc., is proud to announce Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati, OH, as its newest Toyota Certified Collision Center (TCCC).

Collision centers can earn certification from Toyota based on meeting extensive criteria including advanced collision training and an evaluation of its operations, including facility, business practices, employee certifications and equipment benchmark achievements.

“It’s a privilege to have Joseph Toyota of Cincinnati earn the prestigious Toyota Collision Certification for their professionalism and ultimate dedication to the safety of our customers,” said

Scout Motors to Build Electric Trucks, SUVs in South Carolina

Written by Dan Mihalascu, InsideEVs
Published March 3, 2023

Volkswagen Group-backed Scout Motors has picked Columbia, SC, as the site of its first manufacturing plant.

The company will invest $2 billion and create 4,000 or more permanent jobs at the future factory, where it will build next-generation electric trucks and rugged SUVs inspired by the iconic Scout vehicles made from 1960 to 1980.

At full capacity, the facility will produce more than 200,000 Scout vehicles per year, the automaker said in a press release. Groundbreaking is planned for mid-2023 and production is projected to begin by the end of 2026.

The

Mississippi Bill Aiming to Restrict EV Direct Sales Passes Senate

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published March 3, 2023

Electric vehicle makers may find it harder to open new company-owned stores in Mississippi in the future.

Following a nearly two-hour debate among lawmakers, House Bill 401 passed through the Senate by a vote of 38-14. The bill is now on its way to Gov. Tate Reeves’ desk.

House Bill 401 is controversial. If it does get signed into law, electric vehicle makers like Tesla, Rivianand Lucidwould be mandated to sell their vehicles through a franchised dealership. EV makers today typically sell their cars through company-owned

Tesla Gets $330M Tax Break for Giga Nevada Expansion Plan

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published March 3, 2023

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board on March 2 approved a $330.3 million tax break, considering Tesla’s plans to invest $3.6 billion to expand Gigafactory Nevada in Storey County.

The GOED Board calculated Tesla’s investment in Giga Nevada could generate an estimated $685 million in net state and local revenues in the next 20 years. Listed below are the taxes Tesla could generate, assuming it invests all $3.6 billion in land, buildings and equipment for Giga Nevada.

• Up to $21.8 million in gross

IA School’s Mechanics Club Gets Hands-On with Collision Repairs

Written by Daniel Charland, Dyersville Commercial
Published March 3, 2023

The Beckman Catholic High School B-TECH/Mechanics Club attended an auto repair visit/demonstration day Feb. 24 with Southwest Tech at Auto Tech.

According to Steven Lueck, assistant principal at Beckman Catholic, the Mechanics Club is a fairly new, but large, club of students who have a strong interest in auto mechanics and like to be involved in hands-on activities.

“A year or two ago, several students started asking about possibly having classes regarding anything with diesel mechanics," Lueck said. "Instead of creating an entire class, we

Superior Replacement Service Acquires Pass Auto Center in Banning, CA

PublishedMarch 3, 2023

Superior Replacement Service, a rapidly expanding mechanical and ADAS repair company, acquired Pass Auto Center, a local independent mechanical repair center in Banning, CA.

The official announcement was made Feb. 16 in Banning.

The move to acquire Pass Auto Center first started when Jack Perea, CEO and president of Superior, was approached by John Selvaggio from Pass Auto Center and was asked if he would be interested in expanding to Banning, as Selvaggio was looking to retire. The process took all of two weeks and the agreement was made to move

Farmers Insurance, Classic Collision Present NABC Recycled Rides in Houston

PublishedMarch 3, 2023

Farmers Insurance® and Classic Collision™ celebrated Valentine’s Day by donating newly refurbished vehicles to the nonprofit Family Promise of Montgomery County Texas (FPMCT) and a deserving family in need during a special ceremony Feb. 14 in Houston. 

Farmers worked with technicians at Classic Collision, who donated their time and skills to restore a 2016 FordExplorer and 2014 ChevySonic for the deserving recipients as part of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides® program.

Local parents Harry Wiltz and

New Jersey Moves to Ban New Gasoline-Powered Car Sales After 2035

Written by Sean Tucker, Kelley Blue Book
Published March 2, 2023

New Jersey will become the sixth U.S. state to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars after 2035. The state joins California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington in taking the step.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a series of executive orders intended to help the state shift to “100% clean energy by 2035.” One of the measures “initiates the process” of adopting California’s Advanced Clean Cars II mandate, which will require all cars and light trucks to be emissions-free by 2035.

...

Maine to Invest $1.6 Million in Employee Transportation Program

Written by Brent Addleman, The Center Square
Published March 1, 2023

Transportation in the workforce is getting new, featured investments in Maine.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said March 1 that $1.6 million will be used from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan grant program that would support employers with workforce transportation solutions.

“With the workforce shortage hurting businesses across Maine, my administration is committed to advancing innovative solutions that will knock down barriers preventing people from being able to take and stay in jobs,” Mills said in a statement. “This investment from my Maine Jobs &