California Man Fraudulently Buys Supercars, Goes to Prison

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published March 1, 2023

A man in California has been sentenced to 4.5 years in federal prison for fraudulently using COVID relief funds to buy exotic supercars and luxury rides.

Mustafa Qadiri, 42, was sent to prison, fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $2,861,050 in restitution, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Qadiri was given $5 million for a business that was a “sham.” Instead of using the relief funds for their intended purpose, he provided a lavish lifestyle for himself, buying a LamborghiniAventador, Ferrari488 GTB and Bentley

NH Legislator Wants Consumers Notified of Calibration Prior to Work

PublishedMarch 1, 2023

A hearing was held Feb. 15 on a bill by New Hampshire Rep. Tim McGough that would require auto glass repair and replacement facilities to tell customers calibrations are necessary for their vehicles prior to work being done.

McGough, a Republican, opened the hearing by telling the committee of the “very specialized” calibration process.

“All it does is require us to notify and protect the consumer,” he said of HB 304. “The problem is an unsuspecting consumer could very easily go to an auto glass shop, not be told (about calibration), and have non-working sensors. All of those important sensors could be

Wake Tech Gears Up for More Electric Vehicles on the Road

Written by Dan Barkin, Business North Carolina
Published March 1, 2023

Recently, I was in North Raleigh, NC, in what looked like the service area of a big car dealership, but was actually a big community college lab, the Capital Automotive Group laboratory.

It has been nearly a year since Wake Tech dedicated the new $42 million Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence. The center is located at the college’s Scott Northern Wake Campus, right off Interstate 540, aka the Outer Loop. Its opening allowed Wake Tech to triple the number of students in its automotive systems technology program and add a new degree program in collision

With Car Insurance Costs Up 14%, Many Decide to 'Self-Insure'

Written by Gordon Severson, KARE 11 News
Published Feb. 28, 2023

Inflation has been one of the biggest buzzwords lately, so it should come as no surprise to anyone that auto insurance is becoming more expensive.

However, there are several additional reasons besides inflation that have caused auto insurance premiums to increase by nearly 14%, according to a new study from Bankrate.

The average American driver is now paying $2,014 a year on car insurance, up from $1,771 in 2022.

...

Catalytic Converter Thief Run Over by Woman

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published Feb. 28, 2023

A woman recently ran over a man as he was allegedly sawing off the catalytic converter on her FordExcursion in Palmdale, CA. The suspect didn’t survive the crushing from the hulking SUV.

We know a lot of people won’t feel much sympathy for catalytic converter thieves and we understand why. After all, having yours stolen can set you back a shocking sum, and with parts shortages, you might not be able to drive your vehicle for a while.

Thieves really love to hit trucks and SUVs, not only because they have huge cats and often more than one, but also because thieves can climb under and remove the

LG Energy Solution, Honda Break Ground on Ohio EV Battery Plant

PublishedFeb. 28, 2023

Hondaand LG Energy Solution on Feb. 28 held the official groundbreaking ceremony for a new joint venture EV battery plant more than 2 million square feet in size, to be located in Fayette County, near Jeffersonville, OH.

The two companies have committed to invest $3.5 billion in the new joint venture (JV) facility, with their overall investment projected to reach $4.4 billion. The facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, with plans to create 2,200 jobs, and the aim for approximately 40GWh of annual production capacity.

The JV company will deliver lithium-ion batteries with cutting-edge

Auto Theft Bill Advances in Colorado Senate

Written by Joe Mueller, The Center Square
Published Feb. 28, 2023

A bill making all auto thefts felonies was praised by law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, mayors and victims before it was voted out of Colorado’s Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 27.

Senate Bill 23-097 also would eliminate penalties based on the value of the stolen vehicle. It now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“A colleague said to me earlier today this was a message bill,” said Sen.

Stellantis Announces $155 Million Investment in 3 Indiana Plants

PublishedFeb. 28, 2023

Stellantisannounced Feb. 28 it will invest a total of $155 million in three Kokomo, IN, plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and to support the goal of 50% battery-electric sales in the U.S. by 2030.

With more than 25 battery-electric vehicle (BEV) launches planned in the U.S. between now and 2030, the Kokomo-built EDM will be integrated into vehicles designed on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms.

Offering an all-in-one solution for electric-vehicle powertrains, the EDM consists of three main components---the electric

CAA Releases Update on California Legislative Bills

PublishedFeb. 28, 2023

The California Legislature introduced more than 2,600 new bills this year. Many of these bills are "spot bills," place holders to be amended later with more substantive language.

CAAis still in the process of reviewing all the bills. Below are bills it has highlighted so far. As CAA continues to review the introduced bills and amendments, it will add to the list. CAA will continue to review, monitor and report.

Catalytic Converter Theft

AB 641 - Revises the definition of "automotive dismantler" to include a person who keeps two or more used catalytic converters cut from a vehicle

Tesla Could Receive Massive Tax Breaks for Giga Nevada Expansion

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Feb. 28, 2023

Teslais set to receive massive tax breaks of up to $360 million for its expansion of Giga Nevada, which it announced in January.

Documents released Feb. 27 show Tesla will be exempt from paying payroll and property taxes for the next 10 years and will also pay reduced sales taxes for the next 20 years.

Tesla will also be eligible for $81.4 million in tax reimbursements over the next 20 years as a part of its potential agreement with Storey County, where the automaker’s Giga Nevada facility is located. Also called the Tesla Gigafactory, the company announced a plan in

Average MI-Based BlueOval Factory Wage Anticipated at $45,136

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Feb. 28, 2023

Should Michigan taxpayers foot $700,000 per job created for 2,500 jobs at the new Fordfactory that will pay an average wage of $45,136?

That’s the question Michigan lawmakers will soon decide for the BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall.

The $3.5 billion factory aims to drop the cost of electric vehicles via lithium iron phosphate batteries and pump out 2 million vehicles globally by 2026. The factory will be funded by at

Honda EV Production Getting Closer with Battery Recycling Deal

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 28, 2023

Hondahas partnered with Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements to recycle lithium-ion batteries and recuperate the elements into new cells.

As Honda works towards selling its first electric vehicle, the Honda Prologue, in 2024, its production and manufacturing chops for EVs are finally taking form. This includes everything from battery and drivetrain

Arizona Neighbors Celebrate Octogenarian’s Birthday in Style

Written by Steven Symes, Motorious
Published Feb. 27, 2023

Turning 80 is a big deal, so it’s understandable why Merry Grace wanted to help her dad Lesliecelebrate it properly. Because the man, who is battling Alzheimer’s, is a huge gearhead, she asked the people of Maricopa, AZ, to help make the day memorable. They did by showing up in

2Guys Auto in MA Restores Classic Cars Back to Life

Written by Jack Guerino, iBerkshires
Published Feb. 27, 2023

For longtime friends Joe Dean and Mike Libardi, the opening of 2Guys Auto Restoration and Repair in North Adams, MA, is a return to their roots restoring the cars they love from the past.

Dean and Libardi share a passion bordering on obsession with classic cars.

Before opening the shop, the duo always had a "project" and 2Guys is really a formalization of what the two have been doing in garages and driveways for years before.

For more than 40 years, Dean ran Dean's Quality Auto &Truck Repair, a business started by his late

Hyundai to Divest Alabama Subsidiary Following Child Labor Revelations

Written by Joshua Schneyer, Kristina Cooke and Mica Rosenberg, Reuters
Published Feb. 24, 2023

South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. on Feb. 24 told shareholders it would divest its controlling stake in a major Alabama auto parts plant where Reuterslast year documented children as young as 12 were working.

In a Feb. 24 letter to shareholders from Hyundai Chief Executive Jaehoon Chang, the company said recent audits at 29 of its direct suppliers across Alabama made it confident they are "now in full compliance with underage labor laws."

The audits began last August, after Reuters first reported on

Tesla Giga New York Faces Racism Allegations

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Feb. 24, 2023

TeslaGiga New York employees allege they have routinely faced racism while working at the plant in Buffalo, NY, since the facility opened years ago.

Gigafactory New York has been the site of controversy recently. Tesla terminated a number of employees as part of a performance review cycle, including one who was part of an active unionization campaign. A complaint was filed with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board against the EV maker

Tesla Announces New Global Engineering HQ in California

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 23, 2023

TeslaCEO Elon Musk and Gov. Gavin Newsom met at Tesla’s new engineering facility in California, where Musk announced the facility would be the company’s global headquarters for engineering.

The rumors of a new Tesla facility in Silicon Valley turned out to be true. Tesla acquired a previous Hewlett-Packard building, primarily to improve its AI and R&D chops. Musk and Newsom met Feb. 22 at the location, allowing the governor rare access to Tesla’s vastly expanding AI program.

Tesla made the announcement the same day on

Michigan Says It Needs $750M More for Ford Battery Site

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Feb. 22, 2023

Michigan says it needs $750 million more from taxpayers to prep the site for Ford Motor Company's $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Marshall.

Taxpayers are already footing $1 billion for the factory, dubbed "Project Hickory," that Ford says will create 2,500 jobs.

Economic development officials said "not a cent" of the $750 million would go to Ford, but would instead fund site readiness.

The $750

Florida Governor, Legislative Leaders Push for Reforms Against Frivolous Lawsuits

Written by Andrew Powell, The Center Square
Published Feb. 22, 2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders want reforms to take on frivolous lawsuits and put a stop to what the governor calls "predatory" practices by trial lawyers.

DeSantis held a news conference in Jacksonville on Feb. 14 with House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, about the proposals, which would eliminate one-way attorney fees and fee multipliers for all lines of insurance, modernize Florida’s "bad faith" law, and put caps on damage claims to protect

New-Car Direct Sales Under Threat from Dealer-Backed Bills in Florida

Written by William Johnson, Teslarati
Published Feb. 22, 2023

Two bills introduced in the Florida Senate and House may disrupt how Teslaand other companies sell their vehicles.  

Currently, there are no restrictions on direct-to-consumer sales in Florida. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Florida statute says “manufacturers may engage in direct-sales of motor vehicles provided there are no franchised dealerships selling such vehicles within the state.”

However, this could change.

As initially reported by Seeking Rents, House Bill 637, sponsored by Rep.

21st Annual AASP-MN Race for Automotive Education Raises $14,000+ for Student Scholarships

PublishedFeb. 22, 2023

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) held its 21st annual Race for Automotive Education, Jan. 23-26 at ProKart Indoor Racing in Burnsville, MN.

The event raised more than $14,000 to support the alliance’s Automotive Education Fund and will fund scholarships for automotive students enrolled in ASE-accredited auto service and collision repair programs in Minnesota’s technical colleges.

During the four nights of racing, 40 teams comprised of 195 racers from auto service and collision repair shops and industry suppliers took to the

New York Car Dealers Raise $100K+ to Buy New Winter Coats for Kids

PublishedFeb. 22, 2023

Showcasing the positive effects of local new car dealers in their communities coming together to help those in need, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) donated brand-new warm winter coats to the students of P.S. 179 on Feb. 21 in New York City.

The coat donation was the final stop of the GNYADA's annual commitment to giving back to the community and making sure children have the resources they need to stay warm this winter. Working with Operation Warm, hundreds of local new car retailers raised more than $100,000 for the coat drive and donated thousands of coats to more than 30 schools

New Push to Ban Most 'Noncompete' Agreements in Connecticut

Written by John Craven, News 12 
Published Feb. 22, 2023

State lawmakers are again considering a ban on most noncompete agreements in Connecticut. 

The contracts prevent workers from leaving a job and taking confidential trade secrets to a competitor, but critics say some companies are using them to trap employees in lower wage jobs like restaurant work and hair styling.

One Fairfield County pest control worker named Dylanspent $30,000---his entire yearly salary---fighting a five-year noncompete with his old boss.

...

Quick Action Controls Fire at Marble Falls, TX, Collision Repair Shop

Written by Dakota Morrissiey, DailyTrib.com
Published Feb. 21, 2023

A small fire at Gerber Collision and Glass in Marble Falls, TX, was quickly brought under control by staff and first responders the morning of Feb. 16.

“This fire was most likely caused by discarded smoking materials, which caught some cardboard on fire and did minimal damage to the exterior of the building,” Marble Falls Fire Marshal Thomas Crane told DailyTrib.com at the scene. “No serious injuries or anything reported.”

...

Maine Official Certifies ‘Right to Repair’ Signatures

PublishedFeb. 21, 2023

Maine’s Secretary of State office on Feb. 21 certified the Maine Right to Repair coalition has gathered the necessary number of voter signatures qualifying the initiative to be on the ballot this November.

The group of Maine independent repair shop owners, employees and right to repair supporters submitted more than 70,000 voter signatures to the Secretary of State in January. The ...

Insurers See California EV Sales Trends Driving Rate Filing Approval Urgency

Written by Don Jergler, Insurance Journal
Published Feb. 21, 2023

Vehicle pricing was a major concern during the inflationary environment that dominated headlines in 2022, however a new report shows sales of electric vehicles in California rose by more than 50% last year from 2021 with an estimated increase in market share of 17.1%.

That’s good for EV makers and dealers, and it looks good for the environment, but insurers doing business in California may be eyeing the bottom-line implications.

One major insurer in California reports EVs are more costly to repair, while the carrier’s share of customers with EVs has increased over

After More Than 40 Years, End of the Road for Southern California’s Cal Worthington Car Dealership

Written by Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
Published Feb. 21, 2023

Make no mistake about it, bub, Southern California is car country.

So automobile dealer Calvin Coolidge Worthington decided to have a little fun, attract attention and empty his lots with “My Dog Spot” TV commercials featuring a live, snarling gorilla.

The commercials, in which he also used other animals as a dog named Spot---a penguin, camel, elephant, bear, lion, hippopotamus and tiger---helped Worthington build an empire of 27 dealerships that sold more than 1 million cars.

...

Springfield, MA, Auto Body Shop Probably Best Known for its Billboards

Written by Janice Beetle, Mass Live
Published Feb. 21, 2023

Great customer service and a special guarantee on workmanship for the life of a car fueled the popularity and growth of Rick’s Auto Body in Springfield, MA, over the years.

But, it was a sharp wit that also proved a stellar marketing tool for Raymond “Rick” Recor.

The owner’s warranty and wordsmithing began in the mid-1990s. Recor was working out of a shop on Verge Street then and was embroiled in conflict with insurance providers over reimbursements.

...

Tesla Gigafactory Nevada Hosts Students from Carson City School

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Feb. 21, 2023

Students from Pioneer Academy in Carson City, NV, recently got the opportunity to witness the operations of one of the world’s most advanced battery production facilities.

During their trip to TeslaGigafactory Nevada, the students were able to learn about educational and career opportunities related to the sustainability movement.

More than two dozen students from Pioneer Academy participated in the trip. The event was organized by Envirolution, a nonprofit dedicated to developing youth leadership and community outreach programs focused on sustainability and energy

NHTSA Looking into Tesla Crash in California

Written by Joey Klender, Teslarati
Published Feb. 21, 2023

A crash involving a Teslathat collided with a firetruck on Feb. 18 in California has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to seek more information.

The NHTSA said it contacted Tesla for additional information regarding the collision, according to Reuters, which involved a Tesla Model S, the company’s flagship sedan, and a firetruck parked on Interstate 680 in Contra Costa County, CA.

According to a Twitterpost from the Fire Department in Contra Costa, a firetruck was blocking lanes as a crew cleaned up debris from a previous accident. The Tesla