Tesla Cybertruck Fetches $400K at 29th Petersen Gala Auction

Attendees of the event at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles could bid on the low-VIN all-electric pickup.

Written by Simon Alvarez, Teslarati
Published Oct. 11, 2023

Reports suggest a low-VIN TeslaCybertruck was auctioned for $400,000 at the 29th Petersen Gala, at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA, hosted Oct. 7 by automotive legend Jay Leno.

Gala attendees were allowed to bid for the vehicle. It was speculated the Cybertruck could fetch a high price, considering the fact a seat at the event cost $1,750.

As could be seen in a ...

Stellantis, Samsung to Build 2nd U.S. Joint Venture Factory in Kokomo, IN

The companies' joint venture, StarPlus Energy, is already building its first gigafactory in the same city.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 11, 2023

Stellantisand Samsungon Oct. 11 announced Kokomo, IN, will be the site for a second U.S.-based battery manufacturing facility as part of the StarPlus Energy joint venture.

The new StarPlus Energy plant is expected to begin production in early 2027 with an annual capacity of 34 GWh. The joint venture company will invest more than $3.2 billion and create 1,400 new jobs in Kokomo and the surrounding areas. The total investment for both

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

State Farm Ends Suspension of Non-OEM Crash Parts

The ban had been in place nearly 25 years.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 10, 2023

State Farm on Oct. 9 informed its Select Service repair centers that as of Oct. 16, it is ending the suspension it placed on the use of “non-OEM crash parts” in 1999.

The carrier said it now recognizes certification standards developed by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) and NSF Internationalfor parts like bumper components, lighting components, radiator supports, tie bars, mounting components and outer sheet metal made by a company other than the original automaker.

On its website, State Farm

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

The BendPak, Ranger, Cool Boss, QuickJack, JackPak, Autostacker, MaxJax and Ergochair brands will be represented.

Leading equipment manufacturer BendPak, Inc., is doubling down on its 2023 SEMA Show investment, Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, bringing new car lifts, evaporative coolers, EV lifts, boat lifts, wheel service equipment and more to four dedicated booths at the annual automotive trade show.

The company’s many automotive brands will be represented, including BendPak^®, Ranger^®, Autostacker^®, Cool Boss^®, QuickJack^®, MaxJax^®, Ergochair and JackPak^®.

BendPak also will have

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

WIN Kicks Off Annual Sponsorship Campaign

This year's sponsorship initiative is aimed at attracting, retaining and advancing women in the collision repair industry.

Written by Autobody News Staff
Published Oct. 9, 2023
 
The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced in a news release the launch of its 2023-24 sponsorship campaign.

“Sponsoring WIN really means our supporting organizations are taking an active role in developing the talent pool for our entire collision repair industry,” said Jessica Rob, sponsorship chair for WIN and distribution program manager at AkzoNobel Coatings Inc. “We appreciate and thank all our sponsors for their

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

BASFis supporting the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Repairer Driven Education at the 2023 SEMA Show by delivering four world-class sessions that speak to the heart of the issues facing today’s collision repair businesses.

BASF is proud to be one SCRS’s well-known industry experts to re-energize your business with implementable solutions. Here’s a sample of what’s ahead:

The Influence the Refinishing Process Plays in Evolving Technology
9:30-11 a.m. Oct. 31

The automotive collision industry is undergoing a rapid technological change. By 2025, 30% of the vehicles in use will be connected, and the percentage is expected to soar. More than 50% of registered vehicles include ADAS features today,

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