Members of Charlotte-Based Auto Theft Ring Charged in Federal Court

PublishedSept. 12, 2023

A criminal indictment unsealed in federal court Aug. 23 charged five people with stealing dozens of high-end vehicles worth millions of dollars from dealerships located across the U.S. 

The indictment charged Dewanne Lamar White, 43, of Sumter, SC; Garyka Vaughn Bost, 24, of Denver, NC; Kevin Ja’Coryen James Fields, 27, of Charlotte, NC; Hosea Fernandez Hampton Jr., 25, of Charlotte; and Reginald Eugene Hill, 23, of Charlotte; with conspiracy to transport, possess and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce, and interstate transportation

Vermont Tightens Rules for Out-of-State Car Registrations

PublishedSept. 12, 2023

Vermont is implementing new requirements for vehicle registrations using out-of-state addresses.

In years past Vermont was happy to register non-residents’ vehicles if they paid the registration fee, which some in neighboring states were happy to do to take advantage of the state’s lower auto insurance costs and taxes.

Beginning July 1, the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) stopped accepting registrations from out-of-state owners unless they were able to establish that their own state does not require them to register their car in their home state.

Out of-state registrants must submit a new certification

OpenRoad Collision, Bill Knight Collision Announce Strategic Partnership in Oklahoma

PublishedSept. 12, 2023

OpenRoad Collision is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Bill Knight Collision, a six-location MSO with locations in Tulsa and Stillwater, OK. 

Combined, the OpenRoad Collision family of brands now owns and operates collision repair centers across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. The addition of Bill Knight Collision not only expands OpenRoad Collision's geographic footprint, but also brings together two organizations known for quality repairs, excellent technician training and shop culture.

"Partnering with OpenRoad Collision was the logical next step as we seek to

Massachusetts Judge Says Prepaid Vehicle Maintenance Plans Not Subject to State Dealer Statute

Written by Dallin Wilson, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Published Sept. 12, 2023

A Massachusetts federal court judge has ruled an OEM-branded prepaid vehicle maintenance plan sold and administered by a third-party to auto dealers is not subject to the Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Dealer Act, and therefore dealers are not entitled to receive retail labor rates for work performed under the plan. 

In Colony Place South, Inc. v. Volvo Car USA LLC, two Massachusetts Volvo dealers alleged Volvo, its captive finance company (Volvo Financial), and a third-party administrator (FWS) violated the

Autel Energy Opens Innovation Center in Southern California

PublishedSept. 11, 2023

Autel Energy, a global leader in EV technology, announced the opening of the Autel Energy Innovation Center, its new research and development campus where OEMs and strategic commercial partners can test the integration of third-party products with Autel Energy hardware and software to ensure the highest standards of performance and quality before entering the market. 

The two-story, 9,424-square-foot facility in Anaheim, CA, is the product of years of planning and development at Autel Energy and aims to revolutionize the way new products are brought to market in terms of speed, efficiency and quality control.

"The

Longtime Minnesota Abra Franchisees High-Five Success

PublishedSept. 11, 2023

Abra, kadabra, Kedrick and Louann. Although the saying doesn’t go quite like that, it took on a similar form for two industry experts and longstanding franchisees in Minnesota. 

Kedrick and Louann Johnson, owners of KLST Inc., which includes Abra Elk River, Abra Princeton, Abra St. Cloud and Abra Duluth, have recently purchased location No. 5, Abra Cloquet, from fellow franchisee Mike DeBoer. 

The road to operational excellence first began for Kedrick Johnson when working alongside his uncle in the 1960s.

Schaefer Autobody Centers Earns Member Preferred Recognition from AAA Missouri

Published Sept. 11, 2023

Schaefer Autobody Centers is proud to announce the Auto Club of Missouri, commonly known as AAA Missouri, has recognized Schaefer Autobody Centers’ Maplewood, MO, location as part of its prestigious Member Preferred Recognition (MPR) program. An outstanding service plaque and catered lunch were presented to the facility's team Aug. 31.

In speaking to the shop’s employees, AAA Missouri’s MPR Team Manager Nick Rohde said, “Out of 240 shops, you guys were in the top 2%. So, we just want to say thank you to all you do for us and our customers every day.” Rohde was joined by AAA

Classic Collision Adds 2 New Locations in Houston

PublishedSept. 8, 2023

Classic Collision, LLC, announced a new closing Sept. 8---the acquisition of Meyerland Collision Centers in Houston, TX. 

Meyerland Collision Centers has been family-owned and proudly serving the Houston Meyerland area for more than 15 years. The Meyerland team, equipment and facilities all demonstrate their commitment to providing the best available customer service and quality care possible. 

“Our belief has been that your vehicle deserves the best care possible and feel confident that Classic Collision will take that same approach,” said Adam Abutair, former owner of Meyerland Collision

In Hilo, HI, Manuel Soares III and his family have built a reputation for excellent customer service at their collision repair facility, MS Auto Inc. 

Established more than 53 years ago, the family business repairs all makes and models and works as a team to bring cars back to their pre-accident condition. 

In 1970, Manuel III’s father, Manuel Jr., began doing small repairs out of his home garage. His son, known as Jr., grew up helping his dad, handing him wrenches, sanding filler and cleaning up trash.

Over the years, they moved five times and are now located on Kukila Street in Hilo, where they focus on collision repairs and custom work. Their 26 employees include Jr.’s wife, Tracey

Asbury Automotive Group to Acquire Jim Koons Automotive Companies

Published Sept. 8, 2023

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., signed a definitive agreement to acquire Jim Koons Automotive Companies, the ninth largest privately-owned dealership group in the country. 

The sale of the Mid-Atlantic company is one of the most sizable in auto retail history, representing more than $3 billion in revenue in 2022, and includes 20 dealerships, 29 franchises, six collision centers and one of the highest volume Toyotaand Stellantis dealerships in the U.S. Asbury currently operates 138 dealerships, representing 31 domestic and

North Dakota Body Shop Hosts Summer Community Day

Published Sept. 8, 2023

The excitement of summer may be fading, but Abra Bismarck is finding ways to keep its community engaged and entertained. Recently, Abra Bismarck, located at 1901 E. Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck, ND, hosted an interactive community day complete with a vendor show, car show, kid-friendly activities and opportunity for charitable engagement.

Abra Bismarck is owned by brothers Jeremyand Matt Buller, who also own Abra Mandan and Abra Minot. Growing up, the brothers would fix cars on their family farm and now their industry interest and expertise has led to them becoming notable collision

Ford 360-Degree Rearview Camera Recall Involves 170,000 Vehicles

Written by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com
Published Sept. 7, 2023

A Fordrearview camera recall has been announced for dealerships to replace the 360-degree rearview cameras in about 170,000 of these vehicles:

• 2020-2023 LincolnAviator
• 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator
• 2022-2023 Ford Transit
• 2021 Ford Bronco

The backup cameras may not display any rearview images when the vehicles are shifted into reverse. Instead, a driver may see a black or blue screen.

Between April 24, 2018, and Aug. 3, 2023, there were 3,486 warranty

California Offers Digital Driver’s License to 1.5 Million Residents

Written by Kenneth Scrupp, The Center Square
Published Sept. 7, 2023

The State of California expanded its digital driver’s license pilot program to include up to 1.5 million participants, who can use the state’s proprietary mobile app on Android or iPhone systems to make age-restricted purchases in participating stores and even airports. 

This pilot program, initiated just this year, was previously only limited to a few thousand participants, so this expansion marks a significant expansion of the program nearing the scale of widespread adoption.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which administers the program,

U.S. Regulators Say 52 Million ARC Airbag Inflators Should Be Recalled

Written by Sebastien Bell, CarScoops
Published Sept. 7, 2023

American regulators announced Sept. 6 their initial finding that vehicles equipped with 52 million airbags made by ARCand Delphi should be recalled. The decision will be followed by a public meeting where a final decision on a recall will be reached.

The recall relates to vehicles equipped with ARC-designed airbags produced between 2000 and 2018. Seven injuries, among them one fatality, relating to an alleged manufacturing defect have been recorded in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The fault occurs when

Forbes Names DENSO Among Tennessee's Best Employers

PublishedSept. 6, 2023

DENSO, a leading mobility supplier, has been named to Forbes' 2023 roundup of America's Best Employers by State, appearing on the Tennessee list.

To determine the recognized companies, Forbes and market research firm Statistasurveyed 70,000 workers across the U.S. at businesses with at least 500 employees.

Participants were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and to evaluate their employer based on working conditions, diversity, compensation packages, potential for development, company image and more, according to Forbes. They also assessed employers beyond their own.

"While we

Oregon Passes Law Digitizing Car Buying Experience

PublishedSept. 6, 2023

Legislation signed into law by Oregon Gov. Tina Koteck will result in the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) adopting rules that permit the use of electronic services in vehicle ownership. 

The legislation was introduced in January and sponsored by House Rep. Susan McLain, co-chair of the Joint Transportation Committee, and passed unanimously in both the Oregon House of Representatives with a 57-0 vote and in the Oregon State Senate in a 24-0 vote. 

Carvanapartnered with McLain to lead the effort with stakeholders and introduce the bill. The bill paves the way for a

NABC Recycled Rides Program Donates Vehicle to LA Veteran

PublishedSept. 6, 2023

On Aug. 29, a deserving Los Angeles veteran experienced a life-changing event---the presentation of a vehicle to provide her independence and the ability to get to work---thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides^® program along with car donor Allstateand repair partner Waters Auto Body.

The deserving recipient was selected by Hollywood Post 43, The American Legion, which also hosted the presentation.

Mahogany Zachery received a 2020 HondaAccord. Zachery has been a member of Hollywood Post 43 for six years and has served on several committees and

Crash Champions Acquires 2 New Jersey Repair Centers

PublishedSept. 6, 2023

Crash Champions on Sept. 6 announced the addition of two New Jersey repair centers. 

The announcement comes following the successful acquisition of Terry’s Auto Body in Whippany, NJ, and Towne Auto Restoration in Randolph, NJ. The pair of high-quality repair centers join the growing Crash Champions network effective immediately.

Crash Champions now expands its New Jersey footprint to six locations, complementing a premier lineup of more than 600 repair centers in 36 states and Washington, DC. 

“Terry’s Auto Body and Towne Auto Restoration have strong legacies delivering consistent, quality

Man at Odds with Oklahoma Custom Auto Shop Over Wheelchair Mods for Truck

Written by Ashley Moss, KFOR News
Published Sept. 5, 2023

An Oklahoma man said he’s out thousands of dollars because of a years long conflict with a custom auto shop.

Jared Carroll told KFOR News he’s waited two years for the modifications to make his truck wheelchair accessible but he’s still without a ride.

Carroll had a life-changing car accident back in 2020 that left him with a severed spinal cord and in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down.

“I fell asleep at the wheel. I dozed off. When I woke up, I was in oncoming traffic,” said Carroll. “It looked like the Hulk just tore me in

Since 2012, I have been walking the floor of SEMAalong with my partner in crime, Kye Yeung, looking for new tools and products. We would purchase the items and test them before considering them for “Kool Tools of SEMA.” You can view past presentations at www.SCRS.com.

Due to health issues and the pandemic, I relinquished everything to the SCRS Education Committee. I will still contribute, but I wanted to do something different. So here is my new project: “Must See Kool Tools of SEMA 2023.” Some are new, some are old and some are additions.

2023 SEMA Show to Feature World's Largest Collection of New Automotive Products

Florida Veteran Receives NABC Recycled Ride at Daytona International Speedway

PublishedSept. 5, 2023

On Aug. 26, Nilsson Garcia, a deserving Daytona, FL-area veteran, experienced a life-changing event---the presentation of a vehicle to provide him independence and the ability to get work---thanks to the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides^®program along with car donor GEICOand collision repair partner Daytona Toyota–Certified Collision Center.

NASCAR Racing Experience helped wave the green flag for the event, which took place before the NASCAR Cup race at Daytona International Speedway that evening. GEICO is a NASCAR Premier Partner, and Toyota is an official

Charlotte, NC, Auto Body Shops Booked for Months Due to Constant Collisions

Written by Taylor Young, Queen City News
Published Sept. 5, 2023

If you are looking to get your car fixed anytime soon, you could be waiting weeks, if not months, to get into the shop.

“Very, very steady. Busy, busy,” said Thomas Kazanji, collision consultant at McClure Collision.

The auto body shop is booked out for nearly three months.

This time two years ago, the long wait time would have been due to part delays. Now, Kazanji has a hunch their constant bookings have something to do with an uptick in bad driving habits.

“We all understand that people have phones now. They are being

New Idaho Auto Repair Shop Allows People to Work on Their Vehicles Themselves

Written by Logan Ramsey, EastIdahoNews.com
Published Sept. 5, 2023

Two men with different backgrounds but a shared passion for vehicle repair have opened a new automobile repair shop. But this workshop isn’t staffed by mechanics---it provides vehicle owners with the needed tools to fix their cars themselves.

U Turn Garage, located at 1110 Yellowstone Ave., Suite C, in Pocatello, ID, is a fully equipped do-it-yourself shop that Barry Marshalland Jesse Maple opened Aug. 28. People can make an appointment and pay for the space while having access to the shop’s toolbox and car

Carvana Launches Same Day Vehicle Delivery in Charlotte, NC

PublishedSept. 5, 2023

Carvanais the first used auto dealer to provide select customers in North Carolina with the speedy and convenient service of online purchasing with same day delivery. 

Carvana customers already benefit from an accessible, transparent and intuitive online car buying experience, and now area residents have the opportunity to receive their new ride as soon as the same day they order it.

“When we launched vehicle delivery in Charlotte almost 10 years ago, it was only the third market Carvana served. Nearly a decade later, as the nation’s second largest used auto dealer, we continue to strive for an even better online

Illinois’ $19 Million in EV Rebates Includes Luxury Models

Written by Greg Bishop, The Center Square
Published Sept. 5, 2023

The first round of Illinois’ rebate program for buyers of electric vehicles is over and a new $12 million round is set to begin.

The next round opens up Nov. 1. The first round for fiscal year 2023 that ended June 30 cost taxpayers $19 million. That is nearly 4,900 purchasers of EVs getting $4,000 rebates for the previous fiscal year. Of those, only around 10% were low-income individuals, despite the program prioritizing such applicants. Among those granted rebates, nearly 300 were luxury models costing up to $125,000, as The Center Square previously reported.

The

Michigan: $5M to Survey Mileage Fee to Fix Roads

Written by Scott McClallen, The Center Square
Published Sept. 5, 2023

Michigan will spend $5 million to survey replacing the state’s waning gas tax revenue with a miles-traveled tax as more electric vehicles drive on roads but pay less to fix them relative to gas- and diesel-fueled vehicles.

The newly signed $82 billion 2024 budget directs state officials to apply for grant funding “under the national motor vehicle per-mile user fee pilot program” under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Upon awarded grant funding, Michigan must establish a pilot program to determine the feasibility of road usage charges to replace motor fuel taxes for

Carvana-Led Coalition Passes Home Delivery Legislation in Illinois

PublishedSept. 5, 2023

Carvana Co.on Aug. 28 announced the successful conclusion to its campaign to enact legislation that more formally allows car buyers in the state the convenience of home delivery. 

Legislation sponsored by Illinois State Sen. Patrick Joyceand supported by thousands of Illinois consumers, explicitly permitting vehicle home delivery, passed the Illinois Senate unanimously by a 57-0 vote, the Illinois House of Representatives by a 113-0 margin, and was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The legislation modernizes existing vehicle sales laws, which were more than 50 years old

Tesla Lithium Refinery Plant Near Corpus Christi, TX, Taking Shape

Written by Maria Merano, Teslarati
Published Sept. 5, 2023

Tesla’s lithium refinery plant near Corpus Christi, TX, is taking shape. Tesla has big plans for the lithium refinery and the role it could play in the company’s overarching goals.

Experienced drone operator Joe Tegtmeyer recently flew over the Tesla

Farmers Insurance Laying Off 11% of Workforce, Citing Industry Challenges

Written by Ezra Amacher, Insurance Journal
Published Sept. 5, 2023

Farmers Insurance announced it will part ways with approximately 2,400 employees---11% of its workforce across all lines of business.

“Decisions like these are never easy, and we are committed to doing our best to support those impacted by these changes in the days and weeks to come,” Raul Vargas, president and CEO of Farmers Group, said in a statement Aug. 28.

The Los Angeles-based insurer said the moves are being made to better position itself for long-term profitability by creating a more streamlined organizational structure, and follow