APRIL 26, 2007Shop Licensing Legislation
Introduced in Texas BEDFORD, TX (April 10, 2007) - Automotive repair shop licensing legislation has been introduced in both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. Senate Bill 1120 was introduced by State Senator John Carona (R-16th), while State Representative Jim Murphy (R-133rd) introduced companion House Bill 2211. The legislation is intended to establish meaningful minimum professional standards for automotive service on which consumers can rely. If passed, the legislation will create an automobile service and repair advisory board that will consist of 12 members, including representatives of the automobile repair industry and consumers. The board will regulate proposed amendments and changes to the shop licensing requirements required by this legislation. "The Automotive Service Association has surveyed repair shops for a number of years," says Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, DC, representative. "The surveys have consistently shown a strong interest by repairers in substantive licensing programs. ASA-Texas has held meetings around the state of Texas and has seen broad support for shop licensing. ASA supports the Texas licensing legislation, and encourages Texas repair shop owners to contact their representatives and senators asking that they co-sponsor and support this legislation." The legislation does not apply to those who do not expect compensation for the service of an automobile, those who service vehicles owned by educational facilities, owners of automobile fleets or their employees, franchised automobile dealers as defined by the legislation, or those who perform services on vehicles used primarily for the production, harvest or transportation of livestock or crops. ASA is asking Texas shops to support the proposed legislation by sending a letter to their state representative and senator, which are available at ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com.(Source: ASA)Shop Management Forum Reports Continued Growth GRAND RAPIDS, MI (April 20, 2007) - AutomotiveManagementNetwork.com recently reached the goal of more than 3,000 members, and anticipates that its membership will exceed 5,000 during 2007. It is one of the largest sites of its kind devoted exclusively to auto service management issues. The site includes 13 forums for different management topics, including marketing, software, training and expenses. In addition, more than 140 management checklists and other documents are also available to members. Basic membership is free, while the management documents may be accessed for a modest fee. The forum was launched in 2003 and is based in Grand Rapids. For more information, visit www.AutomotiveManagementNetwork.com. (Source: AutomotiveManagementNetwork.com)WORLDPAC Opens Facilities in MA, CA and TX NEWARK, CA (April 18, 2007) - WORLDPAC recently open three new facilities, located in Methuen, MA; Glendale, CA; and Ft. Worth, TX. According to the company, these additional distribution facilities will provide increased coverage, reduce delivery times and provide convenient service options for its customers. The Glendale warehouse is strategically located in the Los Angeles area and is the company's 19th California facility. The Methuen facility is the second in the Boston metro area, serving the North Boston area, as well as Vermont and Portland, ME. The Ft. Worth location serves the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and is the fifth Texas facility for the company.(Source: WORLDPAC)Ecofuel World Tour Visits Tenneco
Volkswagen Caddy
(Photo: Ecofuel World Tour) MONROE, MI (April 10, 2007) - The power of natural gas came to Tenneco Inc.'s Monroe facility during the last leg of the EcoFuel World Tour, a 180-day, 31,000-mile, worldwide tour that traveled to five continents and more than 75 major cities to demonstrate the worldwide availability of environmentally friendly and low-priced compressed natural gas, as well as related technologies. Tour organizers maintain that by using natural gas instead of gasoline, a vehicle owner can realize a 55 percent cost savings. Sponsored by Tenneco, the world tour concluded on the U.S. East Coast. The EcoFuel Volkswagen Caddy features an emission control system from Walker Exhaust, which further reduces emissions from the Caddy's natural-gas combustion system. The Caddy also features Monroe's advanced Position Sensitive Twin System (PST) shock absorbers. The PST shocks adjust to various vehicle loads, making them ideal for the Caddy, as its weight is subject to constant change as the gas tanks are emptied and replenished.(Source: Ecofuel World
Tour)CARS Winner Cashes in on
Free Hybrid Class
(Photo: ACDC) WORCESTER, MA (April 21, 2007) - The Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC) was pleased to host Albin Moore and his wife, Alice, of Big Wrench Garage, Dryden, WA, during the March 15-19 hybrid technology class session. Albin was the winner of the "Up Your Voltage!" training session at last November's Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) convention in Las Vegas. Albin was one of more than a dozen students who attended the four-day/40-hour training event. Despite a blizzard on the eve of the class, all attendees jumped in and scraped off the windshields and proceeded to learn, scan, drive and disassemble the hybrid fleet of Ford, Honda and Toyota hybrids. (Source: ACDC)2007 Warranty Guides Available
Click here for information on obtaining warranty guides.
BEDFORD, TX (April 18, 2007) - The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced that the "2007 Official Warranty Guide" published by J Warranty Pro is now available. Customized with the ASA logo on the cover, this booklet is a complete "at-your-fingertips" guide that profiles details on every manufacturer's warranty guidelines, deductibles, warranty extensions and other pertinent warranty information.
The guide is designed to help independent repair facilities appraise used vehicles with greater confidence. Independent repair centers can easily help their customers determine which components may be still covered under warranty and which are not. Shops can also check which type of warranty transfer applies, and whether transfer requirements have been met. In addition, the guides can help determine whether factory defects can be repaired under warranty - by letting the factory pay for emissions component repairs - even after basic warranties have expired.
Mechanics Board BOSTON (April 16, 2007) - Proposed Massachusetts Senate Bill 234, if enacted, could generate an Internet-based public record of fines, license suspensions and disciplinary actions taken against any automotive mechanic. In addition, the measure would include detailed information on any consumer complaints brought against an individual mechanic during the preceding year.Click here to view the proposed bill.
The bill calls for the appointment of a five-member board, comprised of three automotive service professionals with a minimum of five years' experience, one representative from the state's Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation and one consumer member.
The proposed legislation states that "Any mechanic who is cited for three complaints in a one-year period, all of which are deemed to be valid by the board, shall be subject to an immediate license suspension. The board shall require that the automotive mechanic satisfactorily pass a competency examination."
In addition, the bill states, "No person shall act as an automotive mechanic unless he is licensed, and no person shall own an automotive repair business unless he is certified as a master mechanic."
Glycol Sales BanClick here to view the proposed legislation.
SALEM, OR (April 17, 2007) - Oregon Senate Bill 978 would prohibit the sale of water-based motor vehicle engine coolants containing ethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol by persons or establishments. Specifically, water-based engine coolant for motor vehicles as defined in ORS 801.360 that contain these glycols would be banned from sale.
The proposed legislation also empowers the state's Department of Environmental Quality to impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per occurrence for any violation of this act.
2007 UICS Review BETHESDA, MD (April 16, 2007) - The Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) is asking any party interested in suggesting changes to the Uniform Inspection and Communication Standards (UICS) to submit proposed changes on or before July 15, 2007. The UICS's are published on even years and updated on odd years. In 2007, planned changes include new components and systems, as well as updating existing entries. There will not be a line-by-line review this year. Instead, items submitted will be discussed by the Technical Committee at its January, May and August meetings. Submitted requests will be considered, and applicants may be called upon to provide more information. Those interested in submitting a recommendation can do so by completing the form available at www.motorist.org/brochures/UICSChangesDec6.pdf and e-mailing it to Tim Tierney.(Source: MAP)Toyota Named Official Vehicle Manufacturer for 2007 SEMA Show TORRANCE, CA (April 17, 2007) - Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. will be the official "Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show" for the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. Toyota's participation at SEMA continues to grow. This year, its Lexus luxury division will officially participate in the event. "SEMA members and the automotive specialty-equipment industry have benefited immensely from Toyota's long-time support," says Carl Sheffer, SEMA vice president of OEM relations. "By serving as the Vehicle Manufacturer of the 2007 SEMA Show, Toyota is reinforcing and strengthening what it has been doing for years. They are solidifying an already-existing partnership."(Sources: SEMA, Toyota)12 Suppliers Win PACE Awards PACE Award winners included:* Alcoa Wheel Products: Forged Aluminum Dura-Bright Wheels with XBR Technology.
* Autoliv ASP Inc.: Safety-Vent Passenger-Side Airbag (eliminates sensors).
* Behr GmbH & Co.: BehrOxal HVAV Surface Coating Process.
* BorgWarner Turbo & Emissions Systems GmbH: Gasoline Turbocharger with Variable Turbine Geometry.
* DuPont Automotive Systems: DuPont EcoConcept Paint Line (eliminates primer coat).
* Federal-Mogul Corp.: High-Temperature Alloy Exhaust Gaskets.
* Federal-Mogul Corp.: Goetze Diamond Coating (piston ring nano-coating).
* Halla Climate Control Corp.: Wave Blade Fan & Saw Tooth Shroud (reduced-noise large fans).
* Hirotec America: E3 Hemming Electric Press (10-fold energy cost improvement).
* RTT USA Inc.: DeltaGen (enables virtual-reality models directly from CAD data).
* Tenneco Inc.: Diesel Aftertreatment Predictive Development Process
* Valeo Raytheon Systems Inc.: Multi-Beam Radar Blind-Zone Radar Sensor.
DETROIT, MI (April 17, 2007) - Twelve automotive suppliers won 2007 Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence (PACE) Awards during a ceremony in Detroit. The awards recognize innovation in the automotive supply chain, and were open to suppliers that contribute products, processes, capital equipment or services directly to the manufacture of cars or trucks worldwide.
PACE Award winners were chosen following a thorough review of written submissions from each supplier and site visits by a panel of judges, drawn from among industry, academic and business leaders.
Profiles of each PACE Award winner's product, process and/or service is available by visiting Automotive News at
www.automotivenews.com/pace. In most cases, the innovation resulted in higher efficiency, better emissions control, improved fuel economy, reduced manufacturing cost, greater reliability or some other relevant benefit.
(Source: Automotive
News)
