August 2008

AkzoNobel has launched its new corporate brand logo with the message ‘Tomorrow’s Answers Today’. The decision comes after AkzoNobel decided to retain its company name, based on research which concludes that the name was too well-respected to be changed. Therefore, ICI will be discontinued as a corporate name.

Audatex UK has announced that it is now offering bodyshops and motor insurers in Ireland its AudaEnterpriseGold estimating and claims management system.

MVRA has announced that it has joined the Helphire’s Premier Trade Partnership (PTP). The PTP is designed to provide support and opportunity for growth and improvement for Helphire’s repairer network by enabling them to access market leading business tools and services.

As a result of the credit crunch and a reduced number of repair jobs, many bodyshops are having to cut back on staff. Up to 1,661 jobs could be lost as the UK motor vehicle repair industry consolidates over the next 12 months, according to industry analyst Plimsoll.

Cost-cutting car owners are regularly running out of fuel as they try to economise with fuel prices at record levels, according to a survey by breakdown company Britannia Rescue.

RoadSafe is urging visitors to this year’s British International Motor Show to seek out the Department for Transport’s ACT ON CO2 stand in the Greener Driving Pavilion, where DfT staff will be on hand to offer advice on how fuel efficient driving and car choice can save money and reduce CO2.

Motor industry apprentice training provider ReMIT is launching its National Recruitment Campaign at the British International Motor Show 2008 tomorrow (Press Day, Tuesday 22 July 2008).

Language taken from the Massachusetts Auto Body Labor Rate Bill, H-1085, was included in the final version of the Budget Conference Committee and sent to Governor Deval Patrick for his signature. The Labor Rate language was included as Outside Section 108 of the Budget Conference Report, which represents the budget document sent from the state legislature to the executive branch.

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is sponsoring a series of seminars to prepare its members for the upcoming implementation of the association’s legislation that prohibits insurers from disregarding a repair operation or cost identified in an estimating system. The seminars will be offered July 28 – 30, 2008, in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, Rochester, St. Cloud,and Duluth..

Car-O-Liner has been named a founding equipment partner for WorldSkills 2009 and also the official sponsor of the autobody repair competition. The 40th WorldSkills competition takes place September 1-6, 2009, in Calgary.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) calls on all Massachusetts repairers to contact their legislators to oppose the Right to Repair Act, Massachusetts House Bill 4892. ASA says it is critical that legislators are informed of repairer opposition to the so-called Right to Repair bill.

Morelli Group and Peugeot have signed a new trading agreement and have launched a Paint Distribution Programme for the Peugeot approved repairer network.

Helphire has announced a deal to supply accident management services to Toyota Motor Insurance and Toyota for three years. The contract will be serviced by Swift Prestige Hire, part of Helphire Group’s Automotive Division, based in Northwich, Cheshire.

Owning a car improves people's quality of life by one-third, but authorities are not doing enough to plan for increased travel demand, according to the Royal Automobile Club Foundation's new report, "Travel Demand and its Causes" published today

Motorists who cause a death will still be able to avoid jail under new sentencing guidelines.

For the third year running, second-hand cars top a list of complaints received by Consumer Direct about defective goods

Speed cameras could be scrapped by a Conservative-ruled local authority.

Border City Autos in Carlisle has been targeted by vandals for the fourth time since it was opened a year ago by a former bar owner.

A major conundrum shop owners face today is the fact that, contrary to that which insurers espouse, all collision repairs are not created equal . The lack of true standards in the repair of collision damaged vehicles leaves the potential for improper or substandard repair up to the discretion of the shop, or the insurance company paying for the repair.

Thatcham’s newly opened regional Automotive Academy in Nuneaton is already the subject of expansion plans following the official opening of the centre earlier this year. The equipping of an adjoining unit means that this regional facility, which was originally opened to satisfy the ATA (Automotive Technician Accreditation) demands of Vehicle Damage Assessors, will now operate to meet a similar unprecedented demand for Panel Technician training and ATA assessment.

At the Volvo Car Corporation, the vision is to design cars that should not crash. In the shorter perspective the aim is that by 2020 no-one should be killed or injured in a Volvo.

Formula One Racing star David Coulthard is waving farewell to the fast lane and encouraging young drivers to share their ideas on how we can produce better, safer drivers.

Fix Auto Ontario has added two new members to the corporate team

The building on the site of BASF Coatings in Münster has made history – and has experienced painting history. The Glasurit training center was inaugurated 24 years ago, and for many years was counted as one of the most modern training facilities for spray painters in Europe. The building, housing classrooms, spraybooths as well as preparation and work bays, was the venue for thousands of training courses with tens of thousands of participants.

Dent Defense Group Inc., a Concord, Calif.-based company, was fined $60,000 for transacting insurance without a proper license.