• Carstar has opened its 700th collision repair shop, a facility in Montrose, CA.
• Pep Boys has opened new Service & Tire Centers in Astoria, NY; Lawndale, CA; Rocklin, CA; and LaGrange, GA. The shops include both greenfield and acquired locations.
• Despite a record number of passenger vehicle recall campaigns in 2018, the number of vehicles affected by recalls has stabilized to between 25 million and 30 million vehicles annually, according to the 2019 Automotive Defect & Recall Report from the Chicago-based global advisory and consulting firm Stout. The firm asserts that the size of recall campaigns is shrinking — a sign that the automotive industry is more proactively identifying and responding to defects. Stout’s report analyzes recall activities, trends and risk from an array of sources, including NHTSA. Click here for more information about the report.
• Asset Recovery Advisors (ARA) — a Palm Beach Gardens, FL-based company that specializes in asset-based liquidations of fixtures, furniture and equipment — is currently liquidating 16 national auto centers. The liquidation includes alignment machines, lifts, tire changers, wheel balancers and more. Click here for more information on the offering.
• Minnesota Careers in Auto Repair & Service (MNCARS) has released new videos to expand its outreach and raise awareness of career opportunities in the automotive service and collision repair industry. The videos feature students who are currently enrolled in automotive programs discussing how they got there and what they love about the industry. The videos are available on the MNCARS YouTube channel.
• With its newest software, Snap-on Inc. has introduced its Secure Vehicle Gateway solution to unlock 2018 and newer FCA vehicles for direct access from the scan tool to the vehicle’s secure gateway module. According to Snap-on, Wi-Fi-enabled diagnostic platforms using current software now have the ability to perform reset functions and bi-directional tests that were previously inaccessible
• Bridgestone Americas and the Nashville Predators have announced an extension to the naming rights agreement for Bridgestone Arena through 2030.
• Point S will be sponsoring the Women’s Handball World Championship taking place Nov. 30 to Dec. 15 in Kumumoto, Japan. The global tire and auto care network also is involved at a national and international level with the International Handball Federation.
• Tyrata Inc., a tire sensor and data management company, has expanded its IntelliTread tire tread wear sensor platform to include a low-profile, drive-over system (DOS). IntelliTread DOS provides data regarding tire tread wear when a vehicle drives over the low-profile, speed bump-like unit.
• Michelin North America has renewed its gold-level partnership with the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) with an eye toward increasing the number of women employed in the industry. In addition to providing financial support, Michelin actively participates in the association. Adam Murphy, vice president of business-to-business marketing, serves on the WIT board of directors.
• MacQueen Emergency, part of the MacQueen Group, has acquired Rescue Repair, a Missouri-based mobile repair provider for fire, ambulance and rescue equipment. The addition allows MacQueen to provide equipment, parts and service throughout the state.
• James Benedict from The Service Company in Dayton, OH, is the 2019 HDA Truck Pride “Top Tech.” It was Benedict’s second year competing for the Top Tech spot.