• In 38 U.S. states, at least one in four drivers are behind on recommended vehicle maintenance, according to Carfax data, with Mississippi having the most at 31%, followed by Virginia, Texas, Alabama and Georgia (all at 27%).
• The latest Your Driving Costs analysis from AAA shows that the average annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle in the United States is now $12,863 or $1,071.92 per month — up from $11,577 or $964.78 per month a year ago. According to AAA, this reflects continued increases from fuel prices, depreciation and finance charges.
• Left Lane Auto has added five C Adam Toney Tire Pros shops across West Virginia. The move grows Left Lane’s network to 102 locations.
• Mavis Tire has named Tom Sexton as its first divisional vice president. Sexton, who has been with the company for 27 years, had been a regional vice president.
• Jiffy Lube is sponsoring the 2026 Rebelle Rally, an all-women offroad navigation competition. Jiffy Lube will be the presenting sponsor of the ceremonial Start and Prologue on Oct. 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and support teams competing in the Pennzoil Challenge.
• Tekmetric has appointed Attila Szabo as its director of engineering. Szabo, who has been with the company for a little over a year, had been senior engineering manager.
• The Automotive Training Institute (ATI) has added Adam Minick as a mechanical performance coach. “With more than two decades of leadership experience in the automotive service industry, Adam has built a career helping teams thrive, improving operational performance and driving measurable results,” ATI stated in welcoming him aboard, adding that Minick brings expertise in operational excellence, financial performance, KPI management and talent development.
• Kelsey Jarman of ESTI Warehouse and Jason Rook of the Independent Tire Dealers Group have been elected to the Tire Industry Association (TIA) board of directors for the first time, and Craig Stevens of Big Horn Tire and Adam Moffatt of the Tire Dealers Association of Canada have been re-elected to the board. The newly-elected board members will be officially inducted Nov. 2 during TIA’s Annual Membership Meeting in Las Vegas.
• Continental Tire Canada has named Frank Buntinx as managing director to oversee the company’s tire business in Canada as well as lead the organization across its passenger and light truck, commercial vehicle, and specialty tire segments. Buntinx brings more than 20 years of experience with Continental.
• The Wheel Group has added John Repp to its national accounts team, where he will focus on expanding opportunities for the company’s AMP Tires brand. Repp brings decades of tire and automotive aftermarket experience, including leadership positions with Bridgestone and Dunlap & Kyle.