Archive for September 2022
SEMA scholarships help 119 pursue careers in the automotive industry
As first reported in Repairer Driven News, one hundred and nineteen people pursuing careers in collision repair and other segments of the automotive industry have received help paying for their education through the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. The 2022 winners include 103 students who received scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and 16 employees of…
Read MoreSEMA Says Consumers Being Forced to Buy Specific Technologies in Wake of California’s 2035 Ban on Internal Combustion Engines
As reported in Collision Week, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) released a statement in the wake of the California Air Resources Board’s decision to require 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035, reiterating its concerns that regulators were banning internal combustion engines (ICE) and restricting options for consumers. “SEMA believes that Californians should not be directed…
Read MoreI-CAR opens New Training Facility in Chicago
As first reported in Repairer Driven News, I-CAR has opened a new Chicago Technical Center to serve as a neutral, mission critical resource for inter-industry. Per CEO and President John Van Alstyne, “It’s an intentional step forward to continue our mission to deliver increasingly accessible, on-demand, and relevant education, knowledge, services, and solutions for the…
Read MoreMORE SHOPS IN NEED OF MORE PEOPLE
The vast majority of body shops (85%) are looking to fill at least one position in their facility, up from 79% a year earlier, according to a CRASH Network survey in mid-2022. Job openings for body technicians, including helpers, are the most common, with two-thirds of shops saying they are searching for at least one…
Read MoreFEWER – BUT LARGER – SHOPS NATIONWIDE
CRASH Network reports that the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows there were slight decreases in 2020 in the number of independent collision repair facilities as well as the total number of employees working in them. There were about 247,000 employees working in just shy of 35,000 shops across the U.S., a drop…
Read MoreAAA Says Annual Cost of New Car Ownership Crosses $10K Mark
According to the latest research from AAA, the average yearly cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2022 is $10,728, or $894 per month. A considerable increase from 2021, when the average yearly cost was $9,666 or $805.50 per month. Not surprisingly, fuel prices are the most significant factor pushing this year’s average…
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