Archive for June 2024

Toyota patented a system that lets car owners change the color of their vehicles using thermal energy. This would eliminate the need for dealerships to stock various paint colors and could potentially reduce unwanted inventory. The color change would happen in a special bay using heat and possibly light to activate a color-changing layer in…

A recent AAA survey suggests a decline in American consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs). This year, only 18% of US adults said they were likely to buy an EV, down from 23% last year. The main reasons for the hesitation are cost, lack of charging stations, and range anxiety. AAA believes these factors may…

A new survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that most of American drivers are open to using technology to help reduce speeding. The survey found that over 60% of drivers would be OK with a system that provides audible and visual warnings when they exceed the speed limit. Surprisingly, nearly half…

ALLDATA’s Repair Planner promises to streamline the body shop workflow by automating repair planning and ensuring adherence to OEM specifications. This software integrates with their existing ALLDATA Collision platform and works with popular estimating systems. Here’s how it works: After creating an initial estimate, the user imports it into Repair Planner from ALLDATA Collision.  Repair…

The cost of paint and materials (P&M) for collision repair has been increasing significantly in recent years. According to industry data, P&M costs have increased by nearly 44% between 2017 and 2022, while P&M reimbursements have only gone up by 18.5% in the same period. This means that collision repair shops are losing money on…

The Vehicle Service Group (VSG) has been accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) for its educational courses. This accreditation validates VSG’s commitment to providing high-quality training to technicians, shop owners, and insurance professionals in the automotive and collision repair industries. VSG offers courses in a variety of formats, including web-based…

The TechForce Foundation is taking action to combat the technician shortage by launching a survey called “Techs Talk.” Unlike traditional technician surveys that primarily gather data from older generations, “Techs Talk” specifically targets aspiring and newly employed technicians, particularly Gen Z. This strategic approach aims to gain valuable insights into the perspectives, values, and experiences…

A CNN Business article highlighted the rising difficulty of fixing cars after even minor accidents, due to the increasing use of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like automatic emergency braking. These systems rely on sensors and cameras that can be easily damaged in a collision, requiring expensive replacements and calibrations to ensure they function properly. The…