AkzoNobel Car Refinishes Australia has announced the sale and transfer of AkzoNobel Car Refinishes New Zealand to the Otbury Group Ltd, effective March 1, 2010. General manager of AkzoNobel Car Refinishes Australia, Joe McFadries said the decision to sell the New Zealand business was a strategic move. “A distributor model is best suited read more

The already diverse GPI Group has opened a new area of business with a branch now moving into industrial abrasives. Managing director Col Edwards told ABN: “This is a new area for us to attack, but it is in reality an extension of where we have been for a while. There are a multitude of existing product lines in our GPI Automotive Services range that have applications in the building and industrial areas.” read more

The 80th Geneva Motor Show opened its doors to the public today, with a promise of green cars to come and plenty of optimism in a market battered by a couple of years of trifling sales boosted only by cash for clunker programmes. read more

Glasurit recently opened its first Refinish Competence Centre (RCC) for automotive refinish products in France in the city of Montataire. Glasurit will train nearly 400 customers and trainers at the new centre in an area of 600 square meters. read more

Car-O-Liner Australia's manager for Queensland, Bob Rees was tragically killed in an accident on the Gold Coast. He was farewelled in an emotional funeral at the Calvary Church, in Santa Monica Road, Miami, Queensland today. read more

Dallas/Feb. 23, 2010 —Automotive Service & Repair Week – ASRW 2010 – reports strong industry support for this year’s events via the ASRW Partnering Program (APP). The APP is designed to foster industry participation by partnering organizations supporting the many segments of the automotive service and repair industry. APP participants promote unified industry involvement, while strengthening their respective groups and memberships. read more

Ford and Kia are both bringing wireless internet connection to their motor vehicles, Ford through their Sync system, and Kia through their UVO format. Ford’s voice-controlled infotainment system is based on the Microsoft Auto software platform, now known as the Windows Embedded Auto software platform. Sync uses Bluetooth wireless technology to provide drivers voice-controlled access to songs from music players such as iPods and enables them to make hands-free phone calls. read more

The annual SEMA show and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has issued a direct challenge to NACE and the Automotive Service Association (ASA) with a close affiliation for 2010. The SCRS has joined forces with SEMA to offer a Repairer Driven Education component as a major extension of the 2010 SEMA Show Paint & Body Equipment (PBE) section, which the SEMA show organisers are working to expand. read more

Manheim's used-vehicle price index rose 20 per cent in December 2009 over the equivalent month in 2008. A rise in used car values means a reduction in pressure to write off damaged vehicles, and thus more repairs to shops. Manheim’s chief economist, Tom Webb said cash-for-clunkers in particular helped late-model used-vehicle prices by clearing out 2009 model vehicles in time for the new 2010 models. read more

Media reports say that a troubled Toyota Motor Corp plans to cut auto parts procurement costs by around 30 per cent over three years to help regain profitability. According to a Japanese newspaper Toyota has asked its suppliers to cut prices of some parts by 30-40 per cent for cars that will hit the market by 2013. The Nikkei business daily also said Toyota plans to switch to less expensive materials and parts. read more

Toyota Motor Corporation Japan and Toyota Motor Corporation Australia have initiated a safety recall campaign on its current generation Prius vehicles. Current generation Prius commenced being sold in Australia in July 2009. read more

Statistics from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show that in 2009, 13.7910 million and 13.6448 cars were manufactured and sold respectively in China, a growth of 48.30% and 46.15 respectively over the year 2008. The rapid development of auto industry will lead to a double of sales volume of China’s auto-aftermarket and a market scale of over 15 billion USD by the end of 2010. With this gratifying prospect, AUTO MAINTENANCE & REPAIR 2010 (AMR 2010), the 53rd China International Trade Fair for Auto-aftermarket is to be held on March 18-21 at China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing. read more

The winter freeze came just in time to save some of the UK’s body shops from going out of business, but according to a new report, the medium term promises no relief for a hard-pressed sector. Not long after the snow had melted in mid-January (providing much needed work for UK repairers), read more

The third annual Automotive Service & Repair Week – ASRW 2010 – announced that Jerry Burns, president and owner of Automotive Impressions, Inc., will return as the event chairman for the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE); and Mitch Schneider, owner and operator of Schneider’s Automotive, will serve as the event chairman for the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS). read more