TORONTO, ON -- July 29, 2008 -- In international news this week, Australia is in the midst of a controversy regarding a magazine article that upcoming AutoEquip Expo organizers say is meant to undermine their event. Meanwhile in Russia, DuPont opens a $3 million technical centre focused on adapting new coatings materials to line conditions at car manufacturing plants.

In the UK, a study conducted by Experian reveals a frightening trend regarding failing automotive businesses, while Mitchell’s ITR examined the difference in repair costs between hybrid vehicles and traditional gasoline powered vehicles. Finally, Solera expands its reach into the German market by acquiring USC.

Australia
Sydney Show Attack Causes Uproar
The AutoEquip Expo in Sydney, Australia was attacked recently in the trade publication National Collision Repairer, just weeks before the exhibition opened. The article, titled “Why We Won’t Be There . . .” has resulted in a storm of accusation and threats of possible legal action.

The article purports to be an interview between a representative from the magazine and the management of Sydney Automotive Paints and Equipment (SAPE).

The show’s organizers speculate that the article is a deliberate attempt to sabotage the Expertise Events show. SAPE is a major advertiser in the magazine and is represented on the steering committee for the rival Collision Repair Expo, staged as part of the AAAA biennial show. Some have seen this as a distinct motivation for undermining the AutoEquip Expo.

Gary Fitz-Roy, the Managing Director of Expertise Events, circulated a letter to all AutoEquip Expo exhibitors to help mitigate the damage of the article. In the letter Fitz-Roy said “the timing (of the article) certainly has the effect of causing maximum damage.”

Russia
New Research & Development Centre for DuPont Venture in Russia
DuPont Russian Coatings LLC, has opened the largest technical centre at their headquarters in Yaroslav, Russia. The $3 million facility’s primary focus is adapting the technical properties of new coatings materials to the line conditions at new car manufacturers’ plants and at the operations of plastic parts makers.

"Russian automakers can now enjoy the cost advantages of using locally produced coatings systems that are fine-tuned to real-world manufacturing conditions" said BC Chong, vice president and general manager of DuPont OEM Automotive Coatings.

DuPont Russian Coatings LLC is a joint venture established in 2006 by DuPont and Russkie-Kraski. DuPont is a leading manufacturer of coatings for the automotive OEM and refinish markets, while Russkie-Kraski is the Russian Federation’s largest manufacturer of automotive coatings and resins. Together they supply coatings to manufacturers of automobiles and commercial vehicles in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

UK
Experian Study Shows Automotive Businesses Failing
An analysis conducted by Experian has discovered that the total number of automotive companies going under rose by more than 30 per cent in the last three months, compared to the same period in 2007. In total, 72 automotive businesses failed from April-June of this year, the biggest increase in failures since 2001, while the total number of insolvencies for the first half of the year is an increase of over 10 per cent from last year.

“These latest figures reveal a worrying nosedive,” said Kirk Fletcher, Managing Director of Experian’s Automotive Division. “Conditions are tough and with fears of a recession on its way, most companies are now monitoring the profiles of the businesses they are dealing with and dealers may find that they are under more scrutiny than before. Even those who are managing to keep their heads above water need to keep an eye on their financial and commercial profile.”

US
Mitchell’s ITR: Hybrid Repairs More Costly Than Gas Vehicles
Mitchell International, Inc. released the third quarter 2008 edition of its quarterly Industry Trends Report (ITR), with the feature arctile being "The Average Severity of Hybrid versus Gas Vehicles," by Mitchell's Senior Director, Information Services, Jamison Day. The feature examines the differences in estimates and average severities between gasoline powered vehicles and their hybrid counterparts.

“We thought it would be interesting to see how the hybrid's average estimate amounts compared and explore what might be driving the differences" said Day. "Our study looked across different geographies and also drilled down into parts and labor dollar categories. We saw that hybrid severities were consistently higher across different states and found that both parts and labor costs were higher for the hybrid vehicle repairs."
 
Germany
Solera Increases footing in Germany
Solera Holdings Inc., a leading global provider of software and services to the automobile insurance claims processing industry announced that it has acquired UC Universal Consulting Software GmbH (“UCS”). UCS is a leading provider of software and services to collision repair facilities in Germany with more than 1,200 collision repair facility customers.

“This purchase further demonstrates our commitment in expanding our product and service offering to our customers in the German market,” said Tony Aquila, Solera’s chairman and CEO. “This addition not only enhances our shop network, but will also allow us to provide additional value to our largest insurance company customers in the region.”

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