By CRM staff
Toronto, Ontario – March 8, 2019 — So what really happened this week? What were the biggest headlines concerning the collision repair and automotive community? Collision Repair has prepared the top five news headlines from the week.
1. Volvo Parts Restriction
While Volvo Car USA has announced that it has restricted the sale of its parts to Volvo Certified collision facilities, these restrictions will not affect the Canadian market–at least not immediately. According to Volvo Car Canada director of customer service Daniel Martin, it is looking at applying the same restrictions either later this year, or in 2020. Volvo Car Canada is a little bit behind with the program and is hoping to expand its collision centres more in the Toronto area.
2. SAAR’s Annual Spring Conference
The Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repair (SAAR) is gearing up for its annual spring conference tradeshow this weekend. The executive director of SAAR Tom Bissonnette says he is expecting more than 220 people to attend the event at the DoubleTree Hilton. The event will kick off with breakfast before jumping into a day filled with presentations from various members of the industry including, senior vice president of AsTech Frank Terlep, senior director for industry programs of the AIA Andrew Shepherd, director of business development of the Automotive Retailers Association of British Columbia Adrian Scovell, and more.
3. CCC to Administer Toyota and Lexus Certification Programs
Certified Collision Care, the Canadian division of Assured Performance Network, will administer and manage the Toyota Certified Collision Centre and Lexus Certified Collision Centre programs, Toyota Canada has announced. The programs will identify, certify, and promote dealership and independent facilities as collision repair providers of choice, to Toyota and Lexus drivers across Canada.
4. The Price of Safety
As of March 1, Manitoba vehicle safety inspections are no longer a flat fee of $55. A new bill has come in place allowing auto repair shops to set their own price for vehicle safety inspections. For the owner of Rudy’s Auto Service in Winnipeg, Rudy Epp says this bill is a long time coming. Epp pointed out that the previous rate was getting expensive for shops and they weren’t making any money from it.
5. Manitoba Shop Destroyed by Fire
Birtle Tire and Auto in Manitoba was engulfed in flames on Tuesday resulting in the evacuation of the buildings surrounding the shop.
