Checks and Balances: Uni-Select, LKQ acquisition passes antitrust requirements, awaiting U.K. approval
Boucherville, Québec — Uni-Select and LKQ say they are pleased to announce they have gotten the green light from the Canadian Competition Bureau to go forward with LKQ’s acquisition of Uni-Select, first announced in February. Additionally, the waiting period mandated under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired, meaning that Uni-Select has achieved […]
A Seat at the Table: Sask. government invests $1.5 million into 250 new apprentice training seats
Regina, Saskatchewan — The Prairies are quickly becoming the place where future apprentices grow, as the Saskatchewan government announced Thursday that it is opening up an additional 250 seats in its training classrooms this year. Thanks to a $1.5 million investment from the provincial government, this expansion of apprenticeship training opportunities builds on more than […]
Tighter Living: Average auto insurance premium in Ontario grows by 12 percent in 2023
Toronto, Ontario — Insurance research firm, Rates.ca has released its list of cities that pay the highest auto insurance premiums in Ontario, with the average estimated premium growing by 12 percent in 2023, compared to 2021. This is the largest increase recorded by the Insuramap survey, with the average estimated premium sitting at $1,744, compared to […]
Recall Wave: Transport Canada recalls several KIA, BMW and Mercedes-Benz 2022-2023 models
Toronto, Ontario — In this week’s recall update, Transport Canada has discovered KIA instrument clusters with faulty warning lights, randomly disconnecting BMW battery connectors and Mercedes-Benz batteries that will not warn the driver of problems. BMW is recalling the 2023 IX and I7 models (recall No. 2023250) warning that connectors for the high-voltage battery monitoring […]
EV/AV Report: Confused AVs, Ford price-cuts and Montreal on the map
Toronto, Ontario — A first responder yells at an autonomous vehicle (AV) driving towards a San Francisco fire truck, Ford announces its own electric vehicle (EV) price cuts in a bit to compete with Tesla’s own reductions, and Montreal’s EV investments begin to bear fruit in North America’s e-trucking industry. This is the latest in […]
Two Becoming One: Celette acquires Wedge Clamp, will now offer floor system product line
Toronto, Ontario — In a deal bringing together two collision repair powerhouses, Celette announced Friday that it has acquired Wedge Clamp Systems and will begin selling the company’s popular line of floor systems. Celette said in its press release that “Wedge Clamp Systems has delivered a variety of innovative products to the market that are […]
New Kid in Town: Mitchell becomes first info provider to sign data agreement with Rivian
Toronto, Ontario — The first time for anything is always special—the team at Mitchell surely agrees, as the company announced Thursday that it is officially the first collision information provider to sign a data licensing agreement with Rivian. With this agreement, users of Mitchell Cloud Estimating and Mitchell Cloud Estimating TruckMax will be able to […]
Plan of Attack: B.C. gov. announces $3,500 skills grants in newly unveiled Future Ready Action Plan
Victoria, British Columbia — The B.C. government unveiled its Future Ready Action Plan on Tuesday, which details a number of incoming grant opportunities potential tradespeople in the province. British Columbia Premier David Eby says that with the Future Ready Action Plan, the province is “taking action” to get a handle on the evolving trades industry […]
Apprentice Appreciation: Pair of Man. collision apprentices honoured at achievement awards Thursday
Winnipeg, Manitoba — Carrying on a proud tradition of honouring the province’s tradespeople, the Manitoba government recognized its best and brightest on Thursday at the thirty-first annual Apprenticeship Highest Achievement Awards ceremony. Automotive painter Jacob Doerksen and body technician Trevor Marshall represented the collision repair industry among 36 other newly certified apprentices, declared to be […]
The Takata Toll: BMW issues ‘Do Not Drive’ order for 38,000 early-00’s models
Toronto, Ontario — As Takata airbags continue to rear their defective heads, BMW made the call on Thursday to issue a “Do Not Drive” order for approximately 38,000 models sold in Canada between 2000 and 2006. First announced in a news release from the U.S.’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which identified an additional […]
