Tech For Repair: Progress in medium and heavy-duty collision repair continues, says HD Repair Forum
Texas, United States – The Heavy Duty (HD) Repair Forum is reporting higher-than-average early registration numbers, along with the entry of two new OEMs who are participating for the first time this year. A company press release highlights MCI representative Tim Barnes, who will discuss how to access repair information, find parts, and share opportunities […]
Bold Claims: 3M wins award at 2022 SURCAR Shanghai Congress as customers strive for ‘lights-out’ paint shop
Minnesota, United States – 3M’s Finesse-it Robotic Paint Repair System has earned the “Award for Technique” at the 2022 SURCAR Shanghai Congress, an award by an international autobody finishing organization recognizing the OEM’s ability to use of artificial intelligence (AI) for autobody finishes. “We have completely digitized this critical operation, which allows for continuous real-time […]
EV/AV Report: Court cases and creating chargers
Toronto, Ontario — In today’s EV/AV report, Tesla’s CEO dodges questioning in a trial regarding a dead Apple Inc. software engineer, General Motors announces upcoming changes for its St. Catharines plant and the government of Manitoba pledges to build more EV chargers across the province. This is the latest in electric and autonomous vehicles. Invoking […]
Future Commitment: Post-2030 Rolls-Royce vehicles will be electric-only, CEO says
Toronto, Ontario – All Rolls-Royce vehicles after 2030 will be built as all-electric vehicles (EVs), according to a recent statement by the company’s CEO. In an interview with British news outlet Autocar, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO of Rolls-Royce, says that “by the end of 2030, there will be no more V12. Series 2 cars will be […]
Employee Aftercare: Volkswagen builds electric vehicle themed escape room to ease job obsolescence anxieties
Wolfsburg, Germany — Worried about workplace obsolescence in the electric vehicle (EV) era, while the world goes through a barrage of colourfully named crises? Volkswagen AG believes the solution is an EV themed escape room—for the first problem, anyway. According to a company press release, Volkswagen’s eMotionRoom is an in-house escape room where teams of […]
Technical Velocity: AI claims processing up 180 percent over last three years, CCC says
Chicago, Illinois — In an insurer artificial intelligence (AI) adoption report, CCC Intelligent Solutions says that AI claims processing has risen by 60 percent a year, for the past three years. This follows a claim by the tech company that more than 14 million claims have been processed with a CCC AI system, which indicated […]
Tuesday Ticker: Semiconductor status report; Magna pledges Ont. investment
Toronto, Ontario — In this weekly Tuesday Ticker report: a status report on the semiconductor shortage and a glimpse into Magna’s latest investment. Chocolate, no chips Certain automakers are recovering better than others in regard to the chip shortage, according to new data from Bank of America Global Research analysts and S&P global stats. BMW, […]
Extinguished: Ford pauses Lightning F-150 production following battery fire
Detroit, Michigan — Ford has halted production on Lightning F-150 electric pickup trucks after a unit caught fire in a company holding lot earlier this month. The OEM is reportedly holding both production and shipping of Lightning units while it investigates the issue. Sales are still open, and no action has been taken on units […]
Financial Missteps: Volvo fined US$130M by NHTSA for Safety Act violations
Washington, D.C., United States — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has fined Volvo’s North American group approximately US$130 million (approx. $175 million), citing multiple violations of the U.S.’s safety act. That included untimely recall filings, including inaccurate defect and noncompliance information reports, failure to adequately notifying owners of a recall, failure to submit […]
School in Session: Axalta and SATA partner to provide training at new Ontario location
Vaughan, Ontario — Axalta Coatings and SATA have announced a new training partnership, replacing the Axalta Training Center in Ajax, Ont. with Axalta Training at SATA Canada. According to Wednesday’s press release from Axalta, this partnership will provide Axalta and its refinishing customers access to the new SATA Ontario location,. Axalta refinish customers will have […]