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 […]
Reading Rainbows: Expect more colour variety in North America, says BASF 2022 coatings report
Münster, Germany — White and black remain king across the world, but the rainbow of automotive colour broadens, according to BASF’s 2022 Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings. According to Wednesday’s report, achromatic colours continue their dominance, largely due to their prevalence on non-commercial vehicles produced in 2022–in other words, fleet vehicles. White remains the […]
Shacking up with Treschak: Color Compass Corporation acquires Treschak Enterprises in Welland, Ont.
Welland, Ontario — Treschak Enterprises in Welland, Ont. has been acquired by Color Compass Corporation, expanding the Canadian footprint of the autobody supply distributor. According to Color Compass, this is part of the company’s historic practice of strategic market growth and acquisitions, with the addition of Treschak Enterprises being part of their continued expansion within […]
On the Substrate and Narrow: Ford issues warnings on proper glass substrate preparation
Toronto, Ontario — As is surely no mystery to readers here, when a piece of technology advances, so too does its repair process advance in complexity, and to that end Ford has issued a reminder to repairers on how best to prepare windshield substrates such that proper ADAS functionality is maintained on the vehicle. Whether […]
A Brighter Blaze: New paint shades for 2023 Chevrolet Blazer include ‘Radiant Red Tintcoat’
(Photo by GMAuthority) Toronto, Ontario — The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer has had three new paint shades bestowed upon it recently, including one red tint that is truly befitting of the popular midsize crossover’s name. Refinishers, and close observers of General Motors’ recent paint developments, may recognize some similarities between the three new Blazer shades—Radiant Red […]
Satisfying Seams: Collision expert weighs in on seam sealing at SEMA education session
Toronto, Ontario — A job well done for a collision repair technician often means a repair that makes a vehicle look like it just rolled off the assembly line, and an industry expert who spoke at this year’s SEMA Show is making it his goal to help tradespeople do just that, starting seam sealers. John […]
Paint Perfection: Mazda unveils Artisan Red Premium paint, fourth of Takuminuri line
Toronto, Ontario — Those out there who consider themselves automotive artists have a new paint shade just for them, as Mazda unveiled the new Artisan Red Premium paint shade on Tuesday; the fourth of the company’s advanced Takuminuri paint line. Takuminuri, which translates as “Artisan colouring,” is Mazda’s painting technology that reproduces a precise, high-quality […]
Fortifying the Flanks: Initial results of new side-impact crash test a ‘mixed bag,’ IIHS says
Toronto, Ontario — The IIHS is in the process of putting smaller cars through the crash testing ringer following calls from safety advocates to intensify the side-impact test for such vehicles, referring to the initial results of the new test as a “mixed bag” on Thursday. Of the 11 vehicles put through this revised testing […]
Parts Publisher: Upcoming Cadillac CELESTIQ to contain 115 3D printed parts, no added repair challenges
Toronto, Ontario — As Cadillac prepares to take its first all-electric offering to market, the luxury OEM is assuring collision repair shops that the 3D printed parts on the upcoming CELESTIQ will cause no disruption to what it is calling a “truly bespoke experience” for drivers. The brand’s new flagship model, set to enter production […]
