Nearing the Finish Line: SEMA announces 2022 award finalists for best aftermarket vehicles
Las Vegas, Nevada — The votes are in and SEMA Show 2022 exhibitors have decided on the finalists for what will be considered the best vehicles for the aftermarket, across six diverse categories. SEMA organizers say the intention of the awards is to recognize automakers that support the aftermarket with accessory-friendly models based on their […]
Gaming on the Go: BMW to integrate AirConsole mobile gaming platform in 2023
Toronto, Ontario — A new partnership between BMW and mobile gaming startup AirConsole represents yet another foray for the auto industry in bringing play to the passenger seat. Starting next year, BMW owners will be able to access a library of mini games from the central display of their vehicle through AirConsole’s on-the-go gaming platform. […]
Quarterly Check-in: New Ford On Target touches on glass and ADAS, Mach-E welding and more
Toronto, Ontario — Ford dropped the third edition of its 2022 On Target newsletters last Thursday, where the legacy OEM offered a reminder to glass repair technicians, clarified some welding details on the Mustang Mach-E SUV and announced the approval of a lift table from Bosch. Ford made a point of opening this issue of […]
Fire Watch: Recalled 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrids to be updated after battery fire risks
Toronto, Ontario — Just in time for the start of youth hockey seasons, parents who drive a 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan can rest assured that a solution has been found to repair high-voltage battery packs that presented a fire risk even when the van is powered down. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) […]
On Par with People: ‘Those who understand AI, lead,’ says Columbia engineering prof. at Fix National Conference
Quebec City, Quebec — In his 1950 collection of “i, Robot” short stories, Isaac Asmiiov wrote “you just can’t differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans,” and that thought is quickly turning into reality, according to Hod Lipson, professor of engineering and data science at Columbia University, and featured speaker at Fix […]
EV Repair Checklist: Repair centres must prepare for shifting mix of EV repairs, says Mandell
Quebec City, Quebec — Mitchell International’s Ryan Mandell took the stage at the Fix Network National Conference in Quebec City last week, delivering a keynote address on the latest trends in automotive electrification and what collision repair facilities need to prepare for. “It is really a very different process, not only in terms of writing […]
Safety at All Angles: AEB tech incapable of preventing t-bone, left-turn crashes, AAA testing shows
Toronto, Ontario — Vehicle safety advocates from the American Automobile Association (AAA) in the U.S. are calling on automakers to improve the performance of automatic emergency braking (AEB), concerned that the technology fails to account for the most dangerous crash scenarios drivers find themselves in. “Automatic Emergency Braking does well at tackling the limited task […]
Defend Your Digits: Tesla recalls all models for pinch-prone power windows
Toronto, Ontario — A piece of advice for the next time you repair a Tesla —watch your fingers around those windows, as the EV automaker has recalled its entire model lineup from as far back as 2017 for a defect affecting its power window technology. In a report announcing the recall on Sept. 22, the National […]
Them Kia Boyz: Hyundai, Kia vehicles ‘easy targets’ for theft, IIHS report says
Toronto, Ontario — In the hopes of balancing out some of the fear mongering that can sprout up when vehicle thefts come on the rise, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has unveiled some concrete insights into what vehicles are being targeted, why they are being targeted, and what happens when they are recovered? It […]
Softening the Blow: Safer large vehicles could help close gap on gender-specific crash severity
Toronto, Ontario — A number of studies have come out over the past several years that bring to light the fact that women, specifically the “average” female body, has not been properly accounted for in the modern crash testing process—and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s v-p of vehicle research is looking to change that. […]
