Automotive Repair News Today

Braxton Critcher [00:00:05]:
This is automotive repair news today. I'm Braxton Critcher. Thanks for listening. Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Loss data Institute shows little evidence that partial automation systems prevent collisions. Studies of BMW and Nissan vehicles conducted by Aldi in 2021 and confirmed by a new study by IIHS reveals that partial automation does not offer additional safety benefits beyond crash avoidance features like front automatic emergency braking. The vehicles in these studies are between five and eleven years old, so newer partial automation systems might be more effective. However, if you drive a partially automated vehicle over five years old, dont count on it to prevent a collision. At the start of 2024, light vehicles in the US reached a record high average of 12.9 years.

Braxton Critcher [00:01:07]:
This aging trend has significantly impacted various aftermarket sectors, so let's break it down. The average ages of different vehicle types like cars, light trucks, domestic nameplates and foreign nameplates vary greatly. However, passenger cars, especially domestic nameplates, have aged faster than light trucks due to a decline in new car sales. Consequently, older cars now make up a larger share of vehicles on the road, while light trucks have dominated new sales. This results in higher aftermarket product use per mile, boosting aftermarket product volume and the need for repairs. Also, industry leaders expect the average age number to exceed 13 years by year's end. The ratchet and wrench management conference begins this year, September 12 in Orlando. It's a brand new venue to tackle the industry's latest topics with a brand new format, too.

Braxton Critcher [00:02:10]:
Here's Chris Messer with more it's kind.

Chris Messer [00:02:12]:
Of a unique format of an event because most of the presenters are actually peer to peer presenters. They're not same vendors and suppliers that are running the market, and at every single event out there, they tend to be more of like real, raw, and in the trenches of owners and operators of shops that are presenting on how they built their businesses or challenges that they might have in their businesses.

Braxton Critcher [00:02:37]:
A link to register for this year's event is in the show. Notes storm season is upon us, and if you're in the automotive industry, it's time to start thinking about how to protect your equipment, vehicles, facilities and more. As of June 10, the US has faced eleven extreme weather events, causing 25 billion in damage, with FEMAs disaster relief fund likely depleted by August. According to sources, the NOAA predicts an 85% chance of an above normal hurricane season, with four to seven major hurricanes expected soon. Those managing auto inventory, like dealerships or repair shops must take extra precautions. Steps to prepare include moving inventory out of Harm's way, warning your employees and customers of the approaching storm, making a plan to be prepared and many, many more. It's important, though, to think about these things now before a storm strikes. So do that this week.

Braxton Critcher [00:03:46]:
Automotive repair News today has covered the lack of EV charging station growth among nearly half the states in the country, but that doesn't account for the stations that do existential and the ones that are broken within them. A recent study from Harvard found that nearly 20% of existing EV chargers are broken or disabled. Many chargers are in inconvenient locations and poorly maintained, leading to frustration and eroded trust from the EV charging market. News like this continues to grow and spread and has raised the antenna of industry leaders to help motivate change. EV's are on the rise, but what's holding back that growth is how to charge them and 20% of EV chargers today in the US are broken. The Auto Care association has opened registration for the upcoming fall leadership days in Baltimore, Maryland, taking place September 4 through the 6th at the Hilton Baltimore Inner harbor. Over 20 meetings are planned for communities, standing committees, the board of directors and others, along with an award presentation and discussion forums. Leadership day meetings are intended for official volunteer leaders of ACA, communities and committees, though non volunteers may attend open meetings as a guest with ACA, noting that guests of this meeting have the opportunity to be brought on for future committee terms, 25 organizations, including Carr coalition, MIMA, aftermarket suppliers, and National Federation of Independent Businesses, have urged the House Energy and Commerce Committee to take action on the Repair act.

Braxton Critcher [00:05:36]:
The Repair act, with over 50 bipartisan co sponsors, currently passed the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and commerce unanimously last year. Lead sponsor Doctor Neil Dunn has addressed subcommittee concerns including cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, consumer data and preemption by making necessary changes to the bill. The letter now calls for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to include and pass the Repair act in the next markup session later this month. We'll get you details on the repair act and what that has in store in an upcoming podcast on automotive repair news today. If you know of news that needs to be shared on this podcast on our social medias, reach out to me@braxtonautomotiverepairnews.com. that's Braxton at automotiverepairnews news.com. be sure to like, subscribe, share and comment on the YouTube channel social media and this podcast. But most of all, thanks for listening to automotive repair news today.

Braxton Critcher [00:06:50]:
Hey, if you're still here, thank you so much for listening to this episode.

Braxton Critcher [00:06:54]:
Of Automotive Repair news today.

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Braxton Critcher [00:07:09]:
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