Mar - Apr 2001 News In Brief: Ford to sell insurance

In Brief

PSR on course
'Well over 200' repairers in NSW are signed up to NRMA's Preferred Smash Repairer program as of the beginning of February and an NRMA spokesperson said the company was committed to continuing the process of growing the PSR program towards the stated target of 750 repairers by May of this year. Meanwhile, rumours that IMA, the joint venture between NRMA and RACV, struck off 37 repairers from its repair network in November have been denied by NRMA which states that most new contracts have not even been issued yet.

Repairers look to jump ship
Perhaps one of the best indicators of the state of the repair industry at the moment comes from Dennis Smart, managing director of 14-shop Woods Accident Repairs who said he has been approached by many businesses in the past six months looking to sell. "There are a lot more people wanting to get out of the business at the moment," he said.

Ford Australia is to introduce its own brand of insurance product -- Ford Insure. It is understood the product will be sold through dealerships to retail customers but the program has not been launched yet and Ford will not reveal who is to underwrite the product or any further details.

Safety car win
Monroe received more than 8000 entries in its shock absorber promotion but there could only be one winner -- Jeffrey Ayers of Somerset, Tasmania who won a street-legal version of the Monroe safety car used in the V8 SuperCars Shell Championship Series. Another street-legal version of the Monroe safety car -- a Ford AUII XR8 -- is up for grabs in 2001.

PPG gains DC approval
Stuttgart DaimlerChrysler has approved PPG Industries as a preferred supplier of refinish products and services to the car maker's repairers worldwide for warranty and aftermarket collision repair. The approval begins with the calendar year 2001 and continues in perpetuity as long as PPG continually meets the product requirements of the US-German manufacturer.

Kiwi winners
Winners at SkillEx 2000 in New Zealand late last year were Charles Coxon of Greenpark Panel & Paint, Auckland, who won gold in the PPG Auto Refinishing competition and Faato'a Stunzner-Taito of Roy Haslar Autohaus, Auckland, who
RACV looks for dobbers
RACV Insurance is encouraging policyholders to help the company combat fraud after an industry survey revealed almost 50 per cent of Australians would do nothing if they discovered an insurance fraud. Fraud adds approximately $70 to every insurance policy says the Insurance Council of Australia.

New PPG refinish GM
PPG Industries has announced the appointment of Mike Horton as general manager, Automotive Refinish, Australia. Horton held various management positions at ICI in the UK and then as an expatriate, was appointed operations manager at Dulux, Australia. After the transfer of the Orica technical coatings business to PPG, Horton held the position of general manager -- operations, of PPG's Clayton facility.

Dangerous intersections
RACV is urging motorists to treat intersections as the most hazardous part of driving, after a survey showed Victoria's worst intersections have killed seven, injured 1,327 and cost more than $92 million over a five-year period. Victoria's worst intersection was at Princes Highway and Springvale Road, Dandenong, where three people died and 177 were injured in 108 accidents over five years.

Akzo has good year
Akzo Nobel, manufacturer of Sikkens Refinishes, had a record year in 2000. Netherlands-based CEO Cees J.A. van Lede said the company's car refinishes division had strengthened its position and global growth, especially in Australasia and the US was excellent. Forbes magazine classified Akzo Nobel as one of the best 400 companies in the world and ranked it as the worldwide number one chemical company.

Korea overtakes France
South Korea is set to overtake France as the world's fourth largest car maker. According to the Korea Automobile Research Institute, 3.2 million cars will be manufactured in South Korea this year, taking the country from seventh in 1999 to fourth in 2001. Hyundai, with a 75 per cent market share will export 60 per cent of its production this year.

Under cover
Americans spend less time shopping for motor insurance than they do for underwear claims a US insurance survey. Almost half of respondents admitted they never shop around for car cover but spend up to two hours looking for bargain underwear.

Mack deal OK
The US Competition Authority has approved Volvo's acquisition of Renault VI/Mack. Volvo Global Trucks is now the second largest and Europe's biggest manufacturer of heavy trucks. The three brands, Volvo, Mack and Renault will remain separate under the VGT umbrella.

Auto South China
Guangzhou More than 180 exhibitors presented their products to approximately 130,000 visitors over the five days of Auto South China late last year. The trade fair, organised by Messe Frankfurt, the China Automotive International Corporation and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, included exhibits stands by Honda, Suzuki and Volkswagen.

Newton sets up trade group
David Newton-Ross of Newton International Marketing has set up Collision Repair Specialists of Australia, a 'collision repair networking group' which aims to support local repairers with quarterly conferences. The new group presently has 25 members.

MVIRC revokes licence
Mechanical repairer AM Automatics of Granville, NSW has had its licence revoked by the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Council. Owner Victor Meli, well known to the MVRIC, has been behind a total of nine businesses over the years that have been involved in disputes about poor work and overcharging.

Fleet boost
Fleet work is helping to lift standards and boost productivity at Bob Jane sanctioned
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ruled that Bob Jane T-Mart must give customers a free wheel alignment if they were found to have paid too much. From March 1996 to July 2000, 11 Bob Jane T-Marts were found to be offering a thrust wheel alignment at a higher cost than a front two-wheel alignment when the two were found to provide the same level of service.

New web address for DuPont
The DuPont Refinish website now has a new, easier to remember address -- www.dupontrefinish.com -- which is devoted to Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.
The entire site is now simpler than ever to use and its complete re-design reflects the global visual identity of the DuPont Refinish brand said the company. Local pages can now be accessed in a native language and Australian users can obtain information on the DuPont distribution network, products and training information, including dates and courses at the Sydney Refinish Training Centre.

Mal Gilbert goes with Sikkens
One of the largest shops in Queensland -- Mal Gilbert Smash Repairs, after 13 years has changed paint systems to Sikkens. "Sikkens earned the business. Their products have thoroughly proven themselves," said owner Mal Gilbert.

Storms whip up business
The recent storms in New South Wales have given repairers a welcome boost and have kept insurers busy. "We have had a lot on our plate with the storms," said Keith Dean, national assessing manager for AMP.

Spring appointment
Air Springs Supply has appointed Neil Shilton as specialist national sales consultant for the distributor of Firestone and Continental air springs.

Enerpac moves
High force tool specialist Enerpac has appointed Peter Samson as territory manager for South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory.