Small-Business Owners Against

Increased Taxes, Fees For EV Infrastructure

By Joe Mueller The Center Square

A survey of Colorado’s small businesses found little support for increasing taxes, fees or assessments to pay for building infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Colorado conducted a fourquestion survey before the Colorado General Assembly begins its legislative session Jan. 9. The research also found small businesses aren’t in favor of Colorado’s state agencies considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions with financial institutions.

The NFIB of Colorado surveys its members annually on state and federal issues concerning the ability of small business owners to operate and grow their enterprises. Results from the research helps NFIB develop lobbying positions in Denver and Washington, D.C.

The survey found 91% of

Jaguar Land Rover Joins I-CAR Program

I-CAR on Dec. 15 announced Jaguar Land Rover has joined I-CAR’s Sustaining Partner Program, designed to fund the various initiatives that drive I-CAR’s vision that every person in the collision repair industry has the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

The move builds upon Jaguar Land Rover’s longstanding training partnership with I-CAR, which provides customized training programs to Jaguar Land Rover’s Authorized Repair Network facilities throughout North America. Since the program’s founding in 2017, I-CAR Sustaining Partners has helped fund I-CAR curriculum and student fees in career and technical schools, which have become I-CAR fixed training sites; that funding exceeds $3 million. Sustaining Partners has also funded all Industry Training Alliance training credit fees for individuals who train with curriculum from approved Industry Training Alliance partners.

Source: I-CAR respondents were against Colorado imposing new taxes, assessments or fees on motorists, shipping or on commercial and residential energy consumption to pay for infrastructure to accommodate electric vehicles; 7% were for the increases and 2% were undecided.

Auto Care Alliance Partners With Elite

The research revealed 74% of respondents were for Colorado prohibiting state agencies from doing business with financial institutions that adhere to principles “advocated by environmental and social justice groups.” The survey found 18% were against the proposal and 8% were undecided.

“Our members’ justified crankiness comes through loud and clear in our poll,” Tony Gagliardi, NFIB’s Colorado state director, said in a statement. “For a variety of reasons, this is not a good time for small-business owners, which means it’s not a good time to ask them to pony up more money for electronic vehicle (EV) infrastructure that they believe the EV industry should be coming up with, and it’s not a good time to sell them on woke business policies.”

Three of four respondents said Colorado should become a rightto-work state; 21% were against the concept and 4% were undecided.

When asked if individuals should be allowed to choose the pharmacy of their choice for their prescription drugs, 92% agreed, 5% disagreed and 3% were undecided.

Auto Care Alliance has partnered with Elite to offer online sales training for service advisors. Elite is offering a benefits package valued at more than $300 to ACA member shops who are new to the program.

Each ACA member that signs on with Elite’s Sales Master University will receive a full year of access to 16 lessons taught by Ratchet & Wrench All-Star Award winner Jen Monclus, including quizzes and activities to improve retention and accountability, and quality content developed by America’s top shop owners and service advisors with real-world applications that can be implemented immediately, ensuring consistent and profitable sales cycles.

Elite and Hamilton will host a 30-minute webinar on this benefit to member shops at 1 p.m. CT Jan. 24.

More information on the program and upcoming webinar can be found at autocarealliance. org/elite

Source: Auto Care Alliance

Classic Collision Adds 2 Locations in Colorado

Classic Collision, LLC, on Dec. 16 announced the acquisition of the CARSTAR Highland Denver North and Highland Denver South franchise in Denver, CO.

Former owners Gunnar and Lynette Greenemeier have been dedicated for the past 35 years to serving their customers’ needs throughout the vehicle repair, by providing the most efficient, cost-effective methods available, while providing the highest quality repair and an exceptional customer service experience.

“Our philosophy has been to do the repair right the first time, and I know that Classic Collision will carry that on,” said Gunnar Greenemeier.

“We’re honored to welcome the CARSTAR Highland Denver North and South teams to the Classic family. We recognize their high service standards and dedication to customers and look forward to adding our fourth and fifth locations in the Colorado market,” said Toan Nguyen, CEO of Classic Collision. Focus Advisors, a firm specializing

“Selling our business was a difficult decision to make but we decided there was another chapter in our lives,” said Lynette Greenemeier, who credited their successful exit to the advice and guidance of Focus Advisors. “We knew it was time to shift gears and focus on supporting our daughter’s racing career. The team at Focus Advisors ensured that we received the best value for our business and managed a process to close the sale successfully, benefitting us and our employees. We’re very pleased with the outcome and our choice to join Classic Collision.”

“The Greenemeier team has built a great business and established themselves as leaders in Denver,” said Focus Advisors Managing Director David Roberts “With few MSOs in their market, there was strong interest among multiple buyers. Classic has truly found a gem with this acquisition. It’s always an honor to represent owners like the Greenemeiers in realizing the value of what they’ve

2022 U.S. Car Rental Revenue of $36.1B Shatters Records

By Auto Rental

News Staff

Despite continuing challenges around vehicle supply, staffing shortages, demand shifts and the cloud of a recession, the

Meanwhile, the estimated number of new vehicles sold into rental fleets in 2022 represents less than half the total number of vehicles sold in 2019. However, rental companies are holding their cars in fleets longer to compensate.

The high-pricing, tight fleet environment drove another new record for revenue per unit per month (RPU) of $1,424.

U.S. car rental industry earned an estimated $36.1 billion in revenue for 2022, based on data collected by Bobit. That yearly total represents a 24.7% growth over 2019’s record year and is likely the highest yearover-year gain in industry history.

Subaru Superstore of Chandler

PHX Metro East

(877) 443-3239

(480) 268-2402 Local

Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-5 WholesaleEast@ShopSubaru.com

Subaru Superstore of Surprise

PHX Metro West

(844) 378-9875

(623) 232-7202 Local

(623) 232-7303 Fax

Mon.-Fri. 7-6; Sat. 7-5 WholesaleWest@ShopSubaru.com

Flatirons Subaru Boulder

(303) 443-2919

(303) 442-1342 Fax

Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 8-5 parts@flatironsimports.com

“This year’s results are a testimony to the agility of the industry to change with the rapid fluctuations of market conditions and supply and demand,” said Chris Brown, executive editor of Auto Rental News.

“I never would’ve guessed the industry would’ve rebounded this quickly exiting the pandemic to reach record revenues. That said, the environment isn’t one to relax in, as those same pressures will ease only slightly in 2023.”

Baldwin Subaru Covington

(888) 310-9605

(985) 338-2598

(985) 273-3273 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6; Sat. 8-3 lrose@baldwinmotors.com

Five Star Subaru Grapevine (877) 308-9055

Direct (817) 438-1732 parts@subarugrapevine.com www.subarugrapevine.net

Huffines Subaru Corinth

(888) 928-2978

(940) 321-2679

(940) 497-2920 Fax Mon.-Fri. 7-7; Sat. 8-5 les.hickman@huffines.net

Oklahoma Family Out $1000s After Auto Repair Shop Shuts Down Without Finishing Repairs

By Kaylee Olivas KFOR

A Yukon, OK, family is out thousands of dollars in parts and labor after the auto repair shop they were working with closed before finishing repairs.

Bob Tomko said he was in a car accident back in December 2021.

“Took a little while for me to find somebody to work on the truck knowing full well that things can get a little expensive out there,” said Tomko.

His wife, Mary Tomko, said she knew of a mechanic who could get the job done without breaking the bank. The shop that came to her mind, Blockheads Auto Repair in Mustang, also happened to be a tenant her company was leasing space to.

Bob told KFOR that Blockheads Auto Repair had first done some minor repairs to the truck. He liked the way the job was done, so he and Mary decided to get the rest of the vehicle repaired there.

Bob said the former owner of the shop, Travis Harrison, told them he’d have to order the needed parts directly from Ford. On June 23, Mary wrote a check for $2,050 to Harrison for “truck parts and labor.”

Bob reached out to Harrison via text message to ask how things were going on several occasions.

On Aug. 22, Harrison told Bob in a text, “Everything is going good. We should be right on schedule.”

Then, on Oct. 12, texts between Harrison and Bob show Harrison saying he had just gotten off the phone with a Ford representative who said the parts would be delivered Oct. 25.

Mary then started texting Harrison on Oct. 31 about when to drop the truck off for repair, but Harrison didn’t appear to have replied.

Dec. 12 rolled around and Bob said they were still unsure of what was going on because of the lack of communication.

Mary texted Harrison once more saying, “I want my truck parts or my money back. This is a demand text. You have two days to contact me.”

Mary claimed she was told she would receive a reimbursement once Ford reimburses him.

PepsiCo To Deploy 100 Tesla Semis in 2023

By Johnna Crider Teslarati

PepsiCo is planning to deploy 100 Tesla Semis in 2023 that it purchased in 2017, and will begin delivering products to customers such as Walmart and Kroger, PepsiCo Vice President Mike O’Connell said on Dec. 16.

In an interview with Reuters, O’Connell added the company was buying the large allelectric trucks “outright” and is upgrading its plants. He said this includes the installation of four 750-kilowatt Tesla charging stalls at its Modesto and Sacramento locations in California.

“It’s a great starting point to electrify,” he said. “Like any early technology, the incentives help us build out the program.”

He said there were several development and infrastructure costs. Although the company didn’t share details on the price of the trucks when asked, O’Connell said it was a good investment.

“We keep the trucks for a million miles, seven years. The operating costs over time will pay back,” he said.

PepsiCo plans to begin rolling out the Tesla Semis in the central U.S. and then the East Coast. O’Connell also said Tesla didn’t help pay for the megachargers for the vehicles, but it provided design and engineering services for the facilities.

The megachargers are equipped with solar and battery storage systems. O’Connell said it will take 35 to 45 minutes to recharge a Tesla Semi after a 425-mile trip carrying Frito-Lay products, which should bring the battery down to around 20%.

News 4 reached out to Harrison for an interview, but he declined.

He did share with KFOR, “We closed our doors months ago. Her [Mary Tomko] and her husband ordered parts through us. There was no contact for months. We knew we were closing so we sent their parts back to Ford when we closed so we could not be accused of stealing and unfortunately we have been anyways.”

According to a lease agreement between River Rose Properties and Blockheads Auto Repair, space was leased to Harrison for the auto repair shop from Oct. 1, 2021, through Sept. 30, 2022.

Mary said once the lease expired, the contract rolled over to a month to month.

Harrison moved out of the space sometime between late November and early December, according to Mary.

Harrison said he has all necessary paperwork, which he will be presenting it to the “courts where matters like this should be discussed.”

He said at the time of closing, he tried reaching out to the Tomkos several times, but never got a response.

Harrison added he thought he was doing the right thing by sending the parts back to Ford.

News 4 attempted to ask other questions, but Harrison said he didn’t want to be on the record.

Mary said she was never made aware Harrison wasn’t reopening elsewhere.

“He told me he moved his shop with cheaper rent,” said Mary.

The Tomkos have since sent Harrison a Letter of Demand giving him until Jan. 15 to reimburse them for the parts and labor they paid for six months ago. Otherwise, the Tomkos plan to take Harrison to small claims court.

News 4 reached out to Ford about whether or not the parts were purchased through Harrison or Blockheads Auto Repair. We also asked if Ford is undergoing a delivery delay.

A Ford representative said they’re looking into the matter, but because the entire company is closed until Jan. 3, the answer likely wouldn’t come until everyone is back in the office.