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Market Tsunami Sweeps Over Collision Industry by Autobody News staff
The last month’s all-but-unprecedented plunge in market confidence has prompted the Federal administration to request $850B in support for the economy including $50B for the airline industry and $250B for small business loans. The macro impact to the economy of all the closures is being played out in business pressure on companies large and small. As of March 17, the virus has infected more than 5,145 and killed at least 91 Americans, according to
data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Globally, the virus has infected more than 189,386 people and killed at least 7,504. Given the slow ramp up of testing in the U.S. the numbers are likely far higher domestically. It’s likely that any public event involving more than 50 people scheduled for this spring is canceled or postponed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now urging a nationwide halt to gatherings of more than 10 people for See Market Tsunami , Page 20
Due to the recent cancelations and postponements of events, please check for up to date information on any meetings discussed herein. For updates on all meetings see www.autobodynews.com
Jeep ‘Death Wobble’ Class Action Lawsuit Filed in CA by David A. Wood, CarComplaints
A Jeep “death wobble” class action lawsuit alleges defective solid front axles and damping systems cause violent vibrations of the steering wheels while driving highway speeds. The Jeep class action lawsuit includes current and former owners of 2018-2020 Jeep Wrangler and 2020 Jeep Gladiator SUVs in the U.S. According to the lawsuit, the “death wobble” is the “seemingly uncontrollable side-to-side shak-
ing of a Jeep’s front-end steering components and—by extension—its steering wheel, presenting a serious safety hazard to the driver of the Jeep Vehicle and surrounding drivers.” California plaintiff Melinda Martinez owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler she purchased new in March 2019, but the Jeep allegedly experienced the death wobble multiple times. According to the lawsuit, she was traveling in the Jeep with her child
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 38 / Issue 4 / April 2020
Auto Group Rejected By Supreme Court in Ford Parts Patent Fight by Matthew Bultman, Bloomberg Law
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider an automotive trade group’s challenge to design patents covering parts for Ford Motor Co.’s F-150 pickup truck. The high court’s denial of the Automotive Body Parts Association’s appeal leaves in place a decision that rejected the ABPA’s attempt to block Ford from enforcing patents on headlamp and hood designs against the group’s members. Replacement parts distributors and insurance companies for years
pushed for legislation that would cut the amount of time automakers could enforce design patents against collision repair parts makers.
The ABPA, a trade association representing companies that sell vehicle replacement parts, was among those that backed the legislation, See Ford Parts Patent Fight, Page 22
2020 NADA Expo Brings 23,000 to Las Vegas by Ed Attanasio
The jam-packed aisles at the Las Vegas Convention Center were filled with 23,000 attendees, dealers and suppliers from across the globe at the 2020 National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, Feb. 14 through Feb. 17.
See ‘Death Wobble’, Page 16
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UpdatePromise was in full force at NADA 2020� Pictured, back row, (l to r) Adam Guizado, Stephen McCallum, Krista Lucchino, Chief Operation Officer Richard Pannazzo, President and CEO Curtis Nixon, Tyler Holman, Brandon Nixon and Taylor Su� (Front row, l to r) TJ Huntington and Chad Genco� Credit: UpdatePromise
The annual NADA Show brings the entire industry together for the world’s largest automotive retail conference and expo, including companies that make products and equipment for the collision repair industry. Thousands of dealers and managers, OEM executives, allied industry, international guests and collision repair professionals connect with their peers and learn about the industry’s innovations. Over the course of four days, attendees were able to visit 500-plus exhibitors, more than 60 workshops, dealer franchise meetings and a lengthy list of keynote speakers at NADA 2020. 2020 NADA Chairman Rhett Ricart said times are good for the nearly 17,000 dealerships in the U.S., but there is still much work to do. “NADA has never been in a more fiscally fit position,” he said. “We want to make sure we can leverage that for advocacy as well as we want to get deeper and better education and tools for all the dealers.” Collision-related companies such as Global Finishing Solutions, SpaneSee 2020 NADA Expo, Page 32
3/17/2020 8:32:09 PM