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A Look at the Impact of Driven Brands Purchase of Fix Auto USA & Auto Center Auto Body by Stacey Phillips
With Driven Brands’ purchase of Fix Auto USA and Auto Center Auto Body on April 21, the collision repair industry is experiencing another shift in landscape during a time of accelerating consolidations. FOCUS Advisors, Inc., a full-service mergers and acquisitions (M&A) firm specializing in the automotive aftermarket, announced the completion of the transaction for both parties in a press release to the industry. Autobody News had the opportunity to talk to David Roberts, man-
aging director of FOCUS Advisors, Inc., about the transaction and its impact in the industry.
Q:
tion?
Can you share some of the background of this transac-
A:
Erick Bickett and I have been friends and professional colleagues for nearly 27 years. He and Shelly Bickett have had a huge impact on this industry for a long time and are some of the most sophisticated operators in the country. See Purchase of Fix Auto USA, Page 10
Auto Repair in the Time of COVID-19 by Barry Lank, The Eastsider
At JT Mechanic & Body Shop in Lincoln Heights, an L.A. neighborhood, customers need to wear masks when dropping off their car.
Credit: Courtesy Luis Lopez Automotive
In Atwater Village, customers at Luis Lopez Automotive park their car, roll down the window and leave the keys inside before a mechanic takes a look. And that’s just for an oil change. “I’ll be frank with you,” said owner Luis Lopez. “It’s pretty tedious.” Though still open as an essential business, auto repair shops are facing the same tough times as other businesses—though with factors unique to service stations, such as the business cycle and See Time of COVID-19, Page 18
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AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 38 / Issue 6 / June 2020
Car Rental Industry Braced for Impact from Coronavirus, Financing Concerns by Mark Zinn, News-Press NOW
With a recently estimated reduction of more than 90% of non-essential travel, car rental companies are feeling the ripple effect caused by the coronavirus outbreak. While most local car rental branches remain open, the excess amount of cars on their lots can only mean business is dwindling during a time the car-sharing industry has been hit hard by much less demand. “Like others across the travel industry—and countless other companies large and small—we have wit-
Car rentals are down amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Credit: Mark Zinn, News-Press NOW
nessed an impact to our business,” said Lisa Martini, a spokesperson for Missouri-based Enterprise HoldSee Industry Braces for Impact, Page 14
As we move from medical crisis to economic recovery, Autobody News chooses to focus on information detailing how the economy is recovering and how companies are managing that process. Please check Autobodynews.com for the most current information.
How COVID-19 is Affecting Parts Departments by Ken Strong, CBT Automotive Network
With social distancing, isolation and quarantine efforts dominating news and daily life, coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. and world economies. The automotive industry has felt the impact. Manufacturers and dealers are all working on innovative ways to make it through the crisis. While sales departments are implementing digital retailing efforts, parts and service departments are also working on ways to put customers at ease and stabilize business operations. Parts Shortages While dealerships haven’t started to notice the impact of coronavirus on parts supply, automakers are scrambling to find parts and prevent shortages in their supply chains as the spread of the coronavirus rattles
markets and threatens to roil manufacturing processes globally. General Motors recently identified a potential parts shortage and airlifted supplies for its North American truck production, according to United Auto Workers officials. Fiat Chrysler has said it is seeking alternative suppliers. Others like Toyota Motor and auto suppliers Dana and Aptiv have established teams, task forces and war rooms to closely monitor the COVID-19 epidemic. Some auto manufacturers are also committing to temporarily divert resources to help produce essential health items like masks and respirators. All of these conditions will likely result in a shortage of parts on dealer shelves at some point through this crisis. The good news is China is alSee Parts Departments, Page 12
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