NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 5, 2007

WASHINGTON (March 20, 2007) – The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is urging Maine and Florida automotive mechanical and collision shop owners to contact their state senators to ask that they oppose Right-to-Repair (R2R) legislation proposed in their states.

Maine's Legislative Document 1210, "An Act Concerning the Diagnosis, Service and Repair of Motor Vehicles," requires an automobile manufacturer to provide the owner or lessee and repair facilities with the information necessary to diagnose service or repair, certify, activate or install equipment in a motor vehicle it has manufactured. The Maine R2R bill would rely on the courts to ensure the distribution of service information.

In Florida, if enacted, Senate Bill 2890 would rely on a state government agency and the Florida court system to assist repairers in acquiring automotive service information. It also requires the state's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to adopt rules setting forth a method by which a manufacturer of motor vehicles must provide certain information.

 (Source: ASA)

WARREN, MI – GM demonstrated Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) technology in New Jersey last month, allowing the public an opportunity to feel automobiles with a "sixth sense" – the capacity to pinpoint the location/movement of other vehicles up to a quarter-mile away and implement safety measures to avoid costly accidents. Participants experienced one-on-one demonstrations of the Lane Change/Blind Spot and Collision Warning with Auto Brake features in simulated real-world traffic situations.

By way of a computer chip and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, V2V alerts drivers to potentially dangerous situations, such as lane changes and abrupt changes in traffic patterns. The technology can instantly warn drivers of potential driving hazards with chimes, visual alerts or seat vibrations, says GM. If the driver doesn't respond, the vehicle can bring itself to a safe stop, thereby avoiding a collision. V2V also simplifies instantaneous traffic intelligence by replacing the sensors, radar and camera equipment that are needed today for adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection.

(Source: GM)

MONROE, MI (April 1, 2007) – Tenneco Inc.’s Walker Exhaust recently released more than 600 new part numbers for domestic and import vehicles. In addition, the brand has launched its first bilingual exhaust master catalog and updated ERIS electronic catalog, and now offers both French- and English-language Web sites.

The Walker coverage expansion includes more than 160 new catalytic converters; more than 90 additional Walker Quiet-Flow3 mufflers and welded import exhaust assemblies; 26 new Walker SoundFX mufflers; 50 new front pipes; and more than 90 new performance SKUs offered under the DynoMax brand.

In addition to using the new Walker Exhaust Master Catalog and ERIS CD, distributors, jobbers and service dealers can identify the right replacement exhaust and emission control components through the interactive bilingual Web sites for Walker Exhaust online parts at www.walkerexhaust.com and www.french.walkerexhaust.com.

(Source: Tenneco Inc.)

MINNEAPOLIS (March 28, 2007) – The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers - Minnesota (AASP-MN) has announced that it will hold its 13th annual golf outing at 3M's Tartan Park Golf Course in Lake Elmo, MN, on Monday, June 18, 2007.

Play will begin with a shotgun start at noon, followed by a social hour and awards banquet. Because of the overwhelming popularity of the outing, the association will use three courses (27 holes) at Tartan Park to accommodate all of the golfers. Cost to participate is $130 per golfer or $520 per foursome. Hole sponsorships are also available for $275.

For additional information, contact the AASP-MN office at (612) 623-1110 or (800) 852-9071 or visit www.aaspmn.org.

(Source: AASP-MN)

STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT. (March 29. 2007) – The concept of a specialty auto parts store has traditionally revolved around a product category or a rare model. T.A.S. Auto Parts (TAS), now in its sixth year of business, breaks the mold, having created a new specialty business and alternative for Honda Accord parts.

The company specializes in parts for 1990 through 2002 Honda Accords, many of which are out of the automaker's warranty period. In addition to being an authorized reseller of Genuine Honda parts and manufacturing its own brands – TASLINE stock replacement parts and TASPRO performance parts – the company also carries a long list of aftermarket brands, including AEM, KYB, Eibach and APC.

(Source: TAS)

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CHELSEA, MI (March 19, 2007) – The 4.71-mile-long oval track at DaimlerChrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds (CPG) will undergo reconstruction, expected to be completed by this September, to replace its pavement surface. The existing surface, laid down in 1953, has deteriorated and the track no longer provides a test surface acceptable for high-speed vehicle-testing requirements.

Seen from the air, the oval is a six-lane concrete road, and is in nearly continuous use. The curves in the oval were designed to accommodate vehicle speeds from 30 to 140 mph without producing any lateral loading.

DaimlerChrysler uses the CPG for new vehicle design development and validation. Several types of tests are performed at CPG, including vehicle durability, emissions certification, crash worthiness, brake development and certification, performance testing, wind and pass-by noise testing, steering suspension tests and exposure to hot and cold temperatures, all prior to vehicles being brought to the marketplace.

 (Source: DaimlerChrysler)