AASP National News

AASP Industry Improvement Grants Available
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) is now accepting grant applications to fund initiatives having the purpose of improving or advancing the collision and mechanical repair industries. Grant requests will be accepted through September 30th and reviewed at the AASP Board of Directors meeting in November.

AASP Announces 2010 AAPEX Seminar
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) will sponsor a seminar entitled Adding Social Media to Your Marketing Toolbox at the 2010 AAPEX Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The program will be held on Thursday, November 4th, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., at the Venetian Hotel.

DEG Surpasses 2,500 Inquiries
The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) announced that it has successfully assisted collision repairers in the processing of more than 2500 data-related inquiries.

Check Out www.degweb.org! (new window)
The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) is an initiative that was developed to help improve the quality and accuracy of collision repair estimates, through proactive feedback from the collision repair industry and other "end users" to the Information Providers (IPs) that supply the databases for the various estimating products. The DEG is created, equally funded and maintained by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2057)
Modern cars and light trucks contain advanced technology that monitors or controls virtually every function of the vehicle including: brakes, steering, air bags, fuel delivery, ignition, lubrication, theft prevention, emission controls and in some cases, tire pressure. Car owners and independent shops must have full access to the information and tools necessary to accurately diagnose, repair, or re-program these systems. This information and equipment is necessary to ensure vehicle safety, performance, and environmental compliance. Vehicle manufacturers are making access to such vital information increasingly difficult and costly to obtain for the independent aftermarket and its customers.

AASP Affiliate News

AASP-MN Announces Fall Seminar Line-Up
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is committed to Building a Better Industry…One Shop at a Time. Providing quality management and technical training courses is just one way that AASP-MN delivers on that promise. AASP-MN proudly announces its “Fall 2010 World Series of Seminars.”

IGONC Schedules 51st Annual Convention
The Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina will hold its 51st annual convention and trade show on October 8-10, 2010. The event will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Cary, North Carolina.

Three Massachusetts Repair Associations Unite
On May 24, three Massachusetts collision repair and automotive service associations became united in a historic undertaking. During a special industry dinner meeting held in Marlborough, Ma., the three associations - the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP/MA), the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA) and the Central Massachusetts Auto Rebuilders Association (CMARA) - joined forces as one statewide industry association.