California Aftermarket Parts Bill Defeated
The California Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) has announced a big win for California consumers with the defeat of SB 1059 (Migden), a bill aimed at restricting consumers’ ability to have aftermarket parts installed on their vehicles. A large coalition including CAWA, Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the Coalition for Automotive Repair Equality, LKQ/Keystone, California Retailers Association, AAA, insurance industry and others, worked together to lobby against SB 1059, which would have made it unlawful for any insurer to require the installation of an aftermarket part for the first three years of the vehicle’s life as well as restrict the ability of insurers to replace a part with a lower priced replacement part during this same three year period.
Richard Keister Named WAI Executive Chairman; Former Keystone Automotive CEO Buys Ownership Stake in Business
ROYERSFORD, Pa. — WAI Global has announced the appointment of Richard Keister as executive chairman of the company. In conjunction with this appointment, Keister has purchased an undisclosed ownership position in the organization. Keister most recently served as chief executive officer of Keystone Automotive Industries, which was acquired by LKQ Corp. in October 2007. He
Ford Files Design Patent Infringement Complaint on Mustang
Ford Global Technologies recently filed a Section 337 complaint at the International Trade Commission (ITC) against manufacturers and U.S. distributors of automotive collision repair parts alleging infringement of design patents for certain exterior repair parts for the 2005 Ford Mustang. This follows a 2005 ITC complaint by Ford that alleged infringement of design patents for 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 F-150s. An administrative law judge of the ITC ruled that seven of 10 design patents directed to parts for the Ford F-150 truck were enforceable and infringed Ford’s design patents, but agreed with Keystone Automotive Industries and other companies that had vigorously contested the case that three patents were invalid due to Ford’s prior public use of the designs. The ITC then issued a cease and desist order to stop the importation of these parts into the United States.
Keystone Announces Wheel Finder Update Feature
POMONA, Calif. – Keystone Automotive has added a new, automatic update feature to its Wheel Finder CD. Customers who use the Wheel Finder CD (version 7 and higher) will now be able to regularly download updated information including model types and model years, as well as updated photos. According to Director of Marketing Services Mary
Jan Huskey Promoted to Director of Industry Relations at Keystone Automotive
Keystone Automotive Industries, an LKQ company, has promoted Jan Huskey to director of industry relations. Huskey has been with Keystone for 6 years and most recently served as Keystone regional manager. Huskey has worked closely with the collision and insurance communities in many markets and conditions. Prior to joining Keystone, she spent more than 10 years in managerial roles at PG Products, one of the founding suppliers of alternative parts to the collision industry.
New Regional Managers Appointed at Keystone
POMONA, CA – LKQ Corp. has appointed Chris Barkoukis and Daryl Masters as Keystone regional managers. Barkoukis will oversee New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia branches, and Masters will be responsible for branches located across Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. “Chris and Daryl both have extensive experience in the collision repair industry,” said Keystone Vice
The Week in Review (Jan. 21-25, 2008)
By Amy Antenora The Week in Review offers a snapshot of the most highly read stories of the week as seen on aftermarketNews. To access the complete stories, simply click on the highlighted links. If you missed reading one of our daily news emails, click on any of the dates listed at the bottom of
Executive Interview with Chris Northup, VP, Keystone Automotive
Christopher Northup joined Keystone Automotive in 1983, working in the corporate office as the marketing manager. Today, as vice president, he continues to have various nationwide operation, sales and marketing responsibilities. He continues to function as the primary industry spokesperson for the company and currently serves on the I-CAR Education Foundation Board and various other collision industry committees and boards.Join us as Northup brings us up to speed on the latest details regarding Keystone’s recent merger with LKQ and what the future holds for the two newly combined companies.
ASA Creates Customizable Profit Calculator for Collision Repair Members
BEDFORD, TX – The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced another new tool to assist its members who specialize in collision repair. ASA, under the direction of Collision Division Operations Committee member Michael Anderson, AAM, owner, Wagonwork Collision, Alexandria, VA, has created a customizable gross profit calculator to help ASA collision repair members determine their
The Top Ten News Stories of 2007
For the fourth year in a row, the editorial staffs of aftermarketNews and Counterman magazine have selected what they determined to be the most significant events to impact the automotive aftermarket in the past year. News stories are presented in chronological order.