Top 5 Stories Of The Week

Top 5 Stories Of The Week

A recap of the top five stories on aftermarketNews during the week of April 27.

Earlier this year, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) unveiled plans to eliminate the state’s motor vehicle safety inspection program. In the final language of House Bill (HB) 1414 that was sent to Northam’s desk, however, the periodic motor vehicle safety inspection program remains in place. The bill states, “Motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers required to be inspected pursuant to the provisions of § 46.2-1157 shall be reinspected within 12 months of the month of the first inspection and at least once every 12 months thereafter.”

Read more here.

Chicago recently joined a small circle of U.S. cities that are pioneering policies to prepare for the projected growth in electric vehicles (EVs), as the city council passed an ordinance that opens the door to cost-effective expansion of charging equipment in residential and commercial buildings. The city council recently passed the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment-Ready, or EVSE-Ready, ordinance. 

Read more here.

On April 21, Senate passed a bipartisan bill worth roughly $480 billion, to add funding to the government relief packages to help support U.S. businesses and citizens during the coronavirus pandemic. According to reports, the bill includes an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was wiped out in just two weeks’ time.

Read more here.

The director of Biomedical Engineering at Long Beach Memorial asked if GB Reman could help produce a critical ventilator part that was in short supply. He explained that the manufacturer developed an emergency protocol to convert conventional ventilators into pressure-controlled units for use by critically ill patients battling COVID-19. Doing so would significantly increase the number of available ventilators, which was identified early on in the crisis as a weak link. That’s when GB CEO Mike Kitching challenged his engineering department to come up with a solution and to make it fast. 

Read more here.

O’Reilly Automotive has announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2020, and provided a business update on the company’s actions in response to the impact from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). O’Reilly reported that sales for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, increased $66 million, or 3%.

Read more here.

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