Nvidia led the tape after strong earnings, but Tesla and LKQ both dropped hard, so no clean story today beyond chips winning and auto parts losing.
Data via Yahoo Finance
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New York's 10% auto insurance rate cuts land this week, and shops need to think ahead about what that margin squeeze means for staffing and pricing. Meanwhile, GM is expanding its collision app to let drivers bypass the insurance chain entirely on minor hits.
INSURANCE
1. New York cuts auto insurance rates 10%
Gov. Hochul's budget includes sweeping auto insurance reforms aimed at lowering premiums and cracking down on fraud. The cuts take effect soon. Shops in New York will see claims volume pressure and tighter reimbursement as carriers pass savings downstream. Estimators should expect pushback on labor and materials as insurers anchor to the new lower baseline.
Mark says: Model your NY shop's margin today at the lower rate baseline; don't get caught flat-footed on labor rates next month.
GM owners can now launch the Collision Assistance app directly for minor incidents that don't trigger OnStar. The app guides them through reporting and repair options without mandatory insurance involvement. This shifts first-contact away from carriers and into GM's ecosystem. Shops lose the referral handoff and compete on GM's platform instead of the carrier's preferred network.
Mark says: Get your shop into GM's repair directory now; wait and you're fighting for scraps on their app.
3. CCC report on EV claims and sales trends released
CCC Intelligent Solutions published its latest EV trend report covering claims volume, repair outcomes, and economics. EVs continue to shift claim mix and repair complexity. The data signals where collision shops should invest in tools, training, and estimating workflows. Details on EV parts delays, labor hours, and refinish cycles are included.
Mark says: Pull the CCC report and map your EV volume against your current estimating and cycle time; fix gaps now.
OEConnection made its RepairLogic-to-CCC ONE integration generally available to all collision shops. Early adopters report saving 10 to 15 minutes per repair order by automating the estimate-to-planning handoff. The tool links estimating data directly into repair planning without manual re-entry. Shops using both platforms can eliminate duplicate work.
Mark says: If you use both CCC ONE and RepairLogic, enable this integration this week and track your time savings per RO.
5. Caliber Collision retirement fund lawsuit settled
A class action lawsuit alleging Caliber Collision misused over $4 million in employee retirement funds to offset employer contributions has been settled. The case spotlights cash flow pressure on large consolidators and the legal risk of borrowing from employee benefits. Smaller shop owners and staff should review their own retirement fund practices for similar exposure.
Mark says: Review your retirement fund accounting with your CPA this month; don't let cash flow desperation become legal liability.
If an insurer is already pushing back on a supplement or denying ADAS recalibration costs, run it through our free Calibration Denial Audit. You'll get an OEM-cited rebuttal in 60 seconds, no cost, no pitch.
Published by Absolute ADAS. Mark Fowler, owner. Mobile ADAS calibration in Western Washington. 50,000+ calibrations on the floor.
👀 Tomorrow: watch for New York carriers anchoring reimbursement rates to Hochul's cuts and whether GM's collision app starts pulling shops off preferred networks.