Tech and auto names sold off across the board, with Mobileye taking the hardest hit, while LKQ bucked the trend and quietly moved up.
Data via Yahoo Finance
🎯 Carrier of the Week
State Farm
State Farm's three favorite cuts, and the cite that stops them
What they're cutting
Denying pre- and post-scans as 'not necessary' or bundling them into the labor op
Cutting standalone calibration line items, calling them 'included' in R&R time
Refusing sublet markup on calibration, paying cost-only or rejecting the invoice outright
Rebuttal that's flipping it
OEM position statements from Toyota, Honda, GM, and others explicitly require pre- and post-repair scans plus calibration as separate, documented procedures after any repair affecting ADAS components. I-CAR's position is clear: these are not included in remove-and-replace times and must be billed as distinct operations.
▶ Play this weekPull the OEM repair procedure page that mandates calibration for the specific vehicle, attach it to the supplement with the calibration invoice, and write one line in your notes: 'OEM procedure requires this operation, not included in any flat-rate l
Good morning, {{firstName}}.
President Trump commented on automotive right-to-repair during an Oval Office event last week, signaling White House support for shop access to OEM data and parts. Meanwhile, TechForce data shows the collision repair industry faces a serious staffing crisis.
INDUSTRY
1. Trump talks right-to-repair during Oval Office event
President Trump commented on automotive right-to-repair during an Oval Office event following a meeting with automotive executives. The move signals White House backing for shop access to OEM data and service information. This is the kind of political momentum that can shift legislation at the state and federal level.
Mark says: Clip this story and share it with your estimators and techs. It changes the narrative when customers ask if you can do the work.
2. 73K collision techs needed by 2029, retention is the problem
TechForce Foundation reports the U.S. economy is short roughly 140,000 skilled technicians per year. The collision repair sector alone needs 73,354 new technician entrants by 2029 to keep pace. The gap is widening, and retention is partly to blame. This means shops that keep techs trained and stable now have a competitive advantage that will last years.
Mark says: Invest in your team's training and tools now. Labor scarcity means skilled shops will price power and pick their work in 2027.
3. AASP/NJ opens dedicated inbox for insurer complaint tracking
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey has opened a dedicated email address to collect consumer complaints filed with the state's Department of Banking and Insurance. They're building an organized record to present to regulators. If you've had supplement denials or unfair handling, this is your moment to file and forward the complaint to AASP/NJ.
Mark says: Document every supplement denial with OEM cites. Forward copies to AASP/NJ. Regulators listen when they see patterns.
4. GM patents smart airbag that deploys based on seating position
GM has published a patent for an airbag system that changes deployment based on passenger characteristics and seating position. This kind of sensor integration is coming to more vehicles. It means collision shops will need updated training on airbag logic, sensor locations, and post-repair diagnostics to avoid unintended deployments or failure-to-deploy scenarios after a repair.
Mark says: Flag this for your lead tech and safety officer. New airbag logic means post-repair scans are no longer optional.
5. Michigan bill would ban auto insurance price optimization
Michigan SB 1013 aims to ban price optimization in auto and home insurance rate setting. Price optimization allows insurers to charge different rates to customers with identical risk profiles based on their willingness to pay. If passed, it changes how insurers set deductibles and coverage terms, which can affect shop throughput and claim frequency in that state.
Mark says: Watch this bill. If Michigan passes it, other states will follow. Could stabilize claim volume but may tighten insurer margins.
Denied a calibration supplement or charge-out? Build an OEM-backed rebuttal in 60 seconds. Reply with your claim number to get a free written response.