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Counterfeit parts lawsuit outcome + new 2027 labor time changes you need to know.
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Liability spike, labor time shift coming
Monday, June 15 · #29
~2 min read
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Markets
Mobileye$9.34-2.51%YTD -10.54%
Aptiv$68.05+0.13%YTD -10.57%
Tesla$406.43+1.82%YTD -9.63%
Nvidia$205.19+0.16%YTD +10.02%
LKQ Corp$26.20+0.85%YTD -13.25%
Mobileye took the hit today, dropping 2.5% while the rest of the group mostly held flat or inched up.
Data via Yahoo Finance
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A $603 million Florida jury verdict on counterfeit airbags is a wake-up call on parts sourcing. Meanwhile, MOTOR is restructuring labor times for 2027 models in ways that affect your estimates.

INDUSTRY

1. Florida jury awards $603M in counterfeit airbag death case

A mother of two was killed when a counterfeit airbag detonated in her vehicle. The jury awarded $603 million to her family. This case underscores the real liability risk shops face when non-OEM or substandard parts enter the supply chain. Parts sourcing matters, especially on safety-critical components.

Mark says: Audit your parts suppliers now. Document OEM sourcing on every airbag and safety system repair you do.

Source: Repairer Driven News →

OEM

2. MOTOR breaks out radiator support labor times on 2027 models

MOTOR is segmenting radiator support labor separately on 2027 model estimates, a change driven by industry feedback through SCRS. This affects how you build and submit estimates starting with next-year vehicles. Radiator support work now has its own line item and labor standard.

Mark says: Pull your MOTOR labor guides this week and spot-check 2027 estimates for radiator support coding and time accuracy.

Source: Autobody News →

TRAINING

3. ATMC survey: ADAS, EV systems top training demand list

The 2026 ATMC Training Benchmarks Survey shows electrical/electronic systems, hybrid/EV, and ADAS ranked as the most requested training topics. Fifty-three percent of technicians say the top barrier is lack of available courses in the right subjects. The gap between what shops need and what's available is real.

Mark says: If your techs need ADAS calibration training, start looking now. The pipeline is tight; book early for fall schedules.

Source: BodyShop Business →

ADAS

4. ADAS calibration gap widens between done and done right

Industry insiders are flagging a widening gap between shops that perform ADAS calibration and those who do it to spec. The Collision Industry Conference and SCRS are formalizing separate ADAS task forces to address consistency and OEM compliance. Getting it done fast is not the same as getting it done right.

Mark says: Cross-check your calibration process against the latest OEM bulletin for each vehicle platform you see this week.

Source: Autobody News →

INDUSTRY

5. Canadian insurers sue Toyota, Honda, Stellantis over anti-theft gaps

Two Canadian insurance companies filed a $72 million suit against Toyota, Honda, and Stellantis, claiming the automakers knew of anti-theft system vulnerabilities. The claim is that OEMs failed to disclose known security weaknesses. This signals increasing pressure on manufacturers to own safety and security liability.

Mark says: Monitor anti-theft system recalls and TSBs on Toyota, Honda, and Stellantis vehicles; document all OEM guidance you follow.

Source: Repairer Driven News →

Denied a calibration claim? Run it through our free Calibration Denial Audit and get an OEM-cited rebuttal ready to send in 60 seconds. No pitch, no setup required.

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📬 Hit reply. Reply: has a carrier ever pushed back on a calibration line by saying it was done, when you knew the actual spec wasn't met?

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Published by Absolute ADAS. Mark Fowler, owner. Mobile ADAS calibration in Western Washington. 50,000+ calibrations on the floor.

👀 Tomorrow: watch the SCRS ADAS task force timeline and whether Toyota responds publicly to that Canadian anti-theft suit.
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