Aptiv led the group with a 7% jump, but the whole board was green as tech and auto stocks caught a broad bounce today.
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The Collision Industry Conference's task force just laid out what shops already know: ADAS calibration gaps are a real safety issue. Meanwhile, Illinois passed a rate review law that takes effect next summer, and it's putting pressure on insurers to justify pricing.
INDUSTRY
1. CIC task force presents ADAS problem statement
The Consumer Advocacy Task Force formally presented an ADAS problem statement at the Collision Industry Conference in Chicago. SCRS executive director Aaron Schulenburg shared the statement during the open mic portion. This is the industry officially naming the gap between what shops are expected to calibrate and what insurers are willing to pay for.
Mark says: Print this statement and file it. Use it as ammo in supplement denials and rate negotiation calls with adjudicators.
2. Illinois governor signs auto rate review law; takes effect July 2027
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Aug. 4 that gives the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to review and potentially reject auto insurance rate hikes. Three trade associations warned the move will lead to higher premiums and fewer coverage options. The law takes effect July 1, 2027, giving insurers nine months to adjust.
Mark says: Insurers will tighten underwriting and claims payouts before July 2027. Expect supplement scrutiny to intensify in Illinois starting now.
3. Ram recalls 1.3 million pickup trucks over seatbelt anchors
Ram issued a voluntary recall for nearly 1.3 million pickup trucks due to seatbelt anchor issues. In a separate action, NHTSA upgraded its investigation of older Fords to an engineering analysis, covering nearly 136,000 vehicles. Both actions underscore the ongoing stream of safety recalls shops need to track.
Mark says: Add Ram and older Fords to your recall lookup routine at intake. Flag vehicles in queue and notify customers before they leave.
4. California storage fee regulations face another revision cycle
California's Board of Registered Automotive Repair Dealers (BAR) will open storage fee regulations for public comment again following Office of Administrative Law concerns. Shops in California should expect another round of compliance changes. The exact timeline and scope are still being finalized.
Mark says: If you operate in California, monitor the BAR notice board weekly. One missed deadline on these regs costs real money.
5. Auto insurance shopping down, switching up in Q2
JD Power's latest Quarterly Insurance Signals Intelligence Report shows Q2 shopping rates fell, but switching rates climbed. This signals customers are sticking with their current insurers longer but when they do switch, they're more price-sensitive. Shops should prepare for tighter insurer negotiations as competitive pressure rises.
Mark says: Insurers are fighting for retention. They will lean harder on claims costs and push back on labor rates and supplements this quarter.
Denied a supplement? Get a free rebuttal backed by OEM bulletins and CIC statements. Reply with a denied claim in 60 seconds and get a ready-to-send response, no charge.
Published by Absolute ADAS. Mark Fowler, owner. Mobile ADAS calibration in Western Washington. 50,000+ calibrations on the floor.
👀 Tomorrow: watch for OEM response to the CIC ADAS problem statement and whether Illinois insurers start adjusting coverage language ahead of that 2027 deadline.