AASP National News

DEG Surpasses 2,500 Inquiries
The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) announced that it has successfully assisted collision repairers in the processing of more than 2500 data-related inquiries.

AASP Announces Industry Grant Initiative, New Member Benefits
At its Spring Board meeting, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) voted to establish an industry grant program and added two new offerings to its menu of member benefits. Held in San Diego, the meeting also included a tour of the headquarters of Mitchell 1 and Mitchell International.

Check Out www.degweb.org! (new window)
The Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) is an initiative that was developed to help improve the quality and accuracy of collision repair estimates, through proactive feedback from the collision repair industry and other "end users" to the Information Providers (IPs) that supply the databases for the various estimating products. The DEG is created, equally funded and maintained by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS).

The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2057)
Modern cars and light trucks contain advanced technology that monitors or controls virtually every function of the vehicle including: brakes, steering, air bags, fuel delivery, ignition, lubrication, theft prevention, emission controls and in some cases, tire pressure. Car owners and independent shops must have full access to the information and tools necessary to accurately diagnose, repair, or re-program these systems. This information and equipment is necessary to ensure vehicle safety, performance, and environmental compliance. Vehicle manufacturers are making access to such vital information increasingly difficult and costly to obtain for the independent aftermarket and its customers.

AASP Affiliate News

AASP-MN Among Associations Honored by the Midwest Society of Association Executives
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) recently received a prestigious Midwest Society of Association Executives (MSAE) Award of Excellence for its Get to Know Your Neighborhood Auto Repair Pro™ campaign. AASP-MN received the award on June 10, at an awards ceremony and luncheon held during the 54th annual meeting of MSAE hosted at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

IGONC Schedules 51st Annual Convention
The Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina will hold its 51st annual convention and trade show on October 8-10, 2010. The event will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Cary, North Carolina.

Three Massachusetts Repair Associations Unite
On May 24, three Massachusetts collision repair and automotive service associations became united in a historic undertaking. During a special industry dinner meeting held in Marlborough, Ma., the three associations - the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP/MA), the Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA) and the Central Massachusetts Auto Rebuilders Association (CMARA) - joined forces as one statewide industry association.