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'Car Doctor' Offers Advice for Thriving in Tough Times

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'Car Doctor' Offers Advice for Thriving in Tough Times DIXIE November 2020 Dixie Automotive Report 1 R VOL 29, NO 8 www.AutomotiveReport.net novEMBER 2020 Monthly News for the Local Automotive Industry in Central and Southern Alabama, Georgia and North Florida, Monthly Newsincluding for Body the Shops, Local Mechanical ShopsAutomotive and Dealers. Industry want to continue to bring education to the for consumers to more easily file a com- Trade Groups: Helping the automotive shops in the safest way possible.” plaint against an insurance company as Tuggle said difficult economic times well as send that information to their local repair industry through challenging times such as these are when association mem- lawmakers to raise awareness of the issues, bership can matter most for shops. she said. “We understand that things are far from “We will be pursuing legislation in the By John Yoswick business they serve. normal from a financial aspect for many spring that, if passed, would have a posi- Automotive Report asked trade associa- businesses, ABAT included,” she said. tive impact on a shop’s ability to seek reim- This has been a disruptive year for the tion leaders to offer an update on their cur- “Our educational slate will be centered bursement for OEM recommended repair dozens of state, regional and national trade rent activities and upcoming plans in this around the importance of being a profitable processes,” Tuggle said. associations representing shops, just as unprecedented time. shop and ways our members can increase For more information about ABAT, it has been for their membership as well. Texas group plans smaller events profits.” check the group’s website (www.abat.us). Executive directors and their boards have The Auto Body Association of Texas One initiative the association has under- Continued on page 6 found themselves canceling events such as (ABAT) is among those that had to can- taken this year involves creating a means trade shows — often a key source of fund- cel many events, including the Texas Auto ing for the associations, learning how to Body Trade Show, a primary fundraiser for hold online training and meeting online, the group. coordinating staff now all working from “In response to this, we are looking at home, seeing legislative efforts put on hosting smaller regional events, Jill Tug- hold, and working to remain relevant to the gle, executive director of ABAT said. “We ‘Car Doctor’ offers advice for thriving in tough times By Sheryl Bussard owned shop, R\A Automotive in Wald- wick, New Jersey — as he has for roughly Since 1991, Ron Ananian has informed, the past three decades. That all changed on educated, and entertained millions of lis- March 15, when he sent his lead mechanic, Joe Hudson’s Collision Repair - 8 teners through his nationally syndicated ra- Danny, home with pay and closed the shop dio program, “The Car Doctor.” Broadcast due to the pandemic. But by mid-April, the live every Saturday, Ananian takes calls phone had already started ringing again, from car owners and technicians seeking he brought Danny back full time, and busi- his definitive ness has picked up steadily ever since. take on automo- “We’re actually about 15 percent over tive repair. A normal,” Ananian said. “People don’t want recent broadcast to go into debt right now; they want to covered topics hang on to what they’ve got and take care ranging from of it.” the future of di- When asked what it’s going to take for agnostic costs shops to survive and thrive in the current to transmission economy, Ananian stressed two key busi- issues on a 2018 ness philosophies that have guided him Grand Cherokee throughout his career: know your costs and to the best spark plugs for a ’78 GMC mo- know your customers. torhome. Know your costs Before the pandemic hit, in addition to Thirty years ago, Ananian created a his Saturday radio program, Ananian was Continued on page 10 1961 Ghia Dual - 14 putting in five days a week at his family- Shops report measurement issues with some steering columns 4 ‘Not just a shop class’ teacher wins $50,000 award 11 Car built in Washington state sets a world record at 316 mph 12 DIX1120 Presorted Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Franklin, TN Permit No. 357 Dated Material 2 Dixie Automotive Report November 2020 and are adapted for the unique character- mation centers help owners navigate the 2022 GMC Hummer EV has istics of the HUMMER EV’s electric pro- capabilities and selectable features of the pulsion system. They include an in-vehi- vehicles: cle Trailering App with Trailer Light Test, Energy Assist — Monitors energy use, jaw dropping HP and torque Trailer Electrical Diagnostics, Trailer Tire sets up charging schedules, battery tem- Pressure and Temperature Monitoring, perature conditioning and more By GM Press Release unique sounds through the Bose speakers Pre-Maintenance Reminders and Depar- Off-Road Widgets — Offer a myriad of and screen animations. The vehicle also ture Checklist. information related to the HUMMER DETROIT – The 2022 GMC HUM- lowers 2 inches to prepare for the launch, “The HUMMER EV is all about the EV’s selectable capabilities and perfor- MER EV experience puts drivers in the utilizing a lower center of gravity. experience — where it will go, what it mance readouts in off-road driving sce- middle of every moment, with revolution- “It’s an amazing demonstration of just can do and the feeling of freedom it will narios — everything from the ride height ary on-road performance features enabled how fast 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 provide,” said Oppenheiser. “It’s meant and eLocker engagement to compass by next-gen EV power, head-turning lb-ft of electric propulsion can move you to be an exceptionally versatile truck; and headings, pitch/roll status and more looks and an unmistakable stance. — regardless of the vehicle’s size,” said by offering features like Watts to Free- ProGradeTrailering App — Based on the “The all-new GMC HUMMER EV will Oppenheiser. “It’ll put a smile on your dom, Drive Mode Control and ProGrade Trailering App developed for GMC’s full- be the first of its breed — an open-air, all- face every single time.” Trailering, it’s also exceptionally fun.” size trucks, this widget allows the owner electric supertruck with zero emissions The HUMMER EV’s driving experi- In-vehicle technology is a fundamental to create a trailer profile, perform a trailer and zero limits,” said Al Oppenheiser, ence can also be tailored by the driver for element of the HUMMER EV’s immer- light test, establish pre-departure check- HUMMER EV chief engineer. “It will different conditions through Drive Mode sive experience and will be responsible lists and more have the capability to go almost Digital Key anywhere, on- or off-road, com- With the Bluetooth and bining screaming performance Ultra-Wideband-enabled Digi- with a nearly silent ride.” tal Key, owners will be able HUMMER EV’s unprec- to use their smartphone as the edented capabilities will blend key fob for their HUMMER with engaging technologies, EV. The technology detects the creating a sense of intensity and owner’s phone and its location drama for drivers and passen- in proximity to the vehicle, gers. enabling a number of passive HUMMER EV’s on-road per- operations such as approach formance matches its off-road lighting, entry unlock and chops. Three electric motors vehicle operation. The technol- within the Ultium Drive system ogy was pioneered on GM EVs offer a GM-estimated best-in- used in ride-sharing programs class 1,000 horsepower and, and is enhanced to offer greater when multiplied through the convenience for HUMMER EV front and rear drive unit gear owners. ratios, offer more than 11,500 At a glance, there’s no lb-ft of torque (GM estimate) mistaking this truck as anything to the wheels, enabling unprec- but a GMC HUMMER EV. edented performance capability. Control. It includes four pre-configured for everything from tracking range and Its formidable styling cues, including The ultimate expression of that perfor- modes: Normal, Tow/Haul, Off-Road locating charging stations, to monitoring wheels at the corners and a high stance, mance will be delivered in HUMMER and Terrain, along with the configurable vehicle performance on and off the road are rooted in a capability-first mantra, EV’s own launch control mode, known My Mode — featuring a new Adrenaline — and even ensuring the right soundtrack where off-road functionality such as as Watts to Freedom. This driver-select- Mode. is playing on that Moab excursion. approach and departure angles take pre- able feature channels the propulsion sys- Each has specific chassis, suspension It will all be accessible through two cedence in the design. tem’s tremendous power into acceleration and propulsion characteristics, includ- large displays: a 13.4-inch diagonal color “We had a unique opportunity: Create bursts — including GM-estimated 0-60 ing the maximum torque delivered to the touchscreen that’s part of the GMC info- something people will instantly recognize mph in approximately 3 seconds. wheels; and along with the distinctive tainment system and a 12.3-inch diagonal while challenging perceptions by creat- “Watts to Freedom unlocks the full suspension and torque variables, the inte- color driver information center display. ing a zero-emissions, zero-limits electric potential of the propulsion system and rior display screen graphics and colors, The cabin experience will be enhanced truck,” said Phil Zak, HUMMER EV puts all of its available power to the along with unique vehicle sounds, will be by advanced sound technologies, with design executive director. “ pavement,” said Oppenheiser. “It’s an changeable with the different modes.
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