CARSTAR GODERICH HELPS STUDENT HIT THE ROAD
A college student who lost her vehicle in a fire received a fully restored Honda from CARSTAR Goderich owners Shawn and Allie Leslie. The couple bought the car, completed all required safety work and transferred ownership so she could commute five-hours to school. Their intervention protected her ability to continue her program without transportation barriers. “Shawn’s generosity has made a huge impact,” said CARSTAR.
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NETWORK HONOURS EXCELLENCE AT 2025 CONFERENCE
Simplicity Car Care recognized its top-performing franchisees and teams during its annual Growth Conference. Internal performance metrics formed the basis of awards for customer satisfaction, cycle-time improvements and sales growth across more than 100 locations. The event underscored the company’s focus on culture, mentorship and operational discipline. “Simplifier of the Year went to Chantal Cox for her work with the Franchise Advisory Council, her community involvement and her efforts to keep franchisees connected and engaged.”
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REPAIRIFY TARGETS VEHICLE THEFT
Repairify announced an initiative based on its internal telematics and diagnostics analysis to combat increasingly sophisticated vehicle theft. The program uses connected-vehicle data to help counter theft rings exploiting gaps in modern security and driver-assist systems. The approach responds to patterns the company identified in late-model theft incidents across Canada.
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2025 SALES DOWN, REPORT SHOWS
An IBISWorld industry report projected that the Canadian auto parts retail sector will generate about $8.1 billion in revenue, marking a 0.5 percent decline. The IBISWorld analysis attributed the slowdown to weaker consumer spending, higher costs and stronger online competition. It also noted employment has grown since 2019 with a small rise in store counts.
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AGING VEHICLES DRIVE REPAIR DEMAND IN CANADA
A J.D. Power Canada vehicle dependability study found Canadians are keeping vehicles longer, driving record repair and service demand. The study identified increased mechanical wear and higher auto parts usage across older fleets. Repair facilities and insurers are adjusting staffing and cycle-time expectations as vehicle life cycles lengthen.
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CANADA’S AUTO EXPORTS SLAMMED BY LEVIES
The Anderson Economic Group reported that Canadian auto exports to the United States absorbed US$1.39 billion in tariffs in a single month. The group’s analysis found duty-free entry for Canadian-built vehicles dropped from 99 percent to 36 percent under the new levy structure. Economists at Anderson expect downstream disruption affecting manufacturers, parts distributors and collision repair networks.
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AKZO-NOBEL AND AXALTA TO JOIN FORCES
AkzoNobel and Axalta Coating Systems announced an all-stock merger projected to create a coatings company valued near US$25 billion with about US$17 billion in annual revenue. Investor disclosures from both firms forecast US$600 million in annual synergies within 3 years. Analysts expect the combined scale to alter supply dynamics for OEM and collisionrepair operations. “This merger will allow us to accelerate our growth ambitions by bringing together highly complementary technologies, expertise and passionate people to unlock our full combined potential,” said AkzoNobel CEO Greg Poux-Guillaume.
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TOYOTA COMMITS US$10 BILLION TO AMERICAN EXPANSION
Toyota released a corporate investment announcement detailing up to US$10 billion in new U.S. spending tied to its first American battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina. The company’s internal projections show the facility supporting 14 production lines and 30 GWh of annual capacity. Toyota stated the investment strengthens its North American manufacturing strategy as electrification accelerates. “Today’s launch of Toyota’s first U.S. battery plant and additional U.S. investment up to US$10 billion marks a pivotal moment in our company’s history,” said Toyota Motor North America president and CEO Ted Ogawa.
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SIMPLICITY UNVEILS NEW NORTH YORK CENTRAL FACILITY
Simplicity Car Care announced the launch of its North York Central facility, accompanied by internal capacity data outlining major workflow and technician-space upgrades. The centre incorporates expanded digital repair systems and updated production processes to reduce cycletime. It is designed to serve drivers, insurers and OEM partners across the Greater Toronto Area. “Our North York Central facility is more than just a repair centre – it’s a symbol of how Simplicity continues to evolve with the needs of our customers and partners,” said CEO Paul Prochilo.
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BODYSHOP EXPANSION TO ALLOW MORE SERVICES, CERTIFICATIONS
Waterdown Collision shared expansion plans supported by internal volume analysis showing truck and large-vehicle repairs now represent about 40 percent of its workload. The company is building a 3,700-square-metre facility enabling alignment, calibration, glass work and OEM-certification capacity for multiple brands. The project follows the government’s expropriation of its previous site for highway expansion. “In the new building we’re expanding our mechanical department by bringing in services like alignment, calibration and glass installation,” said company president Max DiFelice.
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WORKERS USING AI MORE THAN EMPLOYERS, SURVEY FINDS
A Censuswide survey commissioned by IBM Canada found 79 percent of full-time workers use AI tools at work while only 25 percent rely on enterprise-grade systems. Censuswide’s data showed unmanaged “shadow AI” increases the average Canadian breach cost by $308,000. Respondents overwhelmingly reported productivity gains and time savings. “Despite high usage, only 29 percent of workers believe their employer is using AI to its full potential.”
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REPORTING CENTRE OPENS IN RURAL ALBERTA
Accident Support Services International opened a collision-reporting centre supported by insurer data showing the model shortens claims-handling time when used for minor collisions. The Cochrane facility processes non-injury, low-severity incidents while major collisions still require police attendance. The launch reflects the expansion of Ontario’s long-running CRC model into Western Canada.
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INDUSTRY FACING SIGNIFICANT HEADWINDS, REPORT FINDS
A CCC Intelligent Solutions report outlined tariff pressure, inflation and consumer-debt strain across the collision repair sector. CCC data showed auto parts inflation exceeding 6 percent year-over-year as supply chains tightened. The report also found 39 percent of shops experienced tariff-related disruption, with larger facilities reporting even greater stress. “Today’s auto industry is navigating unprecedented economic turbulence,” said CCC analytics director Kyle Krumlauf.
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U.S. DRIVERS EMBRACING AI FOR INSURANCE BUYING
An Insurify Insurance Trends Report found 86 percent of U.S. drivers would use AI to help buy auto insurance and 68 percent would allow automated policy adjustments if savings reach US$1,000 per year. The report showed 76 percent of respondents would permit AI to compare quotes and 54 percent would allow it to build a custom policy. Despite this, 53 percent still preferred guidance from human agents. “Our AI Insurance report shows that American drivers are increasingly seeing AI as a trusted co-pilot for making insurance decisions,” said Insurify founder and co-CEO Snejina Zacharia.
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AIA CANADA PROPOSES NEW NATIONAL STANDARDS
AIA Canada published a proposed national collision repair standard outlining requirements for calibration, repair processes, certification and parts sourcing. The framework aims to create unified expectations across provinces and support insurer repairer alignment. The document responds to rising vehicle complexity and demand for consistent national quality benchmarks.
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THE MOST STOLEN VEHICLES IN CANADA
A national theft study from LowestRates.ca found newer SUVs dominate Canada’s list of most stolen vehicles despite a 17 percent drop in overall theft. The report identified annual losses exceeding $1 billion and noted the influence of export networks and key fob relay attacks. Insurance brokers warned the costs remain entrenched across the system. “Even with thefts declining slightly, the cost impact is still sitting in the system,” said insurance broker Fleur Dsouza.
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AUTO SECTOR PRODUCTION SURGE AHEAD
A global vehicle production forecast from S&P Global Mobility projected output increases across China, Europe, Japan and Korea, led by EV and hybrid incentives. The forecast showed North America posting smaller gains due to tariff uncertainty and inventory corrections. Analysts cut expectations for 2026–27 as demand and stock levels shift.
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INSURERS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT BUDGET PROPOSAL
A federal budget document launching consultations on a national earthquake backstop prompted a positive response from the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada. The budget text outlined a potential system where the federal government acts as payer of last resort for catastrophic seismic claims. Industry groups said the model could reshape how risk is priced and allocated nationwide. “A major earthquake isn’t hypothetical,” said IBAC CEO Peter Braid.
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