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Tire Industry Association Joins Right to Repair Movement
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By Counterman
Judge Denise Casper dismissed the entirety of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s suit challenging the 2020 Massachusetts Data Access Law. The automakers’ bid to block the Massachusetts
link hidden, please login to viewlaw has failed and the law remains in effect. The judge’s written decision is still under seal but should be made available to the public soon. “Today’s ruling is a significant victory for the people of Massachusetts—and all Americans,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “This decision by Judge Casper ensures that car owners have the right to access their vehicle’s repair and diagnostic data, empowering them to make informed choices about maintenance and repairs. It levels the playing field, allowing independent repair shops to compete fairly, which in turn drives down costs for consumers. As car owners, we all deserve the freedom to control and manage the data that’s generated by our own vehicles. This ruling is a crucial step toward fostering greater transparency, affordability, and innovation in the automotive industry for the benefit of all Americans.”
The
link hidden, please login to view said it will update its members with additional information as it becomes available. The post
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By Counterman
*After this statement was released, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the U.S. and Mexico have reached an agreement to delay tariffs for a month. In exchange, Mexico will be putting 10,000 National Guard troops on the Mexico/U.S. border as conversations between the countries continue.
On Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, President Trump issued
link hidden, please login to view imposing tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. The tariffs were implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), citing a national emergency related to illegal immigration and flow of illicit drugs like fentanyl into the U.S. Bill Hanvey, president and CEO,
link hidden, please login to view, emphasized the serious impact the proposed tariffs would have on the automotive aftermarket industry, U.S. consumers and businesses: As of the morning of Feb. 3, only the Executive Order for Canada has been officially published on the White House’s website. The Executive Orders for Mexico and China are pending official release; however, unofficial copies indicate they follow a similar framework to the Canada order.
Key Details of the Executive Order
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)
IEEPA is a federal law granting the President authority to counter unusual and extraordinary threats to national security without requiring congressional approval or extensive agency review. While historically, IEEPA has been used to impose economic sanctions, this is the first time IEEPA is being used to impose tariffs.
IEEPA requires the president to “consult” with Congress “in every possible instance” before taking action. While the president can act unilaterally, they must provide regular reports to Congress on the actions taken.
Tariff Rates and Products
The Executive Orders do not list specific products subject to the tariffs but states that the tariff applies to all goods which are “products of” these countries.
The new tariff rates below apply “in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions or charges” applicable to imported products. In other words, these tariffs will be applied on top of any existing import duties or tariffs already in effect.
Canada: 25% tariff applies to imports from Canada, with energy products subject to a reduced 10% tariff. Mexico: 25% tariff applies to imports from Mexico. China: 10% tariff applies to imports from China. Implementation Date
The tariffs apply to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 4, 2025.
Goods loaded onto vessels at the port of loading or in transit on the final mode of transportation prior to entry into the United States before 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 1, 2025, are not subject to the additional duty, subject to certification requirements with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Exemptions
The Executive Orders do not outline any exceptions nor establish an exemption process. The Executive Order also states that the tariffs will remain in effect until the President determines that the countries have taken “sufficient action to alleviate the crisis.”
Retaliation Clause
The executive order states that if Canada, Mexico and/or China retaliate against the United States, President Trump may increase or expand the scope of the duties imposed under this order.
Drawback
Drawback (duty refunds) will not be available.
De Minimis Treatment
Duty-free de minimis treatment will not be available.
Responses from Affected Countries
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
link hidden, please login to view that Canada will impose retaliatory tariffs of 25% on $155 billion U.S. goods. Tariffs on $30 billion will take effect on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Tariffs on the remaining $125 billion will take effect in 21 days. Tariffs will apply to a range of U.S. exports, including alcoholic beverages, agricultural products, clothing, sports equipment and household appliances. The list of products subject to the initial $30 billion in tariffs can be
link hidden, please login to view. Mexico: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum
link hidden, please login to view that Mexico will implement tariff and non-tariff measures in response to the tariffs. Sheinbaum emphasized the need for bilateral cooperation and called for discussions on trade policy. China: The Chinese government
link hidden, please login to view the new 10% tariff. China stated that it will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and is preparing additional countermeasures. Ongoing Monitoring and Member Feedback
The Auto Care Association is closely monitoring these developments and will share new information as it becomes available. For the latest updates, visit
link hidden, please login to view. “We welcome your feedback to help us better understand and assess the impact of these tariffs on our industry and businesses,” said the Auto Care Association, “Please share with us by contacting Angela Chiang, director, international affairs, at [email protected].”
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By Dorman Products
Would you rather practice swapping a flat tire for a spare or learn the hard way?
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By Counterman
As winter rolls in and the temperature drops below freezing, it’s important for vehicle owners to choose the right motor oil for such conditions. A synthetic oil with the right viscosity can improve engine protection and performance in the cold winter months. Sean Nguyen, Pennzoil’s technical scientist and automotive lubricant specialist, told Counterman that it’s important to consider an oil’s ability to flow effectively in cold temperatures.
“In the winter, that’s when the oil is the slowest or the densest, and it takes time for the oil to get from the reservoir, from the oil pan to get up to the cylinder heads,” explained Nguyen. “Those times are precious. 90% of wear happens in the first 90 seconds of an engine start.”
When your customer is looking for motor oil in winter, you’ll want to suggest high-performance synthetic multi-weight oils such as Pennzoil Platinum. These oils, with a SAE 0W-xx or 5W-xx rating, are specifically formulated to remain fluid at low temperatures. That ensures quick lubrication during the cold start, which comes in handy for vehicles exposed to the elements without the protection of a heated garage.
Conventional oils, especially those designed for warm temperatures, often contain impurities and waxy substances that can make them less effective in winter weather. Nguyen said synthetic oils are more homogeneous and better refined, allowing them to flow more efficiently in extremely cold temperatures. That cuts down on the time an engine spends running without proper lubrication.
A common misconception among customers is that thicker oil performs better in winter. They assume using a higher-viscosity oil, like 5W-30 or 10W-40, will help their engine perform better because it seems logical that thicker oil would be more durable in extreme conditions. Nguyen says this is not the case.
“Make sure that second number (the oil’s viscosity at normal engine temperature) is correct. Don’t go to a thicker number because you think it is going to make the oil in your engine work harder.
For example, I recommend that you use a SAE 0W-20 all year round for engines that call for a 5W-20. The 20 gives you the protection that you have all year, winter or summer, because the engine is going to see whatever temperature it sees based on the thermostat, while the 0W will flow much better in those cold morning starts.”
link hidden, please login to viewSean Nguyen, Pennzoil technical scientist and automotive lubricant specialist Nguyen adds that it is vital for drivers to let the engine idle for 30 seconds to a minute before driving, especially in cold temperatures. This warm-up time ensures the oil flows effectively, protecting the engine from wear and tear during those dry starts. That, along with thinner oil weight, will provide faster oil flow to critical areas of the engine.
The challenge for counter professionals: How to effectively communicate the benefits of low-weight synthetic oils for winter? Nguyen says simplifying the technical language and connecting it to a customer’s needs can go a long way. He suggests highlighting the long-term savings and benefits of synthetic oils, like an improvement in fuel efficiency, maximized engine protection and excellent performance offered by oil like Pennzoil Platinum. It also doesn’t hurt to explain how the composition of synthetic oil keeps it stable in cold conditions, improving overall longevity and performance.
“Do you want to keep your car longer?” Nguyen recommends asking the customer. “Do you want it to perform when you want it to? High quality synthetic oils will do that.”
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By Counterman
The Auto Care Association announced that an application programming interface (API) was launched in November, 2024 to select users and is now available to the entire auto care industry. With a continued goal to increase speed and efficiencies for users in the acquisition of the ACES, PIES and IPO reference databases, the Auto Care Association announced in May, 2024 that an API would become available to users in November, 2024.
The Auto Care Association’s ACES, PIES and IPO reference databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, and Brand Table) currently and historically have been available to users for download through a manual download process via autocarevip.com in various formats, including Access2007, ASCII, MySQL, SQLServer2008R2, and JSON. Additionally, these databases were historically published with new content monthly but were increased to a weekly cadence (except for the VCdb) in January 2023, with the goal of delivering updated reference database content to users faster.
The API, which is in JSON format, allows users to:
Download updated reference database content as often as daily; Download complete database tables and/or updates (changes) to the database tables; and Automate IT processes for smoother, hands-off data exchange, creating workflow efficiencies. “As we move toward the goal of real time exchange of content between partners via API, the logical first step is leveraging that approach with the reference data we all consume from Auto Care,” said Marc Pappas, chair, technology standards committee and CIO, Federated Auto Parts. “This will serve both to proof the concept and also allow us to make any enhancements before moving forward with more functionality.”
The Auto Care Association will continue to make the reference databases available for manual download through autocarevip.com in the formats Access2007, ASCII, MySQL, SQLServer2008R2 and JSON. However, the frequency of receiving manual database updates will be reduced from weekly to monthly (except Brand Table, which will remain daily), beginning January 2025. The dates of these publications are posted on the
link hidden, please login to view on autocarevip.com.
link hidden, please login to view. Auto Care VIP and Auto Care Data Standards users interested in learning more about the new API can schedule a time to speak with the Auto Care Association’s technology team using
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