News, Trends & Reports from the Automotive Recyclers Association
ARTI Scholarship Fundraiser: A Remarkable Success!
ARTI Scholarship Fundraiser: A Remarkable Success!
We are thrilled to announce that the ARTI Scholarship Fundraiser was an outstanding success, raising over $100,000 to support scholarships for post high school education. This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our donors and the enthusiastic participation of everyone who joined in the Live and Silent auctions.
Event Highlights:
• Live Auction Excitement: Guests enjoyed competitive bidding on unique items that brought energy and fun to the evening.
• LARA Fundraising: The ladies made a significant impact, raising additional funds during the LARA event.
• Surprise Sumo Wrestlers: The unexpected appearance of Sumo wrestlers added a memorable twist and plenty of laughs!
If you missed this year’s event, you truly missed out on an unforgettable night of camaraderie, excitement, and generosity!
• Supporting Post High School Education: Thanks to your support, the funds raised will provide scholarships for a wide range of post high school educational opportunities. Eligible recipients can apply these scholarships toward College, University, Accredited Trade, Business, and Technical Schools. Our mission is to empower the next generation to pursue their academic and professional goals with confidence.
• 2026-27 Scholarship Application Information: The application for the 2026-27 ARTI Scholarship will be available soon. Please share this information with your staff and encourage all eligible individuals to apply. These scholarships are designed to help make higher education accessible to more students, whether they choose a traditional college, university, or a specialized trade, business, or technical school.
Properly Communicate Your eBay Fitment Issues for Change!
ARA’s Interchange Committee continues to work with eBay to communicate concerns the industry has over fitment issues. As a result of that collaboration, eBay has a dedicated email address and staff for those concerns: myfitment@ebay.com.
If recyclers have any fitment concerns when listing their automotive parts, please don’t
hesitate to contact this email address. Please try to provide a screenshot or an explanation why the fitment is incorrect. By only informing eBay that of the error will not help us to improve our fitment catalog.
Do you have peer interchange ideas?
Do you have people calling you and asking for medium duty truck parts like Ford Super Duty F450 and Ram 4500, or maybe Chevy Silverado 4500? Have you figured out which parts fit the Ford 250/350 Super Duty and Ram or Silverado 2500/3500?
To submit your interchange information, please send the following information to:
• Interchange Numbers
• User Notes (Please provide a description of what changes need to be made for this part to become interchangeable)
• Your Contact Info
ARA’s Interchange Committee wants YOUR IDEAS for recycler-to-recycler part interchangeability information that doesn’t necessarily meet the criteria for traditional interchange information. Send in your ideas to ARAPI@a-r-a.org. The Committee is working hard to help recyclers make more sales outside of what is provided by interchange.
ARA Attends EPA/DOE Meeting on Battery Collection and Extended Producer Responsibility
ARA recently participated in an in-person stakeholder meeting hosted by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE). The
session brought together industry leaders and government officials to discuss policy
proposals and recommendations for improving battery collection systems.
Key discussion topics included the development of best practices for battery collection and the role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in ensuring sustainable battery management. These efforts are part of the EPA’s ongoing work to issue recommended, voluntary best practices for battery collection and extended producer responsibility, supporting a safer and more efficient circular economy for batteries.
Honda Circularity Center Opens in Ohio
Honda North America recently opened its new Resource Circularity Center in Ohio, a facility dedicated to advancing sustainability through reuse, repurposing, and remanufacturing within its manufacturing supply chain.
Emil Nusbaum, Vice President of Strategy, Government and Regulatory Affairs at the ARA, was quoted in coverage of the opening, “It’s a reflection of a changing environment where there really is an emphasis on sustainability. It’s great to see that car manufacturers are starting to recognize the value in reusing, repurposing, and remanufacturing parts and equipment in their supply chains. This helps maximize existing resources and reduce waste.”
The opening of the center highlights the growing role of circularity in the automotive sector and the importance of recycling and resource efficiency into manufacturing operations.
Industry Show Review | Collision Industry Conference (CIC) By Vince Edivan
On November 4, 2025, the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) brought together leading professionals from the automotive collision repair sector at Resorts World Las Vegas. This event, held in the Rose Ballroom, was part of a larger week of industry collaboration, coinciding with the SEMA Show. The meeting provided a platform for open discussion, committee updates, and recognition of outstanding contributions.
Committee Highlights Risk, Liability, and Safety
A major focus of the meeting was the Industry Relations Committee’s deep dive into risk and liability in collision repair. The committee emphasized that the “empty chair” – the customer – remains central to every discussion. Panelists addressed the legal exposure faced by repair shops when procedures are not properly followed, highlighting the importance of:
• Management oversight
• Robust standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Verification processes (e.g., weld destruction tests, photographic documentation)
These practices are essential for compliance and for protecting both customers and businesses from future litigation. The committee also discussed workplace safety, emphasizing risks associated with hazardous materials and heavy equipment. Technician safety requires strict adherence to manufacturer guidelines, comprehensive training, and proper liability insurance. While safety protocols such as protective curtains during welding and mask usage are vital, consistent implementation remains a challenge. The committee advocated for a culture of transparency and collaboration, empowering every team member to interpret and challenge work instructions to ensure the highest standards.
Technology and Data Standards
The conference also spotlighted the ongoing evolution of technology and data standards. The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) continues to develop IT standards and implementation guides for electronic commerce, facilitating seamless communication among repairers, insurers, manufacturers, and suppliers. The committee’s work on data standards ensures the industry remains agile and responsive to emerging challenges, from diagnostics and software integration to parts and materials management.
Networking and Recognition
CIC is not just about technical discussions – it’s also a hub for networking and recognition. Attendees were encouraged to interact with presenters through Q&A sessions and open microphones, fostering engagement and shared learning. The evening concluded with the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards, celebrating outstanding contributions and reinforcing the value of community within the industry.
Industry Recognition & Awards
A highlight of the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards was the recognition of outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the collision repair sector. Among those honored was Don Porter, industry consultant for URG – United Recyclers Group. Congratulations to Don Porter for receiving a CIECA Outstanding Achievement Award, presented during the awards ceremony. This accolade reflects Don’s dedication to advancing industry standards and fostering collaboration across organizations.
The awards segment celebrated not only individual achievements but also the collective spirit of innovation and excellence that defines the collision industry. By spotlighting leaders like Don Porter, CIC reinforces its commitment to recognizing those who drive progress and inspire others within the field.
Looking Ahead
As the collision repair industry faces increasing complexity – from advanced vehicle construction to evolving regulatory requirements – the CIC meeting underscored the need for ongoing education, collaboration, and innovation. Committee discussions made it clear that the future will be shaped by those willing to embrace transparency, invest in training, and adopt new technologies. The meeting’s open format allowed for candid conversations about shop management, technician safety, and customer care, setting the stage for continued progress in 2026 and beyond.
Industry Show Review | CIC and SEMA By Shannon Nordstrom
Representing ARA, I attended the Collision in Industry Conference (CIC) which was held at Resorts World this year. Looming outside seen through a window in the break area, the Las Vegas Convention Center – the home of SEMA – was in sight, but we had to wait another day to indulge for SEMA/AAPEX.
CIC is full of the movers and shakers in the collision industry. ARA Executive Director Vince Edivan and JR Reinert from Chuck’s Auto Parts were also there representing the professional automotive recycler on behalf of ARA. I was also there with my “Under the Hood” (UTH) radio show hat on.
CIC has active committees that work all year round and give their reports as the day long program proceeds. Their reports are presented to initiate discussions. They also do a unique feature with “open mics” at certain times during the program where members can bring items to the floor or stump for a position. It appeared that “hot topics” were the OEM “conquest” programs, which match prices of aftermarket and used parts on estimates with OEM parts and has been expanded much from the regular scope many years ago.
There was discussion about the personal data (PII-personal identifiable information) left in salvaged vehicles and who should take on the responsibility of “wiping” the vehicle. I was able to give input at the mic on what we saw in regard to PII when a leadership group from ARA recently visited the UK and toured facilities. We saw that it was a priority there and the auctions had a responsibility to confirm it was done, and also that the manufacturers are “on board,” we were told, with easier methods to “clear” a vehicle of PII.
The CIC committee chair was very intrigued to know this as it seemed they had not investigated the European positions yet, which was surprising to me. There are already bills in some state legislatures regarding this subject and we will be hearing more about it in the coming years.
The issue of parts supplying and the electronic systems was headlined in a seminar titled “A Race to the Bottom.” There were many other things that our team was taking note of, and it is always good to be in the room when these discussions are at the ground floor. While our members are busy dismantling and selling auto parts, ARA is watching out for your interests, that is just another of many reasons why you need to be a member of ARA.
My wife Tamie and I then attended SEMA/AAPEX, also in Las Vegas. The town was as busy as ever for one of, if not the biggest automotive events in the world. “Industry Week” as some call it, is FULL of anything and everything that surrounds the automotive aftermarket whether it be products, services, concepts, parts, accessories and just about anything else you could imagine.
At the AAPEX show, there are product vendors of every type and size and from about every country you could find on a map, it seemed. I was able to meet up with our National Sales Representative for UTH and spend time with him meeting and thanking our show’s partners, in addition to courting new partners. Some of our partners are AAPEX exhibitors, several are at SEMA, so it gives me an amazing opportunity to take in the “SEMA Build” cars that are literally everywhere as “bait” to bring you into a booth or to show off the skill of the builders and the effectiveness of the products they use.
There are some tremendous people in the industry, and it is a pleasure to sit down and have these conversations.
Of course, I always have my Nordstrom’s Automotive Inc. hat on, as well. I met with vendors with whom we do business, and explore some new opportunities.
When we built Nordstrom’s 2.0, we earmarked a few dismantling spaces for a future hoist for heavy vehicles, and we are starting that research. One goal on this trip was to find options. We have started to dismantle more EV’s and a recent intake of several Hummer EV’s found us without a proper hoist to safely handle the width and weight of these hefty vehicles.
Our High Voltage Vehicle Certified team came up with a safe and effective workaround to remove the 3000-pound battery, but for the future, we need a proper hoist which can also be used for the medium-duty trucks we occasionally dismantle. In addition, our managers are reviewing options so we can make the best decision.
This event always yields the discovery of new equipment and technology that will be helpful for our company’s growth, it is always a great and busy week.
A work-related event was a highlight. As almost 25-year high volume sellers on eBay, we were invited to fun “Thank You” event at CABO WABO one evening. There, we had a chance to meet the upper management team of eBay including Jesse Kiefer, VP, GM of Parts and Accessories (seen above with me and Tamie). We appreciated the conversations with their team and other partners with eBay selling parts all over the globe.
The week would not be complete without taking advantage of Las Vegas as a destination. We attended the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, and it was incredible to experience the 4D format, which is unique in the world.
We had wonderful culinary dinners while there and capped the week off seeing Michael Jackson “One,” a Cirque du Soleil show at Mandalay Bay, also recommended!
I am thankful for the opportunity to be in a position with my involvement in many endeavors to attend these events and to also represent ARA. These opportunities will help advance professional automotive dismantling, inform my perspective, enhance my knowledge for predicting industry trends, and strengthen our current prospects.
If you have never taken the time to go to SEMA/AAPEX, I highly recommend attending, if even just one time.
