The Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA), the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) by a coalition representing the automotive aftermarket industry, has announced that Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP has filed its opening trial brief in Los Angeles County Superior Court.  The suit, filed in January 2008, challenges that regulations promulgated by the Air Resources Board that would require car companies to extend emissions warranties for parts found defective by emissions warranty information reporting requirements are anticompetitive.  Scott Brown, an ASSCA member shop owner in Claremont, is also a plaintiff.  The lawsuit charges that CARB produced no proof that the extended emissions warranties are actually effective in providing incentives to the car companies to build more durable emissions systems.  The trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 1 in Los Angeles.

SSF Imported Auto Parts Inc. moved its Long Beach location to Carson in August.  The new 95,000-square-foot facility will function as SSF's Southern California Distribution Center, allowing a direct flow of products to that market and improving service to the customer base.  Headquartered in South San Francisco, SSF specializes in spare parts for European makes and has a comprehensive selection of service, collision, and hard-to-find parts for both late model and classic cars. 

Kristine Cesena, president of the Automotive Service Council (ASC) Educational Foundation, has announced the deadlines for the 2009 scholarship applications.  All applicants must submit a completed form and supporting documentation by Nov. 30.  Qualified applicants include California high school seniors who plan to enroll in post-high school technical/academic training or California college undergraduates in the automotive service field who satisfy certain criteria.  The scholarship application can be found on the ASCCA Web site at www.ascca.com.

Larry Samuelson, president of U.S. Automotive Parts Group and CEO of United Auto Parts Inc. (UAP), will be the keynote speaker at this year's California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers' Association (CAWA) annual dinner at the Rio All-Suite Casino Hotel in Las Vegas on Nov. 2. "We are so pleased to have someone of Mr. Samuelson's caliber and position in the aftermarket as this year's annual dinner speaker," said Rodney Pierini, president and CEO of CAWA. Samuelson will discuss the future of the aftermarket industry and what businesses need to do to stay competitive and vibrant in the marketplace. This year's dinner is sponsored by Motorcar Parts of America, and all registration fees will go to CAWA's Memorial Scholarship Program.

LKQ Corp. announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Pick-Your-Part Auto Wrecking, an auto recycler with nine recycling locations in California that generated $114.1 million of revenue in 2007.  "This acquisition will provide us with a new market entry into the California retail-oriented recycled-parts market and additional capacity to grow our Southern California wholesale recycling business," said Joe Holsten, LKQ president and CEO. "During our evaluation of Pick-Your-Part, we were very impressed by its operations and employees, and are excited to have this opportunity to add them to LKQ Corp.'s business." Members of Pick-Your-Part's current management team will remain with Pick-Your-Part under LKQ's ownership.

Dominic Chang, 61, former owner of Dominic's Auto Service in Milpitas, was sentenced to four years of probation and fined $452,000, the U.S Department of Justice announced.  Chang pleaded guilty to failing to pay federal income taxes of $163,498 from 1999 through 2001.

Lehr Auto Electric and Emergency Equipment moved from midtown Sacramento to north Sacramento to double its space, Owner Jim Stommel said.  Lehr's is a 63-year-old car equipment shop specializing in equipping emergency vehicles.

Chico Eco Cars in Chico opened the first electric car dealership in the city in mid-August, Owner Kent Collins announced.  The dealership will sell Global Electric Motorcars, manufactured by a subsidiary of Chrysler in North Dakota.

 
Winter Volvo Lincoln Mercury on Florin Road in Sacramento closed its doors on Aug. 31 after 60 years in business.  Dale Vaira, president and general manager of the dealership, accepted a consolidation buyout offer from Volvo and Ford Motor Co.

A new dealership carrying a line of electric cars, trucks, and scooters manufactured by Santa Rosa-based Zap opened its doors in Rancho Cordova on Aug. 23.  Cost Less Auto Inc. will sell the Zap Xebra, a three-wheel vehicle that uses no gasoline.

One of Vallejo's oldest family-owned car dealerships, Cornelius Ford, closed its doors on Aug. 1, after 68 years in business.

Marc Freschet is the new service manager at Park Avenue Motors in Palo Alto, a Mercedes-Benz dealership and a member of AutoNation. Freschet has more than 23 years experience with Smythe European.