Good morning, and welcome back. The clocks fall back this coming Sunday, which means darker drives home and a few more headlight complaints at the counter. Hope the week gets off to a good start.

— Alex M, Editor

New car sales in October are on pace to match last year, according to a forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData. The bigger story is the mix. Hybrids are expected to make up 18.6% of retail sales, up 4 points from a year ago, while EVs slip to 6.9%.

Buying a car keeps getting harder:

Why it matters: Two trends point straight at your bays. First, people who cannot swing an $823 payment keep their current car longer, and older cars need more work. Second, the hybrids selling today will come off warranty in a few years, and that is when many of them start showing up at independent shops.

For some shops, the hybrid numbers may be a reason to think about whether to build up high-voltage capability now or plan to send that work out.

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Mavis Tire has passed Walmart and Bridgestone’s retail stores to become the largest tire dealer in North America, according to Tire Business’s annual ranking. It runs more than 3,000 company stores plus over 1,100 franchise locations. That growth came almost entirely through buying other companies.

The big deals:

The rest of the list shifted too. Big Brand Tire bought Belle Tire, and Pomp’s Tire Service and GreatWater both cracked the top 10 for the first time.

Why it matters: A buyer the size of Mavis gets better prices on tires and parts than almost anyone else. That can show up in what it charges customers down the street from you. Mavis brands now cover tires, brakes, quick lube, and general repair, so the overlap with independent shops keeps growing.

Whether Mavis can keep growing at this pace is an open question. In the meantime, competing on price alone gets harder. Service and trust remain the ground where independents tend to hold up best.

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Land Rover is recalling 93,997 Range Rovers from model years 2022 through 2026. The rearview camera area does not have enough drain holes, so water can collect inside. That can blur the backup camera image or make it disappear.

Dealers will inspect the camera and replace it if needed. They will also drill drain holes in the underside of the tailgate trim. Letters go out December 11, with a second letter once the final fix is ready.

Why it matters: Backup cameras keep showing up in recalls. Earlier this year, a Bloomberg analysis counted 21 million vehicles recalled for camera problems since 2018, and GM and Rivian both added to that list in September.

Most of these Range Rovers are still young enough to go back to the dealer. Still, a customer with a foggy or blank backup screen may stop at your shop first. A quick recall check before you quote a new camera can save them money on a part they can get for free.

Full story here

📦 Worldpac says about 19% of the parts it ships come back, mostly because they were the wrong part, and it plans to use AI to check returns after shops reported getting used or mismatched parts in the box.

🛑 Porsche issued a do-not-drive recall for 548 more 2024 models, including the 911 GT3 RS and Turbo S, because center-lock wheel parts can fracture and let a wheel come off.

💰 Volkswagen raised its lobbying spending to $420,000 last quarter, up from $60,000, while working on both the REPAIR Act and a bill to restrict Chinese-linked connected vehicles.

🏚️ A Long Island shop owner can no longer do repairs at the building he bought for more than $1 million, after a judge sided with the town in a zoning fight over a property rezoned residential back in 2006.

🎓 Cox Automotive launched a free pilot program that puts its Xtime service software into auto tech schools, starting with Southern Union State Community College in Alabama.

🚚 BendPak opened a third distribution center in Connecticut, which it says brings next-day or two-day lift and equipment shipping to 92% of the U.S. population.

🎟️ AAPEX added new attractions for next week’s show, including daily prize drawings, a new Ford F-150 giveaway, famous movie cars, and automotive escape rooms.

One question for you: How often does the wrong part show up in the box at your shop, and what does it cost you when it does? Whether you order the parts or wait on them in the bay, hit reply and tell us.

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