Fisker Automotive, Irvine, Calif., finalized on July 19 its purchase of a onetime GM factory in Delaware where it will build plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
The Southern California-based environmentally driven automotive company took full possession of the 3.2 million-sq.-ft. Wilmington Assembly plant in Wilmington, Del., for which it paid Motors Liquidation Co. $20 million. Motors Liquidation is the holding company formed by General Motors Corp.’s bankruptcy.  -Read more-

Cover me, quick.

It’s a harsh world out there. Stones and other small debris get spun up by road-running tires and stormy winds. Chemicals or sand spread on snowy or pre-snowy roadways eat at vehicle surfaces. The sun’s UV rays, even in winter, bother interiors, bother drivers and their passengers.

So, it’s nice to have some friends in the protection business.

Today’s window and paint protection films are even better at what they do than even a few years ago. Take, for example, the technology in upper-end high-performance window films that are void of the characteristics that would bother the many added electronic communication devices people have added into their vehicles, such as Bluetooth and GPS devices. Or the PPFs that make application even easier because of their movability and conformability.

Cover me, quick.

It’s a harsh world out there. Stones and other small debris get spun up by road-running tires and stormy winds. Chemicals or sand spread on snowy or pre-snowy roadways eat at vehicle surfaces. The sun’s UV rays, even in winter, bother interiors, bother drivers and their passengers.

So, it’s nice to have some friends in the protection business.

Today’s window and paint protection films are even better at what they do than even a few years ago. Take, for example, the technology in upper-end high-performance window films that are void of the characteristics that would bother the many added electronic communication devices people have added into their vehicles, such as Bluetooth and GPS devices. Or the PPFs that make application even easier because of their movability and conformability.

what’s leaping forward and what’s fading away in our automotive world. And, amid all the modifications and adjustments, even the transformations the industry has had to make this year, finding the positive, creative and encouraging mood was a needed breath of fresh air.

What was on display, from the innovations seen in project cars, fuel-efficiency and “green” technologies to the rock-solid aftermarket products that will give car, truck CUV and SUV lovers a chance to make their vehicles better and more personalized, gives us all pause to realize the industry knows how to keep itself moving,

If you missed the show, or weren’t able to get to all of the booths, following are some of the products that suppliers had on parade

Hop to it!

Or, hop on it.

As one of the most-sold and installed aftermarket products for trucks and SUVs—and soon, CUVs —running boards and steps continue to offer that added lift and support for so many vehicle owners. Even while the economy begins to recover, not only owners of new vehicles that well need these side-door and truck bed entry assistants, but owners of late-model trucks and SUVs who are holding on to them just a bit longer are opting to update their trusty rides with steps or running boards — sometimes with both.

As you read more about these products throughout the next several pages, consider all of the possibilities available for you to offer your customers.

Slip-sliding away.

Not.

No way.

Cargo management just keeps getting better. Better designs. Better features. Better mechanisms. Better uses. Even better prices. All of which lead to better opportunities for restylers.

People are always on the move and need to take along their gear for sports, hunting, fishing, camping, skiing and boarding, going to the store or going to grandma’s…you name it. And though carmakers have managed to get more room inside their vehicles, with the decided shift to smaller vehicles, enthusiasts and travelers will need the smarter-designed cargo carriers to outfit these vehicles even more.

Let it shine, let it shine!

When the sun’s rays of the day and the street lights of the night hit the metallic brilliance of chrome, they capture the luster and shine that capture the eye. Perhaps that’s why more and more vehicles are sporting chrome accessories and trim, from door handles to window visors to fender vents to door graphics.

Upgrading a plane-Jane look of a truck or car to add a touch of class — a touch of chrome — has become a sure and often inexpensive treatment for vehicle owners.

Take a look throughout the next several pages at what you can offer customers who want that bit of luminescence, that taste of luxury that comes from chrome accents. You — and they — will take a shine at all that’s chrome.

Fortunately, today’s modern window and paint protection films, expertly applied by restyling pros, give vehicle owners the defenses they want to keep their vehicles’ exteriors and interiors looking newer, longer.

Take a look throughout the next several pages at what many suppliers have available for restylers to offer their customers as the best in protective films and the allied tools to get the films cut and applied right the first time.

Now Presenting

It’s been a challenging year for many in the aftermarket accessories business. Shops tightened their money belts for sure, and for some that might have meant scaling back their travel expenses. If you were unable to attend this years’ SEMA Show, take close note of some of the products shown there — many newly introduced — as well as some whose suppliers are promoting especially for professional restyling jobbers and retailers.

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Last month we looked at new developments in plotter technol-xogy and features. Once you’ve absorbed all that information regarding plotters, and considered what hardware might be right for your shop, the next step is to examine the software available to power your plotter. Software is at least as important as the cutting equipment and there are a number of options for your consideration; like pairing proper tools and equipment with the proper accessory installation, software too may be paired in very specific ways to serve your shop, your hardware, your media and your clients’ needs. Film-cutting software has essentially two elements: design capabilities and production capabilities.

An Overview