MEETING NOTES
NASTF 2012 SPRING GENERAL MEETING REPORT
Vehicle Security, Tool Matrix and Industry Education Highlighted

PALM SPRINGS, CA (April 17, 2012) - The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) held its annual Spring General Meeting today. The meeting agenda included board and committee reports, updates on several NASTF initiatives and a panel discussion on new education and vehicle inspection initiatives. Links to presentations can be found at the bottom of this report.

During the business session of the meeting, the following initiatives were discussed:

• NASTF’s search for an executive director has been narrowed to three finalists; a final selection will be made shortly.
• Since the Fall 2011 general meeting, on average, less than two Information Requests (IRs) are being received monthly; nearly all IRs pertain to the Secure Data Release Model (SDRM) or reprogramming.
• NASTF will publicize that Information Request forms can also be submitted to resolve tool, training and collision information gaps.
• For the first time since its inception, fees for the SDRM have been increased. Two-year subscription fees were increased from $200 to $300, while SDRM application fee was increased from $50.00 to $75.00. The increases were made to offset state fees to process required background checks.
• The SDRM continues to experience increased usage by both automotive professionals and automakers, primarily for key codes, immobilizer codes and theft-related parts.
• Honda, Nissan and other automakers are now considering using the SDRM for these and other concerns. European automakers have pledged more support and cooperation with NASTF for MY2013.
• The National Insurance Crime Bureau advised that SDRM info has helped charge and convict vehicles theft rings. In addition, random audits of transactions and suspensions where warranted have also helped curtail auto theft and cloning of key codes.
• An updated NASTF scan tool information matrix, revised by volunteer dealer and independent technicians, will soon be ready for publication. To help professionals make an informed purchase decision between OEM factory and aftermarket tools, listings for all major factory tools up to 2011 will include an image, features and functions, where to purchase the tool, what other hardware is needed, and an OEM contact for technical support to the aftermarket.

A panel of guest speakers then addressed several subjects. These included:

• Challenges Delivering high Quality Aftermarket Training — "If the OEMs want aftermarket technicians trained to the best standards, then finding a mechanism to cooperatively share materials with the aftermarket is key, " noted Mark Warren, an instructor with WORLDPAC Training Institute and a MOTOR contributor. His presentation focused on how this could be done.
• Inspection and Maintenance Testing Programs (Calif. BAR 2013 Program) — "Somewhere between mid-2013 to early 2014, California will require a windows-based, Windows 7, Internet-capable, data acquisition device in shops providing I/M services," explained Tony Amigleo, Worldwide Environmental Products Inc. director of Sales and marketing. Amigleo explained how inbound California inspection and maintenance testing programs would affect shops.
• ASE Industry Education Alliance — "One major challenge that our industry faces is how do we prepare people to cope with the rapid pace and level of change that is occurring," stated Tony Molla, ASE vice-president for Communications. To help, ASE has introduced an initiative that partners educational institutions with automakers and the aftermarket.

The Fall 2012 general meeting for NASTF will be held during Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) this coming October in New Orleans. Details will be announced shortly.