Automotive News Canada - April 2017 - v2 - 4

* APRIL 2017

Back on track in Alberta
McManes group likes where the economy and Hyundai are going, so it has opened
its first such store, and the first one in Canada sporting the new corporate colours

By JIL MCINTOSH
TORONTO CORRESPONDENT

CALGARY, ALTA. - BUILDING FOR
future growth and banking on a recovering economy, McManes Automotive
Group has opened South Trail
Hyundai in Calgary. It's the first store
in Canada to be built from the ground
up entirely to Hyundai's Global
Dealership Space Identity, a unified
theme that will eventually be used in
all dealerships worldwide.
It covers 47,500 expansive square
feet (4,400 square metres) of floor space.
"We'll be a volume store and we're
willing to invest now to be ready for the
future," said Mike McManes, vice-president of McManes Automotive Group.
"We have a better feel for this year,"
he said, referencing stressful economic
times in the wake of the global crash in
oil prices. "It won't be what it was two
years ago, but January and February
were better for us than last year, and
now that spring's here, things will open
up."
The group's dealerships span eight
brands across four provinces, but this
is its first Hyundai store. "Hyundai has
some great products today and great
stuff coming in the future, and if you
build the products the customers will

South Trail Hyundai is the first store
in Canada built from the ground up to
Hyundai's "Global Dealership Space
Identity" specifications. The unified
design theme will eventually be used
in all Hyundai dealerships worldwide.
(PHOTO: HYUNDAI CANADA)

come," McManes said, adding that
the company is discussing a possible
Genesis store as well.

GROWING AUTO MALL
The dealership is the third in
McManes Group's South Trail Auto
Mall, alongside its Kia and Chrysler
stores. The group is working to fill the

mall's final two spots.
"We have synergies among our
executive team and can share some of
our processes and strategies among
all our stores," McManes said. "It's
tough to do that in one store, but hav-

ing a key group of people that can
share the cost among a number of
stores is huge." - ANC

Rodents gone, but smell and safety concerns linger
Manitoba Public Insurance
will no longer clean
damaged cars of nesting
materials, urine or feces
By KELLY TAYLOR
WINNIPEG CORRESPONDENT

NEW POLICIES FROM MANITOBA
Public Insurance (MPI) are taking a
bite out of the rodent-infestation repair
business as companies brace for impact
by laying off staff.
Along with odour, however, there
are lingering concerns about viral contamination and damage to vehicle systems that will go unrepaired.
The public insurer expects to save
$6 million each year, about half the former claims exposure, from the relaxed
standards while repair shops expect
the average invoice to fall to around
$250 from between $3,000 and $6,000.
"We're going to be OK, we have
other work we have to do," said
Rosanne Montemurro, owner of
Winnipeg RV Service and Repair, one
of about 20 shops across Manitoba
accredited for rodent removal, "but I'm
laying off three people."

Before March 1, rodent infestation was treated like a hazmat (hazardous materials) claim, with owners
instructed to stop driving the vehicle and await a tow truck. Insurance
adjusters in body suits and respirators would confirm the claim and
send the vehicle to an accredited shop
for restoration.
Infestations inside the passenger
compartment would typically include
stripping the interior of all soft materials and deep-cleaning carpets and
upholstery.
Now, based on new information
from Public Health Canada, a claim
involves eliminating the live infestation, cleaning visible contamination
and ignoring the rest.
Manitoba Public Insurance didn't
respond to specific questions, but
Matt Schaubroeck, manager of external communications, said in a statement that, "Safety is our first priority,
which is why our claim procedures are
being aligned in accordance to guidelines established by the Public Health
Agency of Canada. Manitoba Public
Insurance is in the process of finalizing our rodent claim procedures while
working together with the industry."
Dr. David Safronetz, chief of

shared Montemurro's concern, but
weren't prepared to go on record.
"Not disagreeing with what
Roseanne (Montemurro) said at all, but
I'm taking a different approach," said
one shop owner, who spoke under condition of anonymity. "We are going to
be putting our facts together and we'll
have something to say then."

VEHICLE SAFETY AT STAKE
Interior infestations would typically
mean removing all soft materials
and then deep cleaning carpets and
upholstery. Recent changes to MPI
coverage means that cleanup of nesting materials, urine and feces will
no longer be done under the policy.
( P H O T O : K E L LY TAY L O R )

viral zoonoses (diseases that transfer between various species, including from rodents to humans) for the
National Microbiology Laboratory,
said the risk of a hantavirus infection
diminishes rapidly with the passage
of time.
"These are not overly robust virus
particles," Safronetz said in an interview. "It is widely believed these viruses do not maintain their infectivity
beyond a matter of weeks."
Other restoration shops in Winnipeg

Montemurro said restoration goes
beyond health concerns. She said
rodents often damage safety-critical
components, such as airbags. If those
fail to deploy in a subsequent crash,
would resulting death or injury claims
negate any savings?
Beyond that, she wonders how many
MPI customers will be comfortable
with their cars remaining full of excrement because the policy doesn't cover
removal. As an example, she showed
the inside of a Subaru's dashboard,
filled with nesting material, urine and
feces.
"Would you want that in your car?"
she asked. "Now, we aren't allowed to
get in there and clean it out."
The Subaru in question was restored
prior to March 1, when the new regulations came into force. - ANC

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News Canada - April 2017 - v2