As previously reported, the Automotive Recyclers Association Educational
Foundation (ARAEF) is very proud to partner with the FIRST® Robotics
Competition. This alliance will provide the automotive recycling
community a unique opportunity to promote the industry to the next generation
BA of engineers. This effort goes hand in hand with ARA and the ARAEF’s increased
efforts to educate the public about automotive recycling and green recycled
parts.
The mission of FIRST® is to inspire young people to be science and technology
leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build
science, engineering and technology skills, inspire innovation and foster wellrounded
life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and
leadership.
Information on the 2012 ARAEF and FIRST® partnership will be distributed to
students across the country the first week of January. ARAEF is asking that ARA
members who are contacted by FIRST® teams in their area donate four to six
small motors to the team with which to build their project. A combination of
wiper motors, window motors and seat motors could all serve as practical
components of a team’s required components. Each FIRST® Robotics
Competition team will receive a voucher in their competition kit that explains
they are to contact a local ARA member to request the motors and set a time
to pick up the motors at the automotive recycling facility. This is a win-win for
ARA and FIRST® in that ARA members can directly impact the teams to
enlighten them about automotive recycling, and the FIRST® has a reliable
donation source for their program.

A newly released report from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) shows the Audi S8 headed the government’s list
and the Toyota Camry was the most-stolen new car in 2009. While that
sounds ominous, the fact that out of 227 Audi S8′s sold, 2 were stolen, puts a
slightly different interpretation on it, even though on the it.
A close second was the 2009 Shelby GT Mustang, which had 5 stolen out of the
581 that were sold – or a theft rate of 8.61 per 1,000 sold.
Also in the top five was BMW’s M5, with a theft of 7.58 per 1,000, followed by the
Dodge Charger (6.47 per 1,000) and Honda’s S2000 (5.60 per 1,000).
Although the report does not track light trucks, that would include SUV’s, the
Cadillac Escalade has been shown to top the overall list of most-stolen vehicles.
On the other hand, NHTSA concludes that the overall theft rate has fallen to 1.33
per 1,000 – down from 2008 when it was 1.69 per 1,000. The general consensus is
the increased use of standard anti-theft devices, vehicle parts marking as well
as increased public awareness and improved prosecution efforts by law
enforcement.

Congressmen Geoff Davis (R-KY) and Richard Hanna (R-NY) have agreed
to insert into the Congressional Record tomorrow – Nov. 15th and
America Recycles Day – a statement recognizing the contributions that
automotive recyclers and junk yards from California to Maine  have made and continue to make to the environment,
economy and community through recycling efforts. Specifically, both members
of congress will note the huge role that the industry plays in preserving natural
resources and reducing demand for scarce landfill space and that it is the work
of small business men and women who our nation can thank for this contribution.
They will also highlight the recyclability and reusability of vehicle components, particularly mentioning engines, transmission, aluminum and steel.
Further, the statements will refer to the automobile as the most recycled product
in the world, noting that the parts when recycled can produce almost 13 million
new vehicles, while saving 11 million gallons of oil in the manufacturing of new
components. And lastly, the members will acknowledge automotive recyclers
as “exemplary citizens who the nation should appreciate and recognize as
those who make a real difference in keeping our nation clean.”
We are working with the Senate to have similar statements inserted as part of its
recorded proceedings tomorrow.
Again, thank you to all who participated in last year’s Hill Days because it is the
connections that you made then that paved the way for our requests today.
Indeed, ARA and the industry is becoming more well known by our policymakers
every day.

On November 16-17, ARA CEO Michael Wilson was an invited guest of
the Mexican government for an international seminar on the
“Management of End of Life Vehicles” held in Mexico City, Mexico. The
event comes as the government is set to announce a management plan for
end of life vehicles in March 2012.
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Wilson was asked for recommendations on implementing an Automotive
Recyclers Association of Mexico. During his presentation, Wilson declared ARA’s
strong support for such an organization.
“There are significant changes about to occur with the automotive recycling
industry in Mexico,” declares Wilson. “Our Canadian colleagues are engaged in
communications regarding end of life vehicles with their national government at
the highest levels. This important conversation regarding the processing of end
of life vehicles is being conducted at a very high level in the Mexican
government as well.”
Wilson will be in ongoing contact with Mexican government officials as they
work through their end of life vehicle management plan.

On November 11-12, ARA CEO Michael Wilson attended the 4th
AsiaAutomotive Environment Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The
conference, hosted by the Malaysian Automotive Recyclers

Association and the Malaysian Automotive Institute, was a tremendous success.
More than 200 participants from Malaysia, Japan, Korea, China, Australia,
Canada and the United States attended the conference, including the
Managing Director of the Automotive Recyclers of Canada, Steve Fletcher and
Executive Director of the Automotive Recyclers Association of Australia, David
Nolan, Chairman of the Korea Automotive Recyclers Association Sang Uk Lee,
the Executive Director of the Japan Automotive Recyclers Association, Sosho
Kitajima along with the Chairman of the Malaysian Automotive Recyclers
Association, Gwee Bok Wee.
The automotive recycling community in Malaysia has seen its share of
challenges this year. The Malaysian automotive recyclers are battling their
government to stop a possible importation ban on recycled auto parts along
with their current test precipitated by a 60 percent loss of products due to the
Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
In his remarks at the conference, Wilson highlighted the opportunities and
challenges of the global automotive recycling community. As of last year, the
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world population of motor vehicles topped 1 billion units for the first time and
that population is estimated to increase to 2.5 billion units by 2050. Wilson
stated, “It is imperative for the survival of our environment and industry that it is
the professional automotive recycler who manages the scrapped cars and not
those who are untrained and unregulated.” Wilson also challenged the industry
to “come together and develop research that proves the economic and
environmental value of recyclable and reusable motor vehicle parts.” To view
Wilson’s full remarks, please click here.
As part of the schedule, many of the attendees had the opportunity to visit four
auto recycling facilities located in the port city of Klang, in the suburbs of Kuala
Lumpur. The tours highlighted the unique operations along with the significant
utilization of foreign laborers.
From discussions at the forum, ARA is pleased to announce the Korean
Automotive Recyclers Association has joined the ARA membership.