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Falling In Love With Automotive Window Film

(NewsUSA) - Fall offers a perfect opportunity to have window film installed on a vehicle's side and rear windows. As more people learn about the many benefits of window film for their health, safety, and comfort, you may fall in love with window film too!

As leaves give way and the sun's trajectory passes lower in the sky, glare becomes a greater problem for the eyes, and this may lead to an accident from the glare obscuring one’s view. Much like a quality pair of sunglasses, window films can reduce the glare and when it's reduced, the eyes can relax and may see the road ahead better.

Here are a few of the many other benefits of automotive window films:

  • 99 percent of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are blocked. UV exposure is a cause of skin and eye damage that may lead to skin cancer and cataracts over time. UV rays also contribute to fading and cracking of surfaces by breaking down fibers, plastics, wood and leather of a vehicle's interior.
  • The direct heat generated by the sun is reflected away from a vehicle's interior by the film, so surfaces are cooler to the touch and there is less demand placed on the vehicle’s air conditioner.
  • By cutting down on the sun's glare coming in through side and rear windows, and also by helping to hold glass together if it is broken in an accident, occupants experience more safety, as they are not showered suddenly by hundreds of glass beads.

The International Window Film Association (IWFA) offers information on what to expect after a professional installation of window film on a vehicle, as well as a Visual Quality Inspection Guideline

Every state has laws concerning vehicles and window films, especially on front windshields and the windows immediately to the left and right of the driver. When arranging a professional installation of window film, be sure to ask the dealership what level of visual light transmission (VLT) will comply with the local jurisdiction where the vehicle is registered. The IWFA offers a chart that shows what VLT level are permitted by law in each of the U.S. states and Canadian provinces.  The IWFA recommendation for window films used on front side windows is nothing darker than a 35 percent VLT film; some states allow darker films behind the driver’s compartment.

The best part of having window film installed on your vehicle in the fall is that it will be ready to help protect you and your family in all seasons, and that's something you can fall in love with.

 

CARSTAR Kick Starts Summer with Yeti® Cooler and Swag Giveaway

(NewsUSA) - CARSTAR is Raising Money for Cystic Fibrosis and Giving Back to Their Loyal Customers

CARSTAR, North America’s largest network of independently owned and operated collision repair facilities, is giving back to its communities with a special Summer Splash sweepstakes.

During the month of June, customers will have a chance to win a special summer prize by visiting https://bit.ly/43F038F. To enter, customers will share how they get involved in their community, their first and last name, email, and address. Five lucky winners will receive a prize package of summer essentials that includes a Yeti cooler, four branded koozies, a branded water bottle, and a branded towel.

Additionally, each entry will be matched with a $1 contribution from CARSTAR Corporate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Financial matching will max out 10,000 entries or $10,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If the maximum numbers of entries are not reached, CARSTAR Corporate will still fulfill the $10,000 donation.

Entries will be monitored from Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 30, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST. Only entrants from this eligibility period will be entered to win and winners will be contacted through their email address used to enter.

The Summer Splash promotion runs in tandem with Shine Season, a three-month-long fundraising initiative that encourages franchise partners and corporate staff to get involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by raising funds for cystic fibrosis research, advocacy, and care.

“It brings me great pride watching our owners and their customers support causes that are near and dear to themselves and their respective communities,” said Damien Reyna, COO of U.S. collision, Driven Brands. “I look forward to witnessing the selfless dedication of our network during Summer Splash, Shine Season, and future fundraising events to come.”

Summer is bringing the heat, but CARSTAR is bringing the shine. With over $4 million raised to date for cystic fibrosis research, advocacy, and care, CARSTAR is optimistic about making a continued positive impact this summer season.

For more information on CARSTAR visit CARSTAR.com.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK IS GIVING AWAY $50,000 TO FUEL MEMORIAL DAY TRAVELS

(NewsUSA) - The First 1,000 Participants in Rockstar Energy’s “Fuel Your Drive” Promotion Will Receive Up to $50 Cash Back

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 23, 2023 – Starting Memorial Day weekend – a peak road trip weekend – Rockstar Energy wants to ‘Fuel Your Drive’ by giving away $50,000 to help summer travelers across the country get cash back at the pump and stay energized to get to their next destination.

Each year, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer travel and millions of Americans are eager to put pedal to the metal. In fact, experts predict that 82% of Memorial Day travelers in the United States will be hitting the road to take advantage of the long holiday weekend.

“With high gas prices, we know consumers are looking for special deals and ways to save money without sacrificing fun,” said Sara Ostrander, Director of Brand Programming, Energy Portfolio. “Almost 90% of Americans are looking for travel rewards, so we created ‘Fuel Your Drive’ to bring the energy to summer road trips and give consumers cash back at the pump across the nation.”

Throughout Memorial Day weekend, the first 1,000 people who fuel up on gas, purchase three or more Rockstar Energy products at participating gas stations nationwide and text ‘ENERGY’ to 81234 to upload their receipt will receive up to $50 cash back, all courtesy of Rockstar Energy.

The rewards don’t stop there. Americans will be road-tripping all summer long so to keep them fueled up and energized, Rockstar Energy will reward travelers with up to $5 cash back when they buy two products now through Labor Day. Those products include classic and summertime fan favorites like Recovery Orangeade and the latest addition Strawberry Peach available in Punched (full flavor) and Pure Zero (zero sugar), all providing that extra fuel to conquer summer road trips.

Whether grabbing the wheel for a long weekend or an epic summer-long road trip, it’s time to kick off the unofficial start of summer with Rockstar Energy to fuel your next adventure. For more information on Rockstar Energy’s “Fuel Your Drive” promotion, text ‘ROCKSTAR’ to 81234.

For more information, visit www.rockstarenergy.com.

Give the Gift of a Clean Car: Perfect for Dads and Grads

(NewsUSA) - Father's Day and graduation are just around the corner, and the pressure is on to find the perfect gift. Forget about the clichéd ties and boring watches; we've got an idea that will rev up your gifting game. Imagine the look of surprise and delight on your dad or grad's face when they receive a prepaid car wash membership or wash pack. And not just any car wash, we're talking about Take 5 Car Wash, the ultimate car care experience with over 400 sites nationwide.

So, why is a clean car the ultimate gift idea? Well, besides being a refreshing change from the usual presents, it's an opportunity for your loved one to have a clean ride, any time they want. With a prepaid car wash membership or wash pack from Take 5 Car Wash, they can enjoy the convenience of visiting any of their numerous locations at their preferred time. From quick touch-ups before important meetings to thorough cleanings after long road trips, this gift ensures their ride always shines.

But that's not all. We all know that time is a precious commodity, especially for busy dads and hardworking grads. That's where Take 5 Car Wash comes in. Their fast and efficient service guarantees a thorough cleaning in just a few minutes. With a prepaid membership or wash pack, your dad or grad can breeze through the car wash whenever it suits them, saving valuable time that can be better spent on things they love.

Now, let's talk about the quality and care your loved one will receive. Take 5 Car Wash is renowned for its exceptional service and commitment to every vehicle that crosses its path. Their team uses top-of-the-line equipment and products to ensure a thorough and gentle cleaning process.

When it comes to finding a practical, convenient, and thoughtful gift, a prepaid car wash membership or wash pack from Take 5 Car Wash is a no-brainer. With their extensive network of locations, time-saving convenience, and exceptional quality, you can't go wrong. So, why wait? Give the gift of a prepaid car wash membership and let the dad or grad in your life enjoy a clean and shiny ride all year long. Trust us; they'll thank you for it.

Find your nearest Take 5 Car Wash location here.

Take 5 Car Wash Welcomes Spring, Gives Away Tens of Thousands of Free Car Washes

(NewsUSA) - Nothing says annoying like having bird poop on your car, and the arrival of spring means even more unwanted bird activity. Why do birds like to poop on cars? No one knows for sure, but bird poop on your car is more than an unsightly mess. In fact, the uric acid in bird poop can damage your vehicle’s paint.  

Fortunately, Take 5 Car Wash® is welcoming the season with a giveaway of over 60,000 free car washes in select markets across the United States including Dallas, Nashville, Denver, Salt Lake City, Memphis, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Little Rock, Birmingham, New Orleans, and Columbus, Ohio. Free washes will be gifted starting on March 28, National Car Wash Day, to people who claim their car was pooped on by Take 5’s new, pesky mascot, the Take 5 Official Pigeon.

If you live in one of the select markets and suspect that the Take 5 pigeon has visited you, visit www.Take5.com/Pigeon for your chance at a free wash, and to see where the pigeon may strike next.

Take 5 Car Wash is the largest express car wash operator in the U.S. with 400 sites nationwide and is part of the Driven Brands family of automotive services. The retailer's washes tackle the seven signs of car aging: dull paintwork, fine lines, markings, permeability, surface dirt, under chassis rust, and fading color. Its washes are equipped with Take 5’s proprietary Pro5™ five-step process for a professional clean, powered by Armor All Professional® wash and wax formulas, including a Ceramic Shield formula with UV Protection exclusive to Take 5 Car Wash.

Visitors to Take 5 Car Wash also have access to Take 5 Car Wash’s complimentary Pro5 Detail Center, with high-power vacuums, Pro5, Armor All Professional®, Interior Cleaner, and Window Cleaner, and microfiber towels.

Driven Brands, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., also includes Take 5 Oil Change®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,800 locations across 15 countries, and services over 50 million vehicles annually. Visit take5.com/car-wash for more information.

Spring Forward with a Ray-Ban Giveaway

(NewsUSA) - Spring is here, and what better way to celebrate than to perk up your car and your look at the same time. Auto Glass Now, the company known for fast, friendly, and convenient auto glass services, is extending their Spring Fixin’ giveaway through Wednesday, March 22. A total of 23 lucky winners will receive a free pair of special Ray-Ban shades just in time for the start of spring.

The giveaway invites entrants to share their spring break plans at SpringFixin.com for a chance to win. The contest runs through 11:59 pm March 22, 2023, and is open to anyone in the U.S.

“Spring is right around the corner, and we are excited to help our lucky winners see clearly as they enjoy their spring break in style,” said Michael Lopez, president, Auto Glass Now. “We help customers get rid of chips or cracks on their windshields, and now we’re taking it to the next level so you can enjoy some fun in the sun.”

After March 22, the 23 winners will be selected at random and notified through email. They must respond within five business days to receive their prize.

“I’m thrilled that we can continue doing the work we love, and excited to give back to our valued customers,” Lopez said. "Our Auto Glass Now family is committed to offering customers the best quality auto glass repairs and replacement, at an incredible value, providing us with loyal and happy customers," he added.

For more information, the rules governing the giveaway, and to enter, visit SpringFixin.com.

About Auto Glass Now

Auto Glass Now offers fast, friendly, and convenient auto glass services across the country with almost 100 locations throughout the United States. The local team of experts can help provide trusted auto glass repairs, replacements, and calibrations. A part of the Driven Brands family of automotive aftermarket companies, Auto Glass Now delivers national scale and efficiency, alongside its premier service quality. Visit AutoGlassNow.com to learn more.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America's leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change®, Take 5 Car Wash®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,800 locations across 15 countries, and services over 50 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands' network generates approximately $2 billion in annual revenue from more than $5.6 billion in system-wide sales.

Celebrate Spring Break in Style with Auto Glass Now’s Spring Fixin’ Giveaway

(NewsUSA) - Auto Glass Now Announces a Chance to Win One of 23 Pairs of Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Charlotte, NC (February 27, 2023)Auto Glass Now, known for fast, friendly, and convenient auto glass services, announces their Spring Fixin’ giveaway where Auto Glass Now will gift 23 winners with a pair of special Ray-Ban shades ahead of the 2023 spring break season.

The sweepstakes invites entrants to share their spring break plans for a chance to win at SpringFixin.com. It will run from Monday, February 27 through 11:59 PM ET on March 13, 2023, and is open to anyone in the U.S.

“Spring break is right around the corner, and we are excited to help our lucky winners see clearly as they enjoy their vacation or staycation in style,” said Michael Lopez, president, Auto Glass Now. “We help customers get rid of chips or cracks on their windshields, and now we’re taking it to the next level so you can enjoy some fun in the sun.”

Following the closing of the giveaway, 23 winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, March 15. The winner will be contacted through email to receive their prize and must respond within five business days.

“We’ve had strong customer loyalty through the years because our Auto Glass Now family is committed to offering customers the best quality auto glass repairs and replacement, at an incredible value,” continued Lopez. “I’m thrilled that we can continue doing the work we love, and excited to give back to our valued customers.”

For more information, the rules governing the giveaway, and to enter, visit SpringFixin.com.

About Auto Glass Now

Auto Glass Now offers fast, friendly, and convenient auto glass services across the country with almost 100 locations throughout the United States. The local team of experts can help provide trusted auto glass repairs, replacements, and calibrations. A part of the Driven Brands family of automotive aftermarket companies, Auto Glass Now delivers national scale and efficiency, alongside its premier service quality. Visit AutoGlassNow.com to learn more.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America's leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change®, Take 5 Car Wash®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,800 locations across 15 countries, and services over 50 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands' network generates approximately $2 billion in annual revenue from more than $5.6 billion in system-wide sales.

Four More Ways Window Film Improves Your Ride

(NewsUSA) - Professionally installed automotive window film (“auto tint”) may improve your ride in more ways beyond its curb appeal. Here are four more benefits of having window film installed, according to Darrell Smith of the International Window Film Association (IWFA).

More Safety     
While driving, the sun’s glare can enter from side windows to the left and right of the driver's eyes, causing the view ahead to be temporarily blocked. This may result in an accident and, if you are involved in one, window film may help protect the driver and passengers from flying glass pellets if the glass is broken. Window film provides a protective layer to help hold glass fragments together.

More Driving Range     
During warmer months, the sun heats up a car’s interior, requiring the air conditioner (A/C) to cycle more often to reach a comfortable cabin temperature. Research on the impact of window films on a vehicle's energy consumption showed the A/C ran less and used less energy, which inferred an improved driving range when compared to a vehicle without solar-heat-gain-reducing window films.     

By reducing the temperature in a car, window film helps save on fuel or electric use at no additional cost beyond the initial installation.

More Skin and Upholstery Protection     
Window films reduce the sun's harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays by 99 percent, and they’re a leading cause of skin and eye damage, which over time may increase the incidence of  skin cancers and cataracts. Not only may window film help protect the skin and eyes from UV rays, it may also extend the lifespan of a vehicle's interior by reducing the sun's impact on trims, plastic moldings, upholstery and seat coverings.

More Theft Protection     
Thieves are less likely to randomly break into a car if what’s inside is less visible or more difficult to obtain. When an item of value is easily spotted in a car, the temptation to smash a window and grab the item is greater for would-be thieves. Shattering the windows of random cars in the hope of finding something of value is a low-reward, high-risk activity. Window film acts as a deterrent by helping to hold the glass together, making it more difficult to both break-in and to see-in.     

Learn more about window film and find a local installer by visiting www.iwfa.com.

Technology with a Human Touch

While there are too many scenarios to chronicle the inconveniences of manual car doors, there is an unsung hero working behind the scenes with automakers to resolve these issues for good.

Magna is one of the world's largest suppliers in the mobility space, and chances are, you probably have never heard of them, but likely experienced their technologies in one form or another. The power liftgate technology Chrysler debuted on the minivan 20 years ago, for instance.

Most people don't think about the auto supply chain, yet Magna designs and manufactures these systems, plus a lot more. And, as we look to the future, the company is sitting at the helm of mobility technology -- the intersection of Silicon Valley tech, automotive and smart manufacturing sectors.

Referring back to the everyday "door struggles," the innovative supplier has a solution for those too -- with SmartAccessTM, an advanced powered door system.

Compared to a traditional manual door, advanced powered doors are customizable and easier to use. Engineers at Magna explored door applications with their HaptronikTM technology -- which is a revolutionary motion control software that enhances user experience and ensures that the door will feel the same way all the time in any condition -- to expand the use cases of the manual door.

So, those slammed fingers or dinged cars? Magna's SmartAccessTM doors can dictate the speed at which doors open and close -- thankfully, helping prevent a gust of wind from deciding the fate of little fingers or the car next door. Magna is even developing an "ice breaker" feature for frozen doors.

While automakers and suppliers develop futuristic ways for people to get from point A to point B over the next 50 years, there are everyday, simpler problems that are being resolved with ingenuity in the present. SmartAccessTM was designed to create an intuitive experience for a variety of car owners. From helping an elderly person or individual with disabilities open a heavy door, to a single parent herding kids into the back seat with the convenience of a hands-free option, SmartAccessTM propels the average driver into the future today, using technology with a human touch.

Protect Your Skin and Eyes from Unseen UV Rays

In fact, driving is a significant source of exposure to UV rays, according to the International Window Film Association (IWFA), a nonprofit organization.

Automotive window films can provide an important layer of protection against harmful UVA rays, which do pass through unprotected window glass.

Medical research has shown that drivers in the United States have an increased risk of developing skin cancer on the left side of their faces and on their left arms as a result of exposure to UVA rays through car windows.

All quality window films block 99 percent of UVA rays and can help to reduce the risk of being exposed to the sun's harmful UVA rays. But the dark glass that is popular in many vehicles today may not provide sufficient UVA protection unless it has also been treated with a window film, according to the IWFA.

Some key benefits of automotive window films:

  • Protecting yourself. Window films not only reduce your skin and eye exposure to UVA rays, they may also enhance visibility and reduce eye fatigue while driving, and many films reject more than 50 percent of the sun's heat to help you stay cool on hot summer drives.
  • Protecting your car. The sun's rays that penetrate car windows can have a similar impact on your car's interior as on your skin. Window films help reduce the fading and cracking of upholstery. In addition, window films can enhance the ability of the side and rear window glasses to hold together in the event of an impact or accident, as well as frustrate a smash-and-grab burglar.

Protective automotive window films can be installed quickly and easily, usually in a few hours by a professional window film installer. To further assist consumers and professionals, the IWFA has developed a guideline to explain the visual quality that should be expected after installation of an automotive window film tint.

Visit www.iwfa.com for more information and to find a window film business in your area.

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