We're several years away from affordable plug-in hybrids. For those who can't wait, they have a choice of expensive hybrid conversion kits.

The old adage, "there's nothing new under the sun" is particularly apt in the independent repair business, where service advisors and technicians are all-too-familiar with the telltale signs of poor vehicle maintenance. But nowhere are these problems more prevalent than in the shops that do business with the college crowd — where employees are pulling double duty to provide repair and maintenance services, as well as educate their young (and often inexperienced) customers about the importance of basic car care.

When it comes to vehicle maintenance and repair, where a consumer takes their car is an extremely personal decision that often is based on a vehicle's make, model and year. Of course, price factors into major repair decisions — especially if an otherwise expensive repair is still under warranty. But if a car is out of warranty, many consumers choose their local independent repair shop over a dealership without a second thought. So, what influences consumers when their vehicles need a quick — or not so quick — fix? This month, Aftermarket Business editors made it their mission to find out.

Can you name your local lawmakers? The state representatives who are charged with protecting your interests in Washington, D.C.? When was the last time you wrote a legislator to explain how a piece of impending legislation would affect your business bottom line? If these questions have you stumped, chances are it's time for a refresher course on the importance of governmental processes as they relate to independent businesses, as well as the necessity of getting involved in these processes yourself.

This year's eForum, held in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency hotel July 14-16, was all about envisioning the future of the automotive aftermarket. Scott Luckett, vice president of technology standards and solutions for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), kicked off the conference by projecting the industry's future, which includes accelerating change for aftermarket players up and down the supply chain that will be driven by demanding customer expectations, a rapid evolution of vehicle technology and an increase in online commerce.?

Skyrocketing gas prices have had a direct effect on pick up truck and SUV sales, both of which have been declining rapidly. Consumers are demanding smaller, more fuel efficient cars, which resulted in Toyota's recent announcement to add the production of the Prius to its North American lineup, while at the same time consolidating two pickup truck facilities and scaling back production on the gas guzzling behemoths.

Are you for good government? Of course you are. But are you for better government? According to Leslie Waters, a former legislator in the Florida House of Representatives and a political grassroots facilitator, if you're a business owner — big or small — better government is in your best interests.

Globalization, technology, high gas prices and education — for industry insiders as well as consumers — are dominant issues within the aftermarket today, say industry experts. And not only are these issues front and center in everybody's mind, they are the talk of the industry whenever a group gathers. Such was the case at this year's Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), where manufacturers, distributors, shop owners and other industry power players gathered to discuss these and other topics relevant to today's automotive aftermarket in both the United States and overseas. The event's Board of Directors weighed in on these and other challenges the industry faces.

The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers' Association (CAWA) is known for its ability to sniff out legislation that could pose a threat to its members long before the suggested bills have a negative impact on the aftermarket. Recently, the group and industry power players banded together to take on SB 1059, a bill seeking to make it unlawful for any insurer to require the installation of an aftermarket part — if the part to be replaced is under the existing original manufacturer's warranty — during the first three years of a vehicle's life. The bill was soundly defeated within the California legislature, and is (in legalistic jargon) "dead."