Industry News

A new survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that most of American drivers are open to using technology to help reduce speeding. The survey found that over 60% of drivers would be OK with a system that provides audible and visual warnings when they exceed the speed limit. Surprisingly, nearly half…

ALLDATA’s Repair Planner promises to streamline the body shop workflow by automating repair planning and ensuring adherence to OEM specifications. This software integrates with their existing ALLDATA Collision platform and works with popular estimating systems. Here’s how it works: After creating an initial estimate, the user imports it into Repair Planner from ALLDATA Collision.  Repair…

The cost of paint and materials (P&M) for collision repair has been increasing significantly in recent years. According to industry data, P&M costs have increased by nearly 44% between 2017 and 2022, while P&M reimbursements have only gone up by 18.5% in the same period. This means that collision repair shops are losing money on…

The Vehicle Service Group (VSG) has been accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) for its educational courses. This accreditation validates VSG’s commitment to providing high-quality training to technicians, shop owners, and insurance professionals in the automotive and collision repair industries. VSG offers courses in a variety of formats, including web-based…

The TechForce Foundation is taking action to combat the technician shortage by launching a survey called “Techs Talk.” Unlike traditional technician surveys that primarily gather data from older generations, “Techs Talk” specifically targets aspiring and newly employed technicians, particularly Gen Z. This strategic approach aims to gain valuable insights into the perspectives, values, and experiences…

A CNN Business article highlighted the rising difficulty of fixing cars after even minor accidents, due to the increasing use of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like automatic emergency braking. These systems rely on sensors and cameras that can be easily damaged in a collision, requiring expensive replacements and calibrations to ensure they function properly. The…

Manheim’s Used Vehicle Value Index (MUVVI) saw a decrease in April 2024, both month-over-month and year-over-year. This signifies a drop in wholesale used car prices. The year-over-year decline was steeper, at 14.0% compared to April 2023. Additionally, all major vehicle segments experienced a decrease in seasonally adjusted prices in April. Compact cars witnessed the biggest…

The TechForce Foundation launched a survey called “Techs Talk” to understand the needs and experiences of aspiring and new technicians, specifically targeting Gen Z and those with less than two years of experience. This aims to address the technician shortage, as the demand is high but many young people are hesitant to enter the field…

Kia and Hyundai cars were the most stolen vehicles in the US in 2023, according to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). This is a big change from previous years when full-size trucks were typically the most stolen vehicles. The NICB believes social media tutorials showing how to steal Kia and Hyundai…

Progressive’s CEO debated between “maximize” and “optimize” to describe the company’s growth target for the rest of 2024. They decided on “maximize” due to strong first-quarter results and a strategy to take advantage of a still-tight auto market. Progressive believes they are well-positioned for growth due to superior segmentation, allowing them to match rate to…