OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit

The session will explore the unique vehicle platforms each of the participating manufacturers have developed, and how their EV offering differs from other more traditional vehicles. From construction to repairs characteristics and means in which the collision repair industry will need to adapt, panelists will thoroughly explore considerations and opportunities afforded to the industry by EV.

Sales of alternative power vehicles, while currently representing just 5% of all U.S. light vehicle sales today, are expected to reach 45% by 2035, according to new SEMA market research. The inevitable growth of this market makes the perfect fit for a Summit that has always had an eye on the developing landscape of modern vehicles, with a focus on emerging trends that influence vehicle repairability and collision industry preparation.

Panel moderators will include Ron Reichen, Precision Body & Paint (OR) and Kye Yeung, European Motor Car Works (CA), both of whom own repair facilities with experience in operating within certified collision repair networks that include electric vehicles. They will guide a panel featuring:

Jennifer Goforth       General Motors, Director - Global Aftersales Mechanical Engineering

John Eck            General Motors, Collision Manager - Customer Care & Aftersales

Andy MacDonald       Lucid Motors, Global Body Repair Program Senior Manager

Andy Hall            Lucid Motors, Head of Vehicle Safety

Kelly Logan          Rivian, Senior Manager, Collision Repair Program

Dan Black           Rivian, Manager, Service Engineering

Ryan McMahon, Vice President of Insurance and Government Affairs at Cambridge Mobile Telematics, will provide insights into the driver behavior and loss analysis telematics provides. McMahon will review the many use cases different industries have to leverage telematics data collected from connected vehicles, smartphones, and IoT devices.

For example, telematics provides visibility into crash severity by identifying the vehicle’s change in velocity. This information can benefit collision repair facilities in many ways, such as resolving repair disputes, and automatically identifying a total loss — even before ever leaving the scene of the accident.

Mobile telematics didn’t exist a decade ago. It has seen explosive growth across many industries over the past few years. Analysts forecast it will be a $125 billion industry by 2026. The data is evolving, and industry segments can better study and leverage the predictive power of speed, braking, cornering, and other driving behaviors both on their own and in the context of other factors. Consumers, regulators, and government officials also continue to adjust their views on privacy.

In this session, McMahon will outline the moving scope of insight gleaned from telematics – the trends, the habits, the research, and the use cases – and give the collision industry a look into what is being utilized today and at what the future might hold.

Passenger safety and advancements in automotive technology that provide increased safety assurances to vehicle owners and occupants continues to garner increased attention in both the collision repair space as well as the broader automotive sector. From safety provisions being assessed and passed at a governmental level to increased integration of crash avoidance features and safety tech, the development of safety and ADAS in vehicle design is only accelerating in pace. Understanding the big picture of what that means for the industry is as important as understanding the vehicle-specific integrations of the technology, especially for collision repairers. These technologies are effective, but do not eliminate the crashes and damage they are designed to prevent, and the safety benefits of crash avoidance technologies can only continue to be realized when they are restored after a collision.

The session will start with a presentation from Abey Abraham, Managing Director of Automotive and Materials at Ducker and Scott Ulnick, Managing Principal at Ducker. Scott and Abey will provide the audience with a market-based overview on the nuances of ADAS, and a practical view on key existing technology and developments we can expect in vehicles (e.g., “What does sensor fusion even mean?!”) Not all ADAS are created equal, and operations are far from what the marketing labels imply as capabilities. Suppliers are critical and their roles evolve, especially as OEMs aim to further enhance their unique value proposition for their customers. Their presentation will transition to a panel of automakers, who will then discuss their vehicle platforms, the technology that exists today and the unique considerations the collision repair industry should know.

Join the following contributors:

Scott Ulnick       Ducker, Managing Principal

Abey Abraham    Ducker, Managing Director of Automotive and Materials

Ted Hicks        Subaru of America, Regional Technical Training Manager

Scott Kaboos     American Honda Motor Co., National Assistant Manager of Collision Repair Training and Technology

Frank Phillips     Rivian, Manager, Collision Repair Program

Taylor Jozwiak    Rivian, Collision R&D Workshop Manager