Auto industry trade groups representing virtually all automakers selling cars and light duty trucks in the United States released a policy position statement today underscoring the importance of all post-collision vehicle repairs being conducted in accordance with the repair procedures issued by the vehicle’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

The statement, released by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers, said that OEM repair procedures follow service and structural engineering practices that have been tested by the manufacturer through crash simulation, actual crash testing, and real-world validation of the repair methodology. They also say that following such procedures is even more important now that cars have become so technologically advanced.

“There was a time when a basic understanding of autobody repair would allow a repairer to fix 9 out of 10 vehicles that come into a shop. That time has passed.” said Wayne Weikel, Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “If a collision shop is going to fix the cars of today, they cannot use the repair procedures of yesterday. The only way to repair today’s vehicle is by following the OEM recommended repair procedures on every repair.”

Automakers also emphasized that the auto repair procedures are readily available to auto shops though numerous online outlets.
“Automakers have gone to great lengths to make repair procedures available to the public,” said Steve Gehring, Vice President, Vehicle Safety and Connected Automation, for the Association of Global Automakers. “These procedures were developed to ensure the vehicle is safely returned to pre-crash condition, with a confidence that advanced driver safety systems are calibrated correctly to help avoid the next crash.”