Motor Trade Calls For Close Cooperation Amongst All Involved In Vehicle Crash Repairs

These and other matters were discussed by MTA members at industry forums on matters of interest to the industry, and its customers.

The initiatives discussed would involve the insurance industry being invited to work with both the collision repairer and the new vehicle manufacturer sectors of the motor industry, sharing information on new automotive technologies, repair processes, and the advanced equipment necessary for modern repair.

Also included would be qualifying criteria, and potential registration of repairers qualified to conduct such critical rework.

MTA communications manager, Andy Cuming, said that an important feature of modern motor vehicles was the new level of safety design and the use of sophisticated materials designed for occupant safety.

“Responding to the demands of consumers world-wide, global motor manufacturers have invested overall billions of R & D dollars in vehicle safety design,” he said.

“Much of this is being spent on the structural design of the vehicle itself, including different types of new lightweight but  ultra-strong materials, and the inclusion of
so-called ‘crumple-zones’ to absorb impact for occupant protection.

“It is essential that the integrity of such features is in no way jeopardised by repairs that do not fully restore the effectiveness of their design.

“Such repairs require investment in equipment, and absolute commitment to advanced repair processes leading on from the new technologies.

“This is no longer the special preserve of high-end luxury makes, and there is no low-cost shortcut to this – and nor should there be,” he said.

Andy Cuming said that the progress being made in vehicle design continued to be emphasised by the results being achieved in the ANCAP crash-test programme in Australia. Regular reports of these are promoted widely, and provide New Zealand car-buyers with the ability to make informed choices of models based upon scientifically measured protection ratings.

“Such informed choices must now be backed up by protocols within both the motor and the insurance industries that ensure vehicle owners are able to maintain the same measure of protection upon which their buying decisions had been based.

“There is absolutely no room here for low-cost compromises on repair standards, merely to cut the cost of insurance premiums ,” he said.

Mr Cuming said that an important component of these protocols would be public awareness of the vital importance of these matters.

“Public knowledge is an essential ingredient of what will be an MTA-driven awareness programme.

“We certainly are aiming for vehicle owners being able to have a more informed involvement with decision-making on just who is repairing their vehicle, and the sort of information they need from their insurance company and repairer for their complete peace of mind,” he said.

Andy Cuming said that MTA member companies would play a leading role in this to assist vehicle owners.