News Summary
A recent symposium in Plymouth, Michigan, organized by SEMA and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, highlighted the urgency of addressing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibration challenges in the automotive aftermarket. Industry leaders gathered to discuss standardization of procedures for various ADAS technologies, emphasizing safety and compliance as new regulations emerge. The event also focused on the implications for collision shops, grassroots racers, and insurance reimbursement, underlining the need for fair compensation in an increasingly complex automotive landscape.
Plymouth, Michigan – The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers (MEMA) recently held a symposium focusing on the challenges of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibrations within the automotive aftermarket industry. The event gathered industry leaders and stakeholders to create a unified approach to ensure the safe and reliable functioning of ADAS across both factory-original and aftermarket-modified vehicles.
The symposium took place at the SEMA Garage, where a key discussion point revolved around establishing an industry-wide roadmap that addresses the calibration challenges posed by rapidly evolving vehicle technology. This initiative comes in light of renewed federal regulations and safety standards set to influence the automotive aftermarket’s operations.
Among the significant topics discussed was the importance of standardizing procedures involving ADAS, which includes features like Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). These systems rely on an array of sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar technologies and must be calibrated accurately to function as intended, especially after vehicle modifications.
Jim Moore, Vice President of OEM and Product Development at SEMA, emphasized the legacy of safety innovation within the aftermarket industry and its critical role in shaping a personalized driving experience. As the automotive sector sees a shift toward more tech-driven mobility, the aftermarket industry is compelled to enhance its capacity for servicing increasingly sophisticated vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also played a pivotal role, recently finalizing a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard that mandates All passenger cars and light trucks to include AEB as standard equipment by September 2029. This regulation seeks to reduce the frequency of rear-end and pedestrian accidents by ensuring vehicles can automatically stop to prevent collisions, detecting pedestrians in various light conditions.
Furthermore, this regulation requires that vehicles engage braking systems automatically at speeds of up to 90 mph for lead vehicles and 45 mph for pedestrians, thereby introducing new compliance challenges for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and vehicle modifiers. Modifiers, in particular, necessitate access to system information to make informed decisions and ensure safety compliance during modifications.
The regulations pose additional challenges for grassroots racers utilizing street-legal vehicles, as the inability to deactivate AEB and pedestrian AEB systems can affect their participation in timed events.
SEMA represents more than 7,000 companies within the specialty automotive industry, which contributes nearly $337 billion to the U.S. economy and supports approximately 1.3 million jobs. The automotive aftermarket sector specifically produces about $52.3 billion in annual parts sales.
Despite its contributions, the automotive aftermarket industry faces persistent issues, particularly regarding compensation from insurance companies for complex repairs involving ADAS calibrations. Many collision shops are grappling with the increasing complexity of repairs but find insurance reimbursement rates for mechanical labor to be inconsistent and insufficient.
Experts in the field advocate for equitable pay for collision technicians that reflects the complexities of their work, which is rapidly evolving due to technology advancements. Better training, certification, and potential licensing systems are also being discussed in relation to keeping up with skilled professional standards seen in other trades.
In parallel, MAHLE Powertrain announced plans for a new facility in Plymouth, Michigan, aimed at fostering the growth of electrified vehicles and conducting assessments of ADAS technology. This addition underlines the ongoing commitment within the industry to adapt to new technological changes and prepare for future demands.
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Additional Resources
- Motorsports Newswire: ADAS Compatibility Challenges
- Wikipedia: Advanced Driver Assistance System
- Autobody News: Collision Shop Pay Rates
- Google Search: ADAS Calibrations
- Automotive News: PACE Awards Finalists EV/ADAS
- Encyclopedia Britannica: ADAS
- Repairer Driven News: ADAS Calibrations Advice
- Google News: ADAS Technology
- The Brake Report: ADAS Calibration Tool Development
- Google Scholar: ADAS Calibration Standards
