Feb. 23, 2021—Just a few weeks ago, industry experts gathered to discuss the increasing popularity of electric vehicles and how the industry must prepare to address the shifting landscape of collision repair. 

During the Collision Industry Conference’s latest virtual gathering, the Emerging Technologies committee outlined its areas of focus for the coming meetings, including the formation of two subcommittees. The subcommittees, each dedicated to a certain discipline, further prove the need for consistently updated and regulated information for repairers.

The Emerging Technologies committee also gave the industry an update on standardized naming conventions for advanced driver assistance systems in order to streamline the repair process and minimize confusion. 

Areas of Focus

The first area of focus for the Emerging Technologies committee involves electronic and electrical components. This subcommittee will track and relay repair information tied to electric vehicles, whether they are hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or battery-electric vehicles. 

The electric subcommittee will focus on cybersecurity, diagnostics, and vehicle-to-vehicle telematics. The first subcommittee will also allocate time and resources to informing the industry about driver assist systems, their calibrations, and automatic driving systems. 

The second subcommittee will focus on structural and mechanical components needed to work on the next generation of vehicles. This includes attachment methods, blueprinting and inspections, measuring and alignment, and tools and equipment. 

Industry Nomenclature

The second presentation given by the Emerging Technologies committee emphasized the need to establish a standardized lingo for advanced driver assistance systems across the industry, regardless of the vehicle’s make, model, and year. 

The committee backed the Society of Automotive Engineers' naming convention standard titled “Clearing the Confusion.” The document outlines more than 20 ADAS features across various themes like “collision intervention,” “parking assistance,” and “driving control assistance.”