The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) reports that more than 20 additional state and regional groups have asked to be recognized as supporters of the repair standards position taken by SCRS, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) in early November.
The position statement says the collision repair industry should recognize OEM
repair procedures as the official basis for collision industry repair
standards. Further, the group asked the I-CAR Board of Directors to
consider forming a council within its organizational structure to
liaison with the OEMs to address deficiencies in the current repair
procedures.
To date, the following groups, representing 22 states, have added their official endorsement to the statement:
Alliance of Automotive Service Providers – MA (AASP-MA)
Alliance of Automotive Service Providers – PA (AASP-PA)
Alliance of Automotive Service Providers – NJ (AASP-NJ)
Alliance of Automotive Service Providers – MN (AASP-MN)
Alliance of Automotive Service Providers – MO (AASP-MO)
Automotive Service Council of Kentucky (ASCKY)
Auto Body and Painting Association of Hawaii (ABPAH)
California Autobody Association (CAA)
Choice Autobody Repair Association (CARA)
Florida Auto Collision Alliance (FACA)
Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA)
Houston Auto Body Association (HABA)
Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC)
Indiana Auto Body Association (IABA)
Iowa Collision Repair Association (ICRA)
Long Island Auto Body Repair Association (LIABRA)
Missouri / Kansas Chapter of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS MO/KAN)
Montana Collision Repair Specialists (MCRS)
New York State Auto Collision Technicians Association (NYSACTA)
Oregon Collision Repair Specialists (OCRS)
South Dakota Auto Body Association (SDABA)
U.S. Alliance of Collision Professionals (USACP)
Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA)
SCRS said that statements of support have also been received from other international groups who interact regularly with them. One such group is the National Automotive Trades Association (NATA), a federally chartered “association of associations” brought together to represent the Canadian automotive trades industry. In a statement received by SCRS on Nov. 11, NATA President Rob Lang and Collision Chair John Norris said: "The National Automotive Trades Association is very encouraged by the positive actions of our sister organizations in the United States. We agree that Original Equipment Manufacturers’ repair standards are the officially recognized standards for the auto body, collision repair and auto refinish industry in Canada."
Added David Newton-Ross, convenor of the Collision Repair Specialists of Australia (CRSA) in an e-mail to SCRS on Nov. 14: "It’s great to see the responses from the various bodies and associations around the USA following the statement made at the Collision Industry Conference meeting held during the 2011 SEMA Show. We certainly support your action on standards in the USA."
Industry groups, organizations or businesses interested in being added as supporters of this statement should contact SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg at [email protected].
More information:
See the joint statement in its entirety