SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - August 3, 2009) - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading
provider of information, workflow and performance management solutions to
the Property & Casualty claims and Collision Repair industries, today
released the third quarter 2009 edition of its Industry Trends Report (ITR)
-- the company's quarterly publication that highlights industry-related
trends, news items and statistics.
This edition's Quarterly Feature, "Looking at Europe to Predict the Future
of U.S. Collision Repair," by Mitchell's Vice President of Industry
Relations, Greg Horn, compellingly argues that Europe's experience with
advanced vehicle technology clearly predicts the future changes in the U.S.
collision repair industry. European manufacturers are tackling increased
fuel efficiency and mileage targets and mandated side impact standards that
will soon reach the U.S. market, which insurance companies must be prepared
to estimate and shops expertly trained to repair.
Repairers and estimators in the U.S. cannot risk being caught off guard
when high-tech vehicles demand highly specialized and very costly repairs
-- there will be no room for on the job training when safety is at stake in
an era of rising prices for parts and labor. Europe's experience with both
high-end and more commonly repaired vehicles, such as Jaguar's new XJ and
Volkswagen's new Rabbit, is instructive. Both types of vehicles will soon
come to U.S. shops for repair and present challenges to those unfamiliar
with their advanced materials and construction. For example, the estimating
and repair of new VW Rabbits requires knowledge of Ultra High Strength
Steel alloys and the proper techniques to safely repair them.
In the case of the Jaguar XJ, its unique new door frame construction is
complex enough that the manufacturer will sponsor a door exchange program
where the damaged door must be exchanged through the dealer for a rebuilt
unit rather than risking a faulty repair.
"This is a remarkable time in the collision repair industry. The
technological advances taking place are transforming today's vehicles into
increasingly complex pieces of machinery," said Horn. "Just as it did in
the 1970s, the high-tech vehicle revolution occurring today in Europe
offers a clear and compelling view of the challenges ahead in the U.S.
collision repair industry. In the competitive U.S. market, we cannot afford
the risk of being left behind. We have to seize the opportunity and prepare
to meet our customers' high expectations for performing advanced repair
techniques."
Other valuable points of interest in the current issue of Mitchell's ITR
include:
-- The average initial appraisal value calculated by combining data from
all first and third-party repairable vehicle appraisals uploaded through
Mitchell systems in Q2-2009 was $2,391 -- a 3% percent decrease from the
previous year's Q2-2008 appraisal average of $2,472. Applying the
prescribed development factor to these data points produces an anticipated
average appraisal value of $2,452 on a slightly older vehicle.
-- At $11,995, the average Actual Cash Value (ACV) of vehicles appraised
for Collision losses during Q2-2009 reflects the aging vehicle fleet and
lower actual cash value that the current economic conditions have caused.
Complete content is available in the latest Industry Trends Report, which
may be downloaded in PDF format by visiting
www.mitchell.com. First
published in April 2001, Mitchell's Trends Report has grown in both content
and circulation, now reaching more than 23,000 collision and casualty
industry professionals.
About Mitchell International, Inc.
Mitchell International, Inc. (
www.mitchell.com) is a leading and trusted
provider of world-class information, process-enhancing workflow solutions,
and advanced software and specialized services to the Property & Casualty
Insurance Claims, Automotive Collision Repair, and Workers' Compensation
Industries. The company's robust and expansive portfolio streamlines the
entire claims and repair process using shared workspaces, decision-driven
software, and intuitive tools. Serving carriers, body shops, and other
commercial participants in the physical damage, auto-related medical and
workers' compensation claims processes, Mitchell facilitates millions of
electronic transactions between more than 30,000 business partners each
month to enhance their productivity, profitability, and customer
satisfaction.
Contact Information: Contact:
Jennifer Forman
Sr. Director, Marketing
800-854-7030
or
Kam Hashim
Boston Communications