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GM Announces Collision Certification Program Launching in 2018

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Today General Motors’ Customer Care and Aftersales division announced that it will be launching a comprehensive collision certification program in 2018. The announcement came at NACE automechanika Chicago, the largest US trade show dedicated to high-end technical and management-related training for automotive collision and service repair shops.

“Today’s certification programs have to evolve to keep up with the rapid-fire pace of technological innovation in the auto industry, especially in areas like safety systems,” said John Eck, collision manager, GM Customer Care and Aftersales. “Our new program is being designed to measure critical behaviors and procedures that will help ensure every collision repair is done to the highest standards, whether the work is done at a dealership, an independent body shop or by a multi-shop operator.”

When it begins next year, the GM collision certification program will build on current training- and tools-focused programs, but will add standards for pre- and post-repair scanning, calibration, and overall repair to create a much more comprehensive program. GM Customer Care and Aftersales is working closely with companies like Mitchell International and Enterprise Holdings to develop the certification program.

GM issued a position statement last year announcing that all vehicles being assessed for collision damage repairs must be tested for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) during the repair estimation. In addition, the vehicle must be retested after all repairs are complete, in order to confirm that the faults have been repaired and that new faults have not been introduced during the course of repairs.

GM is also seeking out ways that it can incorporate technologies like OnStar into the process, including but not limited to providing drivers with information on qualified collision repair facilities based on vehicle location and crash severity.

“With Automatic Crash Response, OnStar is typically the first to know an incident has occurred,” said Brian Hoglund, OnStar Commercial Experience director for GM. “Depending on the vehicle’s repair needs and driver’s well-being, OnStar has the ability to help streamline the repair process while making the experience more convenient for our customers.”