Advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, are defined as any feature that’s designed to increase the safety of the vehicle – and it’s everywhere. From adaptive cruise control and emergency braking to blind spot detection and lane-keeping assist – ADAS comes in vehicles of all makes and models. In fact, at least one form of ADAS was equipped in 90 percent of the nearly 16 million passenger vehicles sold in North America in 2021.
ADAS is going to continue to be a substantial part of the automotive industry and influence how drivers interact with their vehicles for years to come. With countries and government entities — like the EU — leading the charge in mandating some form of the technology in new vehicle sales, we can anticipate that ADAS is here for the long haul.
While the technology is gaining momentum in the United States, many drivers of older or used vehicles may not have some of the more advanced ADAS technology we see in new models, like lane-keeping assist or park assist. This factor may be contributing to hesitation from independent repair shop owners who are holding back from taking steps toward ADAS calibration services.
Many shops that aren’t properly equipped to service ADAS services/recalibrations will tend to recommend their customer to another shop or a qualified dealership in the area. However, adopting new technologies opens the door for expanded service options and more coverage availability – especially as the demand for connected vehicles continues to rise. Independent repair shops can dive into the world of ADAS technology and servicing at a steady pace and expand their service offerings as their customer base grows.
The “all or nothing” misconception
The biggest misconception heard from shop owners is that investing in ADAS technology requires a massive, dedicated space, top-of-the-line equipment, and a roster of trained technicians with multiple certifications for ADAS servicing. It’s actually quite the opposite.
For instance, domestic vehicles in North America mainly rely on dynamic calibration when recalibrating an ADAS system, and would only require a strip of road and a scan tool, like the Bosch ADS 625X, to plug into the vehicle. The technician would then need to drive the vehicle a specific distance at a specific speed – both outlined by the manufacturer – during a time of clear weather to diagnose the issue.
From there, it’s a game of understanding your customer base and anticipating when to make key decisions to expand your ADAS servicing capabilities. It’s important to note that performing ADAS calibrations on Asian and European brands requires more investment in resources and equipment because these vehicles leverage static calibration tactics. Static calibration requires more tools, space, and utilization of multiple targets like those found on the Bosch DAS 3000.
Deciding whether or not to make this investment will be determined by the kinds of vehicles you’re seeing come through your shop.
Changing your local repair shop landscape
Deciding to invest in ADAS calibration services can feel daunting, especially if you’re the first – or one of the first – shops to adopt the technology in your market. It makes sense that shops in rural areas may be more hesitant to adopt ADAS services than a shop in a more populated metro area.
However, being an early adopter of a new service like ADAS calibration can prove advantageous through expanded capabilities that clearly differentiate your shop from others. Since ADAS calibration can be implemented in a shop over time, it makes sense for savvy shop owners to offer it as a service.
Setting technicians up for success
Adopting ADAS calibration is intimidating for not only the shop owner but also the technicians. Many technicians across North America are not yet familiar with ADAS calibration techniques and will require training on the front end. Still, training is tangible for technicians with the support of shop owner guidance and investment in professional development. Many technicians will also find that ADAS tools are designed to be intuitive.
Some resources for in-house technicians to pursue training include the Bosch Module Program or the ASE certification in ADAS repair. The amount of retraining needed will be determined by many factors including the experience of the technician, the frequency of ADAS and calibration tool updates in a given year, the technologies being implemented in new vehicles, and the type of equipment that’s being used.
Entering the space of ADAS calibration is a big decision that could set a repair shop apart from its competition but doesn’t need to break the bank from the jump. It’s not unlike any other business decision, there is risk involved but shop owners can manage these risks by taking appropriate steps instead of a giant leap.
Information provided by Bosch.
