The MSO Symposium, an annual one-day conference created by and for multi-shop owners and operators, was among the events kicking off SEMA week in Las Vegas on Nov. 3. More than 450 people attended the event, the most in its 14-year history.
Kyle Krumlauf of CCC.
The day began with Michael Normyle, senior director of economic research for Nasdaq, offering a look at what global uncertainty and tariffs will mean for the U.S. economy. Normyle also shared explanations for record-high U.S. equity prices amid economic crosscurrents.
CCC Intelligent Solutions generally offers a look at the latest industry data at the MSO Symposium, and this year was no exception. CCC’s Kyle Krumlauf provided context to trends to help collision repairers, insurers and vendors leverage data to improve efficiency and stay competitive.
Krumlauf said the average total cost of repairs has risen about 1.6% this year. “We are getting closer and closer to an average of $5,000," he said. Average labor rates are up about 3.1%, a much smaller increase than in the prior two years.
The rate of parts price increases appears to be picking up, however, rising by less than 5% in the first six months of the year, but 6.2% in July. Preliminary data shows even higher increases in August and September.
“I would say that August is probably going to be in the 7% to 7.5% range, and we could see September somewhere in the 10% range,” Krumlauf said.
Speaking remotely while recovering from an unexpected surgery the week prior, Matt Moore of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety took a “look behind the numbers” in terms of accident frequency and severity.
In the afternoon, Dan Risley of CCC moderated a panel discussion focused on how artificial intelligence is a “positive disruption one claim at a time." Representatives from Classic Collision, Tractable, Claims Genius and other companies shared real world experiences and tangible results from the integration of AI in collision repair businesses.
Stay tuned to Autobody News for full coverage of the 2025 MSO Symposium, as well as the SEMA Show, running Nov. 4-7.
John Yoswick