The SEMA Show floor opens Tuesday, Nov. 3, but collision repair's week in Las Vegas started early. Multi-shop operators gathered at the Rio Hotel and Casino for the MSO Symposium, exhibitors made announcements on the eve of the show, and the National Auto Body Council presented seven refurbished vehicles.
MSO Symposium draws a record crowd as MSOs look for growth
The 15th annual MSO Symposium, a one-day conference created by and for multi-shop owners and operators, was among the events kicking off SEMA week in Las Vegas on Monday. About 450 people attended, the most in its 15-year history.
The day began with an economic outlook from Phil Mackintosh, chief economist and senior vice president for Nasdaq, who discussed how the U.S. economy has been performing well despite tariffs, war, and high interest rates. He shared his "contrarian view" that interest rates will be lower a year from now.
CCC Intelligent Solutions generally offers a look at the latest industry data at the MSO Symposium, and this year was no exception, with Kyle Krumlauf, CCC's senior director of industry analytics, providing context on trends to help collision repairers, insurers, and vendors leverage data to improve efficiency and stay competitive. He said claims volume is down about 3.5% this year (through September), but the year-over-year monthly declines were much higher earlier in the year than they were in more recent months.
MSOs themselves took the stage for a panel discussion on navigating the current market, with claims frequency declining and total losses rising. The panel was asked, despite these trends, where they see the greatest opportunity for top-line growth over the next three years.
Steve Widen, chief commercial officer for Certified Collision Group, said he sees a case for bringing some traditional sublet items in-house, such as more glass and mechanical work.
"One untapped opportunity, I think, is fleet accounts," said Michael DeFrancesco, vice president of strategic accounts for CollisionRight.
Gary Hogan, vice president of strategic accounts for Puget Collision Holdings, said that in addition to improving DRP performance, he sees customer-pay work as a key area of focus. "I figure if 50 percent of customers out there can't afford a $500 hit or greater, the financing options that we've been pushing do make a difference."
Chris Lane, managing partner and president, and John Walcher, executive vice president and managing director, of the merger and acquisition advisory firm Focus Advisors discussed what a collision repair business can do to compete and maximize its value. They also took a shot at projecting how AI may change the trajectory of industry consolidation. Transformational technologies in the past have generally sped up consolidation, they said, but what that will mean in the collision repair industry isn't fully clear yet. AI could help the largest MSOs, who are most able to leverage it with their scale. Or it could help level the operating and negotiating playing field for regional MSOs and established private-equity-backed smaller consolidators, so the benefits don't go only to the largest players.
During another panel discussion, Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions, said one of the industry's challenges, and greatest opportunities, is that half of a shop's employees don't even touch the vehicles. Addressing all the administrative time and work currently required in the industry, he said, could have benefits across multiple market segments.
NABC presents seven Recycled Rides vehicles to Las Vegas veterans and families
The National Auto Body Council presented seven refurbished vehicles through its Recycled Rides program Monday evening in the Rio Hotel and Casino's Pavilion Ballroom, at its SEMA Celebration, held as part of the Symposium. The recipients, selected by U.S. VETS, Family Promise of Las Vegas, YMCA of Las Vegas, and Ayden's Army of Angels, included veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, a Las Vegas Police Department cadet, families in need, and single parents, according to NABC.
Allstate, GEICO, Enterprise, Farmers, Nationwide, Travelers, and USAA donated the vehicles, and the repair partners were Caliber Collision; Crash Champions; Gerber Collision & Glass; Cascade Collision, a member of Certified Collision Group; Fix Auto USA; The Auto Group Collision Center; and Universal Motor Cars, a member of CSN Collision. NABC members have gifted more than 3,850 vehicles valued at nearly $69 million through the program.
NABC's new Steps to Change and Save Lives Challenge, presented by Enterprise, runs Nov. 1 to 6 in Las Vegas and virtually, raising money for the Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, Recycled Rides, and the NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.) program.
Autel and ALLDATA connect fault codes to OEM repair procedures
Technicians using supported Autel MaxiSYS tablets can now go from a diagnostic trouble code to the matching ALLDATA Repair information for that vehicle without leaving the scan tool, according to an Autel announcement Nov. 2. The integration opens OEM code descriptions, detection criteria, possible causes, and diagnostic procedures in a split-screen view that keeps the scan results visible. From there, technicians can follow links to related testing, removal and installation procedures, illustrations, and service precautions. The integration also provides access to ALLDATA Diagnostic Intelligence.
The integration has been available since Nov. 1, and according to the release, existing ALLDATA Repair subscribers can use their current accounts. It requires an active Autel software subscription and a separate ALLDATA subscription, Autel noted. Supported tablets are the MaxiSYS Ultra S2, MS919 S2, and MS909 S2, along with the MaxiSYS Ultra, MS919, MS909, Ultra ADAS, and Ultra EV. Autel calls it an industry first.
"Finding a fault code is only the beginning. The next step is knowing how to test the system, identify the cause, and perform the repair correctly," said Chloe Hung, CEO of Autel U.S. "Connecting MaxiSYS diagnostics with ALLDATA's OEM repair information gives technicians a direct path to those answers, right on the tablet they are already using at the vehicle."
"Bringing ALLDATA's trusted OEM repair information into the diagnostic workflow helps technicians access the OEM information they need when and where they need it," said Satwinder Mangat, president of ALLDATA.
Autel is exhibiting at two SEMA booths, South Hall Lower #44175 and South Hall Upper #38179, and at AAPEX booth #V5052. ALLDATA has booths at Upper South Hall #31061 and North Hall #11145.
OEC launches AI repair tools and a marketplace for OE, aftermarket, and tire parts
OEC made two announcements Nov. 2. The first is three AI-powered offerings that mark the next stage of its AI strategy, according to a company release. Two are aimed at collision repairers.
The AI Repair Assistant in RepairLogic lets users ask repair questions in plain language and get answers drawn from OEM repair procedures. It can also draft a repair plan from inputs the user provides or from a description of the vehicle's damage. Every answer links back to its OEM source, and a separate check that doesn't use AI confirms each procedure before it appears. OEC says early results show shops cutting some repair plan research from 30 to 45 minutes to 2 to 5 minutes. Materials, single-use parts, and ADAS calibrations are captured up front, and the research becomes an explanation ready for the carrier in one step, which OEC says helps shops avoid supplement delays.
For MSOs, which already use OEC business rules to automate parts procurement decisions, the new AI-powered Rule Builder turns a plain-language description of the outcome they want into a working rule. A Simulation Engine then tests the rule against real estimate and purchasing history, showing the expected effect on cost, cycle time, parts mix, and spend before the change rolls out across shops.
The third offering, an AI analytics platform built on more than $14 billion in annual collision and mechanical parts purchases, is in beta with select customers and is aimed at parts buyers and sellers.
"Automotive aftersales has never lacked data. What it has lacked is a fast, reliable way to act on it," said Greg Rivera, president of OEC. OEC says more AI capabilities are planned across its products in the months ahead. Live demos of the AI Repair Assistant run at SEMA booth #33193.
OEC's second announcement, according to a separate release, is what it calls the first marketplace to bring all major part types together for U.S. repair shops. PartsTech already connects shops to at least 240 aftermarket suppliers and at least 60 tire suppliers. Through an integration with RepairLink, it now adds nearly 9,000 OE dealers in all 50 states, along with OE-sponsored promotional programs from at least 14 OE brands, so OE parts from a shop's preferred dealers appear in the same search results and cart as aftermarket parts and tires.
OEC calls it an industry first at this scale. Shops connect their RepairLink account to PartsTech for free, which adds their preferred OE dealers and dealer pricing to their parts search, and manufacturer-sourced OE diagrams are also available in PartsTech to help confirm the right part before ordering. The marketplace is available now to all U.S. repair shops.
"Shops want to spend less time sourcing parts and more time repairing vehicles and serving their customers," Rivera said. "Through the RepairLink integration, PartsTech now connects their preferred OE dealers with their aftermarket and tire suppliers, while providing both OE- and distributor-sponsored promotions, all in one place. That's time and margin back in the shop's hands, and that's what keeps a repair business growing."
From the floor
I-CAR arrives with new courses and a sensor-marked vehicle
I-CAR posted Nov. 2 that its team has arrived and can be found at booth #33139 in Upper South Hall, with instructors teaching welding, ADAS and diagnostics, blueprinting, and repair techniques through the week. According to I-CAR's announcement, new this year are courses on diagnostics and scan tools, the blueprinting process, and glue pull repair. Live welding demonstrations return to the show floor, where students in I-CAR's GMA/MIG courses can practice with guidance from an I-CAR welding expert. Near the Collision Repair Stage (booth #32145), I-CAR is displaying a vehicle with its ADAS sensors marked throughout. Courses run Nov. 3 to 5 and cost $46 to $62 per course, according to SEMA.
ADAS Showcase opens with automaker engineers at two calibration bays
The expanded ADAS Showcase opens Tuesday at booth #31200 in Upper South Hall, next to the Collision Repair & Refinish section. Representatives from Ford, General Motors, and Rivian are scheduled to join collision repair and calibration specialists at two working calibration bays, where experts will demonstrate how cameras, radar, vehicle geometry, sensor position, mounting locations, replacement parts, and vehicle modifications can influence ADAS operation and calibration requirements. SEMA built the showcase with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and its ADAS Council. Equipment and technology providers include AirPro Diagnostics, ALLDATA, Autel, Car ADAS Solutions, Hunter Engineering, John Bean, OEC, Opus IVS, Repairify, and Revv. SEMA posted a preview with SCRS executive director Aaron Schulenburg on Nov. 2.
asTech launches ADAS MAP PRO and an AI-powered mobile guide
asTech is introducing two ADAS products at booth #33067. ADAS MAP PRO moves selected ADAS operations from ADAS MAP findings into the CCC estimate, so they don't have to be re-created as estimate lines by hand. ADAS MAP Mobile IQ gives technicians AI-powered, vehicle-specific ADAS guidance on a phone. The company says it will show more new products it hasn't announced yet, and Frank Terlep, its vice president of ADAS, is leading ADAS speaking sessions daily at 2 p.m. Nov. 3 to 5.
AirPro and Revv arrive as one company, with new products to come
AirPro Diagnostics and Revv are at SEMA for the first time as a combined company, with software, diagnostics, calibration, and reimbursement under one roof. They plan new product announcements at the SEMA New Products Showcase. At Revv's booth (#30215), according to Revv, shops can bring a real VIN and watch the team pull the OEM-required calibrations, show the procedure, and build the invoice line. At AirPro's booth (#32221), specialists will explain which scans and calibrations can be done remotely. AirPro cites a figure that 77% of shops go back and forth with insurers over ADAS charges, and pitches the combined workflow as a way to document the work. CEO Driaan DuToit and president and chief innovation officer Adi Bathla will be on the floor.
Hunter adds remote diagnostics to ADASLink and plans to preview an AI product
Hunter Engineering is adding a Remote Diagnostics Service, powered by Bosch, to its ADASLink scan and calibration tool, giving users on-demand access to diagnostic experts. Hunter is also showing a smaller Ultimate ADAS compact console and plans a preview of an AI-based product, which it hasn't named, when the show opens Nov. 3. Hunter says it has nearly two dozen major product introductions or enhancements at SEMA, and its staff are taking part in the ADAS Showcase. Its SEMA booth is #42017, South Hall Lower.
Launch Tech USA debuts an ADAS calibration and alignment system
Launch Tech USA is debuting the X-939 ADAS & Wheel Aligner System, which combines ADAS calibration and four-wheel alignment in one unit, at booth #38071. The company is also introducing its 2027 Proline "7 Series" professional diagnostics.
Spanesi introduces the Pack 7 compact frame bench
Spanesi is introducing the Pack 7, a compact frame bench that carries over the ergonomics of its Multibench EXT. It has sliding rails and crossbars for fixtures or a measuring system, a low-profile design for easier loading, and a lift height of 4 feet 11 inches. The Pack 7 is entered in the New Products Showcase and is at booth #31173, South Hall Upper.
Celette brings a 23-foot bench and a 3D printing unit
Celette is at booth #31107 in South Hall, second floor, with two new pieces of structural equipment: the Rhône XXL, a 23-foot bench frame machine with a 15,000-pound lifting capacity for larger vehicles, and truck anchoring clamps for heavy-duty positioning. The booth also has a full aluminum repair workstation, measuring system and software demonstrations, the Mamouth heavy truck frame repair and alignment system, and a new business unit, Celette 3D Printing Services, which prints carbon-fiber industrial parts and jigs.
Kaeser pitches body shops on compressed air quality
Kaeser Compressors is aiming its SEMA presence at body shops, linking compressed air problems to fisheyes in the finish, pressure drops during sanding, and rework costs. It is showing rotary screw compressors, AIRCENTER packages, piping, and air treatment components, and is promoting KAirFree, a program that supplies compressed air as a service. Kaeser has two booths: #36041 in South Hall and #20137 in Central Hall.
Santint shows automated paint dispensing for collision centers
Santint USA is showing automated paint dispensing and mixing equipment aimed at collision centers and paint distributors. Its booth lineup includes the AC10, PA, AC100, AC200, AC300, and S1N, and the company pitches automated dispensing as a way to cut waste and make formulas more accurate and repeatable. Booth #34109, South Hall Upper.
Coming up Tuesday
SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast
SEMA opens the show Tuesday, Nov. 3, with its Kickoff Breakfast, 7 to 8:45 a.m. Pacific at the Westgate Las Vegas. The program includes a fireside chat with Jay Leno and Harley-Davidson president and CEO Artie Starrs, the 2026 SEMA Best New Product Awards in 15 categories, and the announcement of the 2026 SEMA Manufacturer of the Year and Channel Partner of the Year.. Tickets are available through the SEMA Show website.
Women's Industry Network SEMA networking event
The Women's Industry Network is hosting an evening of networking for collision repair professionals Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Pacific at Benihana at the Westgate Las Vegas, with light appetizers, according to a WIN LinkedIn post. Both longtime members and people new to the network are welcome, and registration is open.
