-- On April 23, BMW Kingston and Kingston Collision provided members of the insurance sector with an inside look at the complexities of repairing modern vehicles.

During the event, which was held at BMW Kingston, Chris Castagna, manager of certified collision at the BMW Group and Todd Noble, central regional development specialist for the BMW Group Canada’s certified collision repair centre program, delivered presentations to insurance partners, appraisers and brokers. The presentations covered new technologies and safety features used in BMW vehicles and provided an overview of the OEM’s CCRC and restricted parts programs.

“With all the new automotive technologies being used in cars, it can be difficult for brokers, adjusters and appraisers to know what’s needed to get a vehicle back to pre-accident condition,” says Shawn Stenson, general manager of Kingston Collision. “Not only did Chris and Todd discuss how ADAS features were fixed, but they talked about how they work — and why they are worthwhile.”

According to Adam Ray, an insurance broker with the SurNet Insurance Group, the meetings were “a hit,” with those in attendance left with a clearer picture of the modern repair process.

Both Ray and Stenson believe  auto repairers and auto insurers would benefit from more similar educational programs. “We needed to bring all parties involved in the automotive claims process together with education,” says Stenson. “The advancements of vehicle technology and repair methods are changing quickly and knowledge of the repair process will help all involved.”

Following the presentations, Scott Douglass and Rey Abrena of BMW Kingston gave each guest a BMW swag bag.