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The automotive specialty-equipment industry has largely weathered the pandemic, with many companies reporting sales growth over the past year and anticipating continued growth in the coming months, according to new SEMA Market Research.

Findings from the new “SEMA State of the Industry—Spring 2021” report indicate that the majority of businesses saw significant sales growth during the pandemic: 66% of manufacturers, 60% of distributors and 40% of retailers/installers reported increased sales compared to 12 months ago, and nearly threefourths of all manufacturers and distributors expect sales to increase over the coming year.

Filled with data on how the pandemic has impacted businesses in the automotive specialty-equipment industry, the 63-page market research report helps companies understand how the market is performing. Key findings from the report include:

The specialty-equipment industry saw minimal staffing disruption because of the pandemic, with most maintaining or growing staffing levels. Additionally, 83% of manufacturers, 77% of distributors and 63% of retailers/installers plan on hiring more staff over the coming year.

Many companies selling in the pickup, sports car and classic segments reported double-digit growth in the past 12 months.

Manufacturers saw sales increase across many channels, especially direct-to-consumer through their company website and at independent specialty retailers.

The industry saw growth across

a variety of product categories. Manufacturers and retailers saw significant sales growth in performance categories especially, including intake and suspension products.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, retail sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers hit $139.5 billion--its highest level in U.S. history. Despite the pandemic, consumers continue to work on their cars.

According to a survey of Americansconducted by Hertz, more than 80% of Americans plan on taking a road trip this summer. This means a lot more driving, and potentially a lot more potential engagement with the specialty-equipment industry.

At a time when most countries, like Japan and the European Zone, are experiencing economic contractions, the U.S. is showing strong growth after the disruption from the pandemic. This strong growth is expected to continue through the rest of 2021, as the services part of the economy fully reopens.

To learn more about the current state of the specialty-equipment industry and outlook for the future, download the new “SEMA State of the Industry—Spring 2021” report today at www.sema.org/research.

Findings from the new “SEMA State of the Industry—Spring 2021” report indicate the majority of businesses in the automotive specialty-equipment industry saw significant sales growth during the pandemic�

Source: SEMA

‘Who Pays for What?’ Survey: Auto Body Shops Increasingly Billing, Being Paid for Seat Belt Inspections

General Motors’ recently-revised post-crash inspections continue to call for inspections of seat belts “after any collision,” and “Who Pays for What?” surveys continue to find an increasing percentage of auto body shops are billing—and being paid—for this procedure by the eight largest auto insurers.

In 2016, when Collision Advice and CRASH Network first asked about seat belt inspections in their “Who Pays for What?” survey, nearly two-thirds of shops—63%—said they had never billed for it. This year, that has nearly reversed, with 62% of shops reporting they have charged for the labor to inspect seat belts.

Among those shops, about one in three—34%, up from 24% in 2016—say they are paid for that procedure “always” or “most of the time,” and nearly an equal percentage say they are paid at least “some of the time.”

The trend is good news for shops and consumers. But for this procedure in particular, Mike Anderson of Collision Advice, who conducts the surveys in conjunction with CRASH Network, is concerned more with just making sure it gets done.

“Every OEM has a very specific procedure for how to inspect seatbelts,” Anderson said. “No matter whether you charge for it or not, we have an obligation to make sure that we’re fixing vehicles safely and properly, and that means following the OEM repair procedures when it comes to seat belts.”

The latest quarterly “Who Pays for What?” survey is now open through July. It focuses on “not-included” frame and mechanical labor operations. Shops can take the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L3H3JQP Survey participants receive a free report with complete survey findings along with analysis and resources to help shops better understand and use the information presented. Anderson said the survey, which will take about 15 to 20 minutes, can be completed by anyone in a shop familiar with the shop’s billing practices and the payment practices of at least some of the largest national insurers. Each shop’s individual responses are held in the strictest confidence; only aggregated data is released.

The results of previous surveys are also available online at www.crashnetwork.com/collisionadvice.

Source: CRASH Network, Collision Advice

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