The growing presence of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in less expensive vehicles is reshaping South Africa’s collision repair industry, warns the South African Motor Body Repairers' Association (Sambra).

Features that once appeared only on premium cars – such as blind-spot assist,  automatic braking and lane-keeping assist – are now increasingly standard across everyday passenger vehicles.

As these technologies become more common, they are also changing what happens after an accident.

“Repairing visible damage is no longer enough,” notes Sambra national director Juan Hanekom.

“Modern repairs increasingly require specialised diagnostic equipment, precise calibration procedures and highly trained technicians to ensure a vehicle’s safety systems are fully restored before it returns to the road.

“Modern vehicles rely on an increasingly sophisticated network of cameras, radar sensors, electronic control units and, in some models, advanced crash detection technologies that work together to assist the driver and help prevent or respond to collisions.

“Many vehicles also combine information from multiple sensors, including cameras, radar, accelerometers, pressure sensors, seat occupancy sensors and seatbelt sensors, to assess driving conditions and respond appropriately,” explains Hanekom.

“Following an accident – or even the replacement of a windscreen, bumper or side mirror – these systems often require precise recalibration and verification to ensure they continue operating exactly as the manufacturer intended.”

Hanekom says this places greater responsibility on repairers to invest in specialised equipment, ongoing training and manufacturer-approved repair procedures.

“Repairing the visible damage is only part of the process. If ADAS components are not correctly recalibrated after repairs, motorists could unknowingly be driving with safety systems that are no longer functioning accurately.”

Hanekom says analysts expect global demand for ADAS-equipped vehicles to continue growing as safety regulations tighten, technology becomes more affordable and manufacturers increasingly install these features standard across more vehicle ranges.

As a result, South Africa’s collision repair sector must continue evolving alongside advances in vehicle technology, as the increasing integration of these technologies means repairers are no longer simply restoring damaged body panels.

“Following structural repairs, technicians may also need to verify crash sensors, inspect wiring harnesses and connectors, recalibrate safety systems and, where specified by the manufacturer, inspect or replace airbag control modules,” says Hanekom.

“Equally important is restoring the vehicle’s structural integrity, as even small deviations from approved repair procedures can influence how the vehicle's safety systems respond in a future collision.”