Audatex Directions Examines the Impact of Asian Vehicles on Repair Costs

Audatex Data and Analysis Reveal Higher Repair Costs versus Domestic Vehicles

SAN DIEGO, June 15 -- Audatex North America, Inc. has released the latest quarterly volume of its industry trends publication, Audatex Directions. This issue's feature article examines the increase in share of Asian vehicles and their impact on average repair costs.

The article's key findings, produced with the company's business intelligence software Audatex Insight(TM), show an average of $75 higher costs to repair Asian vehicles over domestic vehicles. Several reasons for the higher costs are cited, including the fact that Asian vehicles:

  --  Are typically one model year newer and have 12,000 fewer miles
  --  Have higher Actual Cash Values (ACVs)
  --  Are 22 percent less likely to be declared a total loss after a
      collision
"Given the economic state of both consumers and U.S. automakers, it's
important to explore the repair trends and data on Asian vehicles, which
outsold American automakers for the first time beginning in 2008," said
John Kotsopoulos, Managing Director for Audatex North America. The figures
we are seeing are important for consumers, insurers and collision repairers
alike."