Mercedes-Benz Saviour Programme Helps Bodyshops To Avoid Total Losses

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – May 4, 2012: In a bid to reduce the number of vehicles written-off by insurance companies due to accident damage, Mercedes-Benz UK has launched its new write-off avoidance programme - Saviour.

The programme focuses on vehicles in Category C (extensively damaged) and D (damaged), which would normally be considered as beyond economical repair and provides the necessary support for them to be repaired by a Mercedes-Benz approved Collision Repair Facility, using Mercedes-Benz Genuine Parts.

For Mercedes-Benz vehicles, parts prices represent approximately 53% of a collision repair cost. Where a vehicle is considered as borderline write-off, approved Collision Repair Facilities are provided with reduced Mercedes-Benz Genuine Parts prices and direct financial support, to ensure that a bill price is arrived at which encourages the insurer to decide in favour of a repair, rather than a write-off.

Jemma Page, Body Repair Programme Manager of Mercedes-Benz UK, said: “Saviour will work towards ensuring insurance companies direct more Mercedes-Benz collision repairs to Mercedes-Benz approved Collision Repair Facilities. Write-off avoidance will help our Approved Collision Repair Facilities through increased revenue from labour sales, a decrease in costs due to non-recoverable overheads (like estimating a repair for a vehicle that later turns into a total loss), and a reduction in total loss ratio. The programme provides a direct point of contact at the manufacturer, and ultimately increased satisfaction and retention of Mercedes-Benz customers.”

To find out more about becoming a Mercedes-Benz approved collision repair facility, contact your local Mercedes-Benz retailer.