SEE IT CLEARLY

IS GLASS REPAIR THE RIGHT INVESTMENT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

If collision repair were like fashion, auto glass would be dubbed the “new black”. In the past few years, alongside the popularity surge around advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), many big collision players have poured resources into glass initiatives. At the time of publication, aftermarket giant Driven Brands has acquired five auto glass companies this year alone. Michael Macaluso, the executive VP and president of paint, collision and glass for Driven Brands, once called the auto glass sector “highly fragmented,” and the company has added both mobile glass repair and in-facility services to its roster in 2022.

Even OEMs have glass on their minds. Ford and General Motors filed requests for temporary exemptions earlier this Fall, asking for the Federal Vehicle Safety Standards to waive the need for windshield wipers, transparent glass, rearview mirrors—even manual controls. A fully autonomous vehicle, the OEMs say. Guess you better learn how to fix chips on opaque glass.

Ford is savvy in keeping glass repairs clear and concise; the OEM’s recent On- Target newsletter featured a reminder to glass repair technicians, asking those on the Ford Certified Glass Network (FCGN) to familiarize themselves with official Ford calibration tools and to keep up-to-date with frequent over-the-air updates. “Windshields are for more than keeping the rain out,” the automaker cautioned readers.

Despite the trend of getting into glass, the vertical is not for everybody. You must be prepared to offer top-notch ADAS calibrations and have the keenest eye for detail to succeed in such a field.

So, is auto glass the right fit for your business? Only you can be the judge of that. Clear up some of your equipment-related questions by browsing the following pages.