I-CAR OEM Technical Information Matrix: What Is It, And How Does It Help? UPDATE

Do you know which vehicle makers have collision repair information available? Do you know where you can go to find that out?

To help the industry with this challenge, I-CAR, with the help of the collision industry, developed an OEM Technical Information Matrix and made it available in 2014. This matrix is a quick-reference guide that is used for identifying the specific type of collision repair information an OEM has available for damage analysis, or for reference during repair.

In 2013, I-CAR held three Advanced Vehicle Repairability Summits at Hoffman Estates, IL; Southfield, MI; and Torrance, CA; to identify the most common problems the repair industry is encountering with repairing lightweight structures. These meetings involved people from several vehicle makers, along with collision industry stakeholders from several industry segments.

One major factor that was discussed at length was the challenge of accessing current OEM collision repair information and repair procedures. To resolve this issue, we needed to determine whether the challenge was due to the information being difficult to obtain or if the information just doesn't exist. To identify the state of OEM collision repair information, I-CAR began developing the OEM Technical Information Matrix.

Matrix categories and their expanded meanings (chart at the bottom of the webpage) that were identified and refined at the summits and are now contained in the matrix.

Pay special attention to the key in the upper right corner of the webpage. The matrix displays IF information is available. The matrix is a guide to get you to the information that you need.

When available, we have included OEM-specific links to supporting I-CAR Collision Repair News articles and documentation to further assist you with your research. Just look for the blue text within the matrix to find the link.

This process is ongoing, some of the fields are still being researched and updated. Some OEMs are still in the process of making this information available to the industry. We continue to work with these OEMs to make more collision repair information available.

Information from the OEM Technical Information Matrix is available on both the RTS website and the RTS app. Each OEM-specific OEM Information page has it broken out for that specific OEM, including links to supporting I-CAR Collision Repair News articles and documentation. On the website, there is a button located under the chart that links to the complete matrix.

The matrix currently does not include categories for mechanical, passive restraints, or electronic systems. An additional matrix for those systems may be developed in the future, based on demand. But in the meantime, make use of this easy-to-use tool whenever you have a question on the availability of OEM collision repair information for a specific vehicle brand.

Additional I-CAR Collision Repair News you may find helpful:

• I-CAR Has Your Key To Success - The OEM Technical Information Matrix