New Orleans, Louisiana – September 19, 2011 -- Boasting top-shelf blues and jazz, Cajun food and the beads of Bourbon Street, New Orleans played host to Reveal the Power of Performance. The PPG MVP conference focused on how collision centres can maximize their overall performance and profitability in the current economically challenging environment.

Americans are driving more and crashing less, which is not a great recipe for an improved outlook for American collision repairers, according to Greg Horn, vice president of industry relations at Mitchell International. In addition, he presented data showing cars are being written off to the tune of 3 million a year. Shops in the United States are shrinking at a rate of 6 percent, with more than 2300 closing their doors last year alone.

Horn said there were just under 20 million accidents last year in the U.S., 25 percent of which were not covered by insurance. This represented a total revenue base for repairers of just over $30 billion. Employee numbers are also dropping significantly, according to Horn. The U.S. industry has lost 15,000 employees from a peak employment of 224,000 in 2003.

One of the more interesting trends, said Horn, is the drop in the usage of OEM parts from 72.5 percent in 2008 to just over 66 percent last year. Aftermarket and recycled parts have picked up the difference.

In terms of car manufacturing trends, Horn said to watch for a significant increase in the use of aluminum, not just in high-end autos, but in mainstream offerings as well. He said the Obama administration’s demands to move up the CAFE standards to an average of 35 mpg is forcing a change in materials. More importantly though, are the new trends to much smaller cars and avoidance technology. Smaller cars will be written off more quickly, while the avoidance technology will, in theory, reduce the number of fatalities. Both will increase the repair costs, therefore also increasing the potential for more total losses.

The conference opened with an emotional tribute to the recently passed Randy Dewing by Jim Berkey, PPG Automotive Refinish, director, MVP Business Solutions. He suggested attendees focus on the positive and the things that can be controlled. “In Randy’s words, ‘You have to approach life with an attitude of gratitude."

“At PPG, we are constantly looking for ways to bring value to our customers; it’s something we are very committed to,” said Berkey. “We are also excited about the opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and grow stronger with our customers and preferred collision vendors. That’s what makes conferences like this one so important.”

Interactive workshops and seminars led by PPG MVP staff and industry experts focused on the diverse factors—from employee relationships to social media marketing and more—that directly affect collision centre performance.