Toronto, Ontario — The Canadian collision repair industry is comprised of approximately 6,400 businesses, 24,000+ employees and generates more than $6 billion annually, according to some fast facts delivered during Darren Slind’s CCIF Montreal presentation last week.
Slind, co-founder of Canadian automotive research and advisory company the Clarify Group, added that, according to he and AIA Canada’s research, three-in-ten collision repair centres are associated with a banner company and two-in-three are classified as “full service” centres offering both collision and mechanical services.
According to kilometres driven data, 2021 remained on-par with pre-pandemic levels, said Slind. He added that kilometres driven are expected to increase in 2022, despite higher gas prices.
Slind also included stats for electric vehicle adoption in Canada. B.C. still boasts the highest EV adoption rate at 17.1 percent of new vehicles sold, with Vancouver leading the literal charge. Quebec is second at 13.6 percent of new vehicles sold while, in Ontario, 5.2 percent of new vehicles sold are battery-powered.
“Electronic and software diagnostic are the ‘new oil,’” Slind told the crowd, adding that the average technician to diagnostic staff ratio is about one to three.
“The train has left the station. The good news for us is that EVs still have collisions.”
Whether there will be enough techs to repair them is the question.
“We have a rapidly aging population and a technical skills gap,” Slind said as he addressed the current labour market, adding that Canada’s unemployment rate sat at 5.2 percent in April 2022; the lowest level since 1976.
Slind ended his presentation with an update on the Right to Repair.
“Government awareness in need for consumer choice is growing across several sectors. The Competition Bureau of Canada [has shown] resistance to [Rogers’ proposed acquisition] of Shaw—a good sign,” he said.
