Technical 20 www.aftermarketonline.net JULY/AUGUST 2025 Technology in the fast lane Repairify international MD Phil Peace answers some key questions about what the rapidly-evolving ADAS market means for workshops Q. What are the latest advancements in ADAS technology? A. While ADAS technology is constantly evolving, there are several advancements that are currently sitting front and centre. The first is the integration of Vehicle-toEverything communication. This enables real-time data exchange between vehicles, infrastructure, and pedestrians, and is a full circle communication. The second is secure gateways. As vehicles become more connected, there is a goldmine of data within vehicles that are behind secure gateways. Manufacturers are implementing robust cybersecurity regimes to protect against hacking and unauthorised access. The final advancement comes in the form of sensor fusion. Currently, modern ADAS solutions use a combination of sensors such as cameras and lidar (laser light tech). In 2025 we are seeing these systems being integrated to enhance accuracy, reliability, and adaptability in adverse driving conditions. Q. What innovations are driving cost reduction in ADAS hardware? A. The biggest driver of cost reduction is competition, and there are numerous organisations providing extremely good ADAS products and services. Q. What are the latest trends in overthe-air (OTA) updates for ADAS? A. Trends include access to security gateways, new protocols which require OE tools, and new diagnostic equipment with faster processors, which enable work to be completed more quickly. Q. Where do you see the market heading? A. ADAS continues to grow as a proportion of the car parc, so bodyshops will need solutions to calibrate vehicles. However, in terms of OTA, we are also seeing increased programming work. We anticipate this will continue for a couple of reasons: bodyshops do not have enough trained staff for ADAS and, due to vehicle complexity, staff are often not trained for some electrical work required. As a result, OTA is really important as part of a bodyshop’s toolkit. Changes in European legislation are due later in the year. It will be interesting to see how this is adopted in the UK. We anticipate the introduction of SERMI later this year too, which will also have an impact. The big change over the next few years will be the technical changes and the way we communicate with the vehicle. Q. What are the emerging trends in dynamic vs static ADAS calibration? A. Both have their place. I’m not sure how true it is, but there are various established voices that question where the liability sits and if dynamic is not more prevalent due to the liability. If the system fails and is dynamically calibrated, does the liability lie with the manufacturer? I don’t know, but it is suggested that this is why there aren’t more vehicles being dynamically calibrated. Either way, the job should be done properly. Q. What training is being developed to help technicians calibrate ADAS systems? A. IMI-run training programmes have been developed to ensure technicians have the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct ADAS repairs safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with industry standards. Q. What is changing in legislation and how will that impact repairers? A. One of the major changes is the introduction of SERMI. This follows legislation approved by the EU parliament which requires vehicle manufacturers to provide unrestricted and standardised access to repair and maintenance information to independent operators and remote service suppliers. In layman’s terms, repairers will need SERMI certification to undertake certain actions or access certain manufacturer information.
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