As South Africans keep their vehicles for longer and new technologies become increasingly common, the affordability of vehicle ownership is being shaped by more than the purchase price. Increasingly, the question consumers should be askingis not simply “Can I afford to buy this vehicle?” but “Can I afford to repair it?”
According to the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI), vehicle repairability is fast becoming one of the automotive industry’s biggest affordabilitychallenges, affecting petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles alike.
“Much of the public debate has focused on whether electric vehicles are more expensive to repair,” says Juan Hanekom, National Director of SAMBRA. “The reality is that repairability has become a broader issue across the entire automotiveindustry. Modern vehicles are more sophisticated than ever before, and that complexity is changing the economics of collision repair.”
Today’s vehicles incorporate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), cameras, radar sensors, LED lighting, lightweight materials and highly integrated components. While these technologies improve safety and performance, they can alsoincrease repair costs.
“What appears to be relatively minor collision damage can sometimes require replacement of complete assemblies rather than individual components,” explains Hanekom. “That has significant implications for repair costs, insurance claims andultimately vehicle affordability.”
Electric vehicles add another dimension to the conversation.
“The battery is often seen as the biggest cost concern, but it’s important to understand that batteries do not automatically require replacement after every accident,” says Hanekom. “Following a collision, the battery must first be safelyisolated, inspected and assessed using manufacturer-approved procedures. Only where damage is confirmed, or the battery’s integrity cannot be verified, does replacement become necessary. However, because of the battery’s value, it can significantly influencewhether a vehicle remains economically repairable.”
Hanekom says this highlights the distinction between technical repairability and economic repairability.
“A vehicle may be completely repairable from a technical perspective. The repairer may have the skills, equipment and approved repair methods to restore it safely. However, insurers also have to consider the vehicle’s market value, totalrepair costs, potential supplementary damage, repair duration and expected salvage value. Those factors ultimately determine whether repairing the vehicle remains economically viable.”
As vehicle technology continues to evolve, Hanekom believes repairability deserves far greater attention from manufacturers, insurers and policymakers.
“Consumers increasingly consider fuel economy, safety ratings and purchase price when choosing a vehicle. Repairability should become part of that conversation because it directly influences the total cost of ownership over the life ofthe vehicle.”
SAMBRA believes improving repairability requires collaboration across the automotive value chain. While repairers continue investing in specialist training, high-voltage safety systems and advanced diagnostic capabilities, manufacturersand importers also have an important role to play by supporting the local repair ecosystem.
This includes:
• Designing vehicles with repairability in mind.
• Providing repairers with model-specific technical information and diagnostic access.
• Developing clear battery assessment and repair procedures.
• Making individual components available, where safe and practical, instead of requiring full assembly replacement.
• Ensuring adequate local availability of collision repair parts.
• Supporting the repair industry from the moment new vehicle technologies are introduced into the South African market
Although South Africa’s new-energy vehicle market continues to grow, fully electric vehicles still represent a relatively small proportion of the national vehicle fleet. Nevertheless, repairers are already investing in specialised equipment,facilities and technician training to prepare for the future.
“The industry is committed to keeping pace with new technology. The next challenge is ensuring that advances in vehicle design are matched by advances in repairability. In the years ahead, repairability will become just as important aspurchase price in determining the true affordability of vehicle ownership,” concludes Hanekom.
