Economical Insurance has announced that it has become the first insurer to endorse the Canadian Collision Industry Accreditation Program (CCIAP).
The scheme, run by the not-for-profit Automotive Industries Association (AIA), was launched in response to the increasing complexity of vehicle repairs.
The accreditation program brought in new requirements for collision shop training, equipment and procedures, establishing a core shop standard.
All of Economical’s collision repair facilities will have to work towards becoming accredited by the scheme, said Rocco Neglia, the insurer’s vice-president of claims.
The scheme “will help us ensure the collision repair shops in our direct repair program continue to deliver the highest level of repair standards in the industry…period,” Joe Carvalho, manager of national auto vendor programs at Economical, said in a release.
“We have always maintained the highest standards of auto repairs,” he added.
The AIA’s president, Jean-François Champagne, described the CCIAP as a program “created by, and run by, the Canadian collision repair industry.”
Champagne welcomed Economical’s support, adding that the AIA was “extremely pleased” to be meeting the needs of “an important industry stakeholder.”
Neglia added: “We applaud AIA Canada for taking leadership on this and are exceptionally proud to be the first Canadian insurer to endorse this new accreditation program.”
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