Blog

Close-Up on I-CAR^®

Close up on I-CAR

Shepards Automotive Center recently announced it has been awarded Gold Class^®.  This is an award given by an organization called I-CAR.  This is a not-for-profit training organization founded by the collision repair industry and dedicated to consumer safety.  One way the organization supports consumer safety is through certification.  The I-Car individual technician certification award is Platinum^®.  The highest certification a collision repair shop can achieve is Gold Class^®.  Read on to learn more about I-CAR and the many ways it helps to ensure safe and expert collision repair.

I-CAR Gold Class^®

Gold Class^® award criteria are rigorous; only 20% of collision repair shops currently have met the criteria.  Vehicle technology continues to advance, offering new complexities and challenges related to functional components, parts, and materials.  Escalating complexity requires highly trained specialists prepared to meet present and future challenges.  Shepards Automotive Center meets the stringent program criteria.  When you see the Gold Class^® logo, you can be confident in your choice of collision repair shop. It means a business has met the industry’s standard for training that contributes to complete, safe, and quality repairs.

I-CAR History and Overview

The new unibody vehicle design was introduced in the 1970s and had a significant impact on collision repair.  This design evolution was followed with an industry response in order to ensure that those involved in collision repair has the information, knowledge, and skills needed to perform complete, safe, and quality repairs.  In 1979, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) was formed by representatives from each industry segment: collision repair, insurance, OEMs, education, suppliers, and related industry services.  I-CAR has grown since then.  Following are new and updated facts about I-CAR:

• Provides collision repair training to more than 14,000 individual businesses and more than 91,300 students annually
• Offers 267 courses delivered through live, online, virtual and in-shop hands on formats
• Provides the industry with a growing suite of services and solutions
• Provide technical resources through the Repairability Technical Support (RTS) portal
• Serves the industry with more than 2,200 volunteers, instructors and staff, and more than 250 local committees across the U.S.

I-CAR Vision:  That every person in the collision repair industry has the information, knowledge and skills required to perform complete, safe and quality repairs for the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

I-CAR Mission:  To deliver increasingly accessible, on-demand and relevant education, knowledge, services and solutions for the Collision Repair Inter-Industry.

I-CAR Focus:  I-CAR’s focus is to provide everyone involved in collision repair (repairers, OEMs, insurers, suppliers, service providers, educators) with access to high-quality, industry-recognized training solutions. The organization also encourages and supports ongoing conversations in the industry about issues that impact collision repair.

Industry Engagement

The following organizations support and endorse the high standards and requirements of Gold Class^®.

Shepards Automotive Center meets the stringent program criteria required to be designated a Gold Class^® shop.  When you see the Gold Class^® logo, you can be confident in your choice of collision repair shop. It means a business has met the industry’s standard for training that contributes to complete, safe, and quality repairs.

The pros at Shepard’s Automotive Center value customer relationships and we seek to be your one-stop-shop for mechanical and collision repair.  We invite you to contact us online or call 978-465-5973, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.  Regardless of your repair, we will be happy to work with you to map out a plan that fits your budget and solves your problems.