Looking into what's ahead in the ADAS arena

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) have arrived. Today, ADAS is one of the fastest-growing segments in automotive electronics. In the United States today, 60% of vehicles sold are equipped with some level of ADAS availability with that number expected to increase significantly by 2025. Expect a proliferation of sensor parts with the number of sensors required per car to triple over the next 10 years.

Most auto parts stores will be ready for the changes ahead as will reputable automotive repair shops. Auto parts stores currently offer almost 400 SKUs of ADAS parts across five product categories and will most likely bring in another 100 this year alone.

Assisted driving requires accurate readings of sensors and redundancy in systems. By 2030 aftermarket sensor re-calibration is projected to grow to more than five times what it is today. It is therefore more important than ever to choose a reputable automotive repair shop whose technicians keep up with continuing education. It is going to be increasingly difficult, if not impossible, for DIYers to service and repair their own vehicles.

The positioning of sensors throughout vehicles makes many of them prone to damage from even minor collisions. The cost of ADAS repairs can be significant. Consider an article in Consumer Reports that points out that a typical windshield replacement costs roughly $300-$500. An ADAS-capable windshield may cost $700-$1,500 plus the cost of sensor and camera replacement at $800-$1,900. That’s in addition to recalibration costs of about $250.

People need to understand that even everyday services such as alignments, tire work, and suspension can impact the performance of ADAS systems. Even choosing the wrong brake pad when doing a brake repair could affect the function of a vehicle’s automated braking and collision systems, so technician training is critically important. It’s about parts and the proper calibration of sensors that are critical to a vehicle’s safe performance.

It is also imperative to have the proper equipment and service information to perform ADAS repairs. To help technicians, automotive repair organizations such as ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) have developed resources featuring service manuals, technical service bulletins, and other sources of repair information.

Trust Protech Auto Service with all of your routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on ADAS, please contact one of the knowledgeable technicians or service writers at Protech Auto Service. They can be reached at (661) 822-1100 and are located at 410 W. J St., Ste. G, Tehachapi.