The UK-based Thatcham Research centre is funded by the British insurance industry and works to reduce claims costs in vehicle safety, security and repair. As a founder of the international Research Council for Automobile Repairs, and a member of Euro NCAP, the facility has developed a world-class reputation in its field, with fully equipped, state of the art facilities and a skills training academy.

With vehicles increasingly distributed on a global basis, the centre reports that international demand for body repair and vehicle risk and safety expertise is fast-growing. Expert services are currently provided to organisations in Australia, the USA, Malaysia, China, and Western Europe. Another country could soon be joining them, as Thatcham recently hosted a high profile delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by engineer Hani Dahhan from Taqeem, the Saudi Authority for Accredited Valuers. Other delegates included senior representatives from the country’s motor insurance industry through the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency SAMA, and specialist accident management company Najm.

Improving standards

The visit opened partnership discussions aimed at improving assessment and crash repair standards in the Kingdom, while also seeking ways to reduce claims costs.

The group spent three days at Thatcham’s repair technology centre and academy, exploring current advanced repair techniques, and the materials, processes and equipment involved in providing them. Also under discussion was how investment in suitable quality standards and professionalism in crash repairs through expert staff training and accreditation could further the industry’s development in Saudi Arabia.

Hani Dahhan, VP planning & business development at Taqeem, said: “We’ve been hugely impressed with both the facilities at Thatcham Research and the knowledge of those we have met, who demonstrated their extensive experience in all aspects of vehicle repair. The visit has been a real eye opener, and we realise there’s a lot of hard work ahead.”

Thatcham’s strategy and development director, Neale Phillips, predicts a better future for Saudi Arabia’s motorists. He says: “At present we’re really assessing the process at point of accident and triage, rather than vehicles and their repair, but our experts have visited the country to assess current body repair processes. Our view is that fairness and service to car drivers and owners might both be improved, which will help reduce numbers of written-off vehicles, and body repair skills could also benefit from attention. We’re working towards a long term relationship with Taqeem, and believe useful upgrades in repair safety and quality will be possible, using data and skills training adopted from Thatcham’s best practice standards.”

Tighter safety requirements

The visit coincided with news of official moves to improve the Kingdom’s vehicle safety standards. Work is reportedly progressing in one region for electronic connections between insurance companies and traffic administrators, so insurance costs can be directly linked to customer collision records. Stricter safety standards could also arrive by 2017, after an announcement by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization that ABS and electronic stability systems, autonomous low speed braking, and a front passenger airbag will be required on new vehicles.