The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has grown its network with Rivian Automotive becoming the latest OEM to join the trade group as a corporate member.

The electric vehicle (EV) maker and SCRS have had a strong working relationship since Rivian entered the market in 2021, joining forces to pursue a number of educational opportunities.

SCRS said in a press release that collaboration is the bedrock of its relationships with OEMs, serving as a way for both technicians and automakers to ensure repairs are being conducted the right way.

“I think the resounding takeaway from interactions between our groups is always how common our purpose and objectives are,” said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. “The team at Rivian really embraces and shapes the good work they are doing.”

He added that when he attended the inaugural Rivian Certified Collision Annual Summit, he observed how “genuine and authentic” its leadership team were and how each one of them believed in the value of their products.

“Their goals, and our mutual alignment, were obvious over the course of the two-day event,” Schulenburg said. “It’s to lift others up and inspire positive change.”

Corporate SCRS members are businesses that supply goods and services used by the collision repair industry, and who are interested in expanding its service to make the industry a better place.

Frank Phillips, senior manager of Rivian’s certified collision network, said he has seen the value SCRS has brought to collision center members throughout his 30-year career as an industry professional.

“From their steady and relentless effort to raise awareness of critical pieces of information, to providing for the immediate needs of the whole industry, to the very specific help and support of their membership with resources and opportunities to improve their business operations; SCRS sets the bar for what collaboration and raising the bar should look like,” Phillips said.

Rivian has a network of certified collision centers throughout the U.S., with centers qualified to paint, align and repair all aspects of a vehicle. Each collision center within its network receives support from the OEM’s certified collision network and has access to the parts required to repair Rivian vehicles.

Last December, its 2022-23 electric pickup truck the R1T earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ award during its first round of tests conducted by the institute.

To earn either of the institute’s two awards, a vehicle must earn good ratings in six IIHS crashworthiness evaluations — the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. It must also have a front crash prevention system that earns advanced or superior ratings in vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations.

Kelly Logan Sr., manager of Rivian’s collision repair program, said Rivian’s future potential lies within finding solutions to shift consumer perspectives and encourage other companies to change the way they operate.

“This is exactly what SCRS does in the collision repair community as well,” she said. “Rivian aspires to create a manufacturer collision program that sets the bar for our OE peers to continue to develop and evolve existing programs to support and engage the independent collision repair operators in the United States.

“To be successful, we need to support the associations and initiatives that deepen the pool of businesses who are committed to the same ideals that we are.”

Repairers, suppliers, and others seeking information about the various SCRS memberships — which help fund free resources like Repairer Driven News and the Database Enhancement Gateway — should email info@scrs.com or visit www.scrs.com. The organization and its nearly 40 affiliate organizations represent 6,000 collision repair companies and 58,500 professionals.

Images:

Main image: Rivian vehicles are assembled at the OEM’s manufacturing facility. (Provided by Rivian)

Secondary image: (Provided by Rivian)