INDUSTRY NEWS

CARFAX CANADA DATA POINTS TO STABILIZING USED VEHICLE MARKET

Canada’s used vehicle market is showing signs of stabilization as inventory improves and pricing levels off, according to Q1 2026 data from CARFAX Canada. The national average used vehicle listing price reached $31,907 in March, down 2.3% year-over-year, while inventory climbed 31.6% month-over-month to 235,577 units, the highest level since August 2025. SUVs represented 55.3% of listings, while used EV prices fell 6.5% from a year earlier. Atlantic Canada posted the strongest annual price growth. “That foundation allows us to deliver a level of market intelligence that is unmatched in the industry,” said Shawn Vording, president of CARFAX Canada. collisionrepairmag.com/15822853

TOYOTA CANADA TO INVEST MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN NEW FACILITIES

Toyota Canada will invest more than $300 million over three years in a new Toronto head office and two Western Canadian parts distribution centres. The 225,000-square-foot Toronto facility will consolidate sales, marketing, distribution, service and training operations, while Toyota Credit Canada will relocate from Markham. New facilities in Surrey, B.C. and Calgary are expected to more than triple Western parts capacity and improve delivery times to dealerships. All three projects are being designed to meet LEED v4 Gold and Net Zero Carbon standards. “Today’s announcement represents a significant investment in our future in Canada,” said Cyril Dimitris, president and chief executive officer of Toyota Canada. collisionrepairmag.com/15822970

J.D. POWER: INSURER VEHICLE PRICING MODELS UNFIT FOR PURPOSE

Vehicle pricing models used by U.S. auto insurers are struggling to keep pace with increasingly complex vehicle configurations, according to a new report from J.D. Power. More than 600,000 unique vehicle configurations were sold in the U.S. during the 2025 model year as automakers expanded trim, safety and powertrain options. The report found insurers often rely on shortened VINs that omit critical build information, creating valuation gaps of roughly US$15,000 per vehicle in some cases. Used vehicle volatility has compounded the problem in recent years. “Recent market dynamics have disrupted those historical depreciation patterns,” the report states. collisionrepairmag.com/15821995

DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS GENERATE RECORD PROFITS

U.S. dealership service departments are generating record revenue despite steadily losing market share, according to Cox Automotive’s 2026 fixed operations study. Average dealership service and parts revenue reached about US$9.23 million in 2025, up 33% over eight years, while dealer share of service visits declined from 33% to 29%. Convenience, communication and turnaround times increasingly outweighed price in customer decision-making. The report also found customers shown photo or video documentation spent substantially more per repair order. “The stakes are high for service experience,” said Skyler Chadwick, director of product consulting at Cox Automotive. collisionrepairmag.com/15821977

COMMITTEE REFRESH: CCIF APPOINTS NEW STEERING MEMBERS FOR 2026

The Canadian Collision Industry Forum has appointed five new members to its Steering Committee for the 2026-2028 term. The committee helps guide CCIF event programming and identify key issues affecting Canada’s collision repair sector. New appointees include Jason Arnott, Bill Davidson, David Raposo, Luc Ruest and Rick Yates. CCIF also recognized outgoing members Brian Chiu, Christina Christopher, Jennifer Everett and Jeff Labanovich for their service to the organization. collisionrepairmag.com/15819448

CLAIMS CURVE: CANADA AUTO THEFT CLAIMS DROP 24% IN 2025, SAYS IBC

Auto theft insurance claims and losses in Canada declined again in 2025, though levels remain far above historical norms, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada data. Theft claims dropped 24% between 2024 and 2025, while the value of claims fell 30%. Over the last decade, however, theft-related claims rose 38% and claim value surged 169%. Nationally, theft claims peaked in 2023 before falling over the following two years. “While progress is being made, auto theft remains far above historical levels,” said Liam McGuinty, vice-president of federal affairs for Insurance Bureau of Canada. collisionrepairmag.com/15824800

AUTO PARTS REPORT: INDUSTRY SLAMMED BY DELAYS, WRITE-OFFS

Collision repair shops are waiting longer for parts, insurers are writing off more vehicles and drivers are increasingly avoiding smaller claims, according to PartsTrader’s Spring 2026 Collision Industry Trends Report. The report cites rising OEM parts prices, tariffs, weather-related supply disruptions and increasingly expensive vehicle technology. OEM parts showed the longest delivery delays, while aftermarket parts remained faster to source. The report also found higher repair costs and ADAS-related expenses are contributing to increased total loss frequency. “Customer-pay jobs did increase in 2025 and will likely continue to increase in 2026,” wrote Greg Horn, chief industry relations officer at PartsTrader. collisionrepairmag.com/15824700