By Darryl Simmons
Palm Springs, California — BMW Certified Collision Repair Centres (CCRC) conference, titled “Breaking Boundaries” recently wrapped up in Palm Springs, highlighting the network’s ongoing advancements and the collective drive towards excellence in automotive repair.
The event was marked by insightful contributions from industry experts, including a notable presentation by renowned industry expert and motivational speaker Mike Anderson. Anderson emphasized the immense benefits of the CCRC network, highlighting the critical role of networking in sharing visions and stories within the industry. His message underscored the importance of collaboration and communication among professionals to drive innovation and excellence.
One of the major announcements from the conference was BMW’s decision to expand its Restricted Parts Program in Canada to include select aluminum and carbon fibre components, in line with BMW North America’s program in the United States. This move aims to ensure the highest standards of repair and maintenance for BMW vehicles, maintaining the brand’s commitment to safety, quality, and performance. By controlling the distribution of critical repair materials, BMW seeks to further enhance the integrity of repairs done within the CCRC network, highlighted John Cardinale, Manager of B2B Business Development and Field Operations.
A focal point of the conference for Canadians was BMW Collision and Wholesale Manager Chris Castagna’s overview of the network’s past achievements and his outline of a roadmap for future growth. Castagna expressed gratitude towards previous director Michel Matte for his foundational work in building the CCRC program into the success it enjoys today. This passing of the torch highlighted the continuous effort and leadership that drive the network forward.
The conference also highlighted the significant role of Canadian CCRCs in the BMW repair ecosystem. Remarkably, Canada boasts one of the highest percentages of CCRCs performing BMW accident repairs, with about 40 percent of such repairs being carried out by certified centres. This statistic not only reflects the trust placed in the CCRC network by BMW vehicle owners but also underscores the network’s expertise and capacity to deliver top-notch repair services.
Keith E. Jones was also announced as Collision Strategy and Program Manager for DEKRA, supporting the CCRC program in Canada.
The event took a moment to honour the long-standing commitment within the network. Chapman Auto Body, Budds’ Collision, No. 1 Collision, and BMW Carrosserie Laval were celebrated for their 20 years of dedication and service. This recognition of their enduring excellence and commitment to the BMW brand and standards was a highlight of the conference.
Throughout the three-day event, the emphasis on collaboration, expertise, and innovation shone through. The Day At The Track was a key component, with attendees having the opportunity to test the mettle of the BMW fleet on an actual racetrack.
An awards gala was held on Wednesday night, where B&D Autobody received both the Mitchell CSI Award and the AutoHouse KPI award; CSN Heartland Collision took home the Sam Piercey Memorial Award; Pfaff Autoworks won Central Region BMW CCRC of the Year; Auto Bugatti won Eastern Canada BMW CCRC of the Year; and Dilawri Collision Centre Calgary took home the awards for Western Canada BMW CCRC of the Year and BMW CCRC of the Year.
Plenty of our Canadian friends have made the trek to sunny California for the meet up—check out our photos from the event by clicking the link below.
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Fantastic information and opportunity