eMTA adopted nationally by AMBRA

After more than two years of negotiations, state members of the Australian Motor Body Repairers Association (AMBRA) last week agreed their united support for eMTA V2, a specific product developed by the Motor Traders Association of New South Wales that provides a realistic labour times guide for the repair of collision damage to vehicles.

" eMTA V2 provides a seamless transition to realistic times from the practice of using 'funny time - funny money'," said AMBRA national president Wayne Phipps. "Realistic times-based quoting offers the industry a sound and fair basis of engagement between the insurer and smash repairer.

"It s a common, web-based platform to provide an interactive measured process of determining realistic times, for the removal, repair and refinishing in remanufacturing motor vehicles. It assists with quote comparative analysis as well as training information for assessors and claims officers.

 "World-renowned Thatchamnet will now be incorporated into the eMTA V2 package to ensure correct repair methods."

Phipps also said:  "The breakthrough means that the industry is now very much in command of its own destiny and addresses one of the key relationship battlegrounds it has had with the insurance industry.

"We have faced differing approaches relating to the time required to carry out labour operations using manufacturer recommended procedures while maintaining worker health and safety concerns.’

Phipps said that with the decision to provide united support for the product developed by MTA-NSW, there will be representation on the expert panel from AMBRA and industry which will assess changes to times and allowances where necessary.

“It is the first time where the motor body repair industry has solidarity behind a single product where the data is qualified, validated and readily updated meaning that it can be trusted and relied upon by the entire manufacturing, insurance and repair sectors of the automotive industry,” Mr. Phipps said.

 State Motor Trades Associations as members of the Australian Motor Industry Federation all supported the unanimous vote by AMBRA.

AMBRA reports that eMTA V2 will now be heavily promoted and showcased to motor body repairers, the insurance industry and others.