New technology coupled with South African motorists keeping their cars longer has reshaped vehicle affordability, as the question has shifted from “Can I afford to buy this vehicle?” to “Can I afford to repair it?”
This is according to the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association (SAMBRA), which explained that vehicle repairability is fast becoming one of the automotive industry’s biggest affordability challenges.
This challenge is also not limited to a single vehicle type, but instead affects petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) alike.
SAMBRA National Director, Juan Hanekom, said that much of the public debate about the latter has focused on whether EVs are more expensive to repair.
“The reality is that repairability has become a broader issue across the entire automotive industry,” he explained.
“Modern vehicles are more sophisticated than ever before, and that complexity is changing the economics of collision repair.”
Today’s vehicles incorporate advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), cameras, radar sensors, LED lighting, lightweight materials and highly integrated components, improving safety, but also increasing repair costs.
Hanekom added that what may appear to be minor collision damage could require replacement of complete assemblies rather than individual components.
This has a significant impact on repair costs, insurance claims and a vehicle’s affordability, and electric vehicles have added another dimension to the conversation.
That is because an EV’s battery is often seen as the biggest cost concern, but motorists need to understand that these do not automatically need to be replaced after every accident.
“Following a collision, the battery must first be safely isolated, inspected and assessed using manufacturer-approved procedures,” explained Hanekom.
“Only where damage is confirmed, or the battery’s integrity cannot be verified, does replacement become necessary. However, because of the battery’s value, it can significantly influence whether a vehicle remains economically repairable.”
This highlights the distinction between technical repairability and economic repairability, since a vehicle may be completely repairable from a technical perspective, but the finances do not add up.
Hanekom noted that a repairer may have the skills, equipment and repair methods to restore a battery safely, but insurers look beyond this to several other factors instead.
These include the vehicle’s market value, total repair costs, potential supplementary damage, repair duration and expected salvage value.
“Those factors ultimately determine whether repairing the vehicle remains economically viable,” he added.
Hanekom believes repairability deserves far greater attention from manufacturers, insurers and policymakers as vehicle technology continues to evolve.
“Consumers increasingly consider fuel economy, safety ratings and purchase price when choosing a vehicle,” he said.
“Repairability should become part of that conversation because it directly influences the total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle.”
Improving repairability in South Africa
SAMBRA said it believes that improving vehicle repairability in South Africa requires collaboration across the automotive value chain.
Repairers continue to invest in specialist training, high-voltage safety systems and advanced diagnostic capabilities, but require manufacturers and importers to play a role in supporting the local repair ecosystem.
According to SAMBRA, this includes:
- Designing vehicles with repairability in mind.
- Providing repairers with model-specific technical information and diagnostic access.
- Developing clear battery assessment and repair procedures.
- Making individual components available, where safe and practical, instead of requiring full assembly replacement.
- Ensuring adequate local availability of collision repair parts.
- Supporting the repair industry from the moment new vehicle technologies are introduced into the South African market
Despite considerable growth in South Africa’s new-energy vehicle market, EVs are still the smallest segment of the national vehicle fleet.
However, repairers have already started investing in specialised equipment, facilities and training to prepare for the future.
“The industry is committed to keeping pace with new technology. The next challenge is ensuring that advances in vehicle design are matched by advances in repairability,” explained Hanekom.
“In the years ahead, repairability will become just as important as purchase price in determining the true affordability of vehicle ownership.”
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