By Denise Caspersen
As a follow-up to the Stat Corner column in the January issue, which reviewed the independent mechanical repair sector, here's a look at the independent collision sector and its trends from 1995 to 2000.
With 95 percent of Automotive Service Association (ASA) collision repair facilities being independent, that's where the focus lies. In 1995, 35,469 independent collision repair facilities operated in the United States, employing 182,730 individuals and generating nearly $17 billion in total sales.
This increased to 36,095 facilities with 194,336 employees in 1996. Total sales for the independents also increased, to $19 billion in 1996.
Growth continued in 1997, with reports of 36,690 collision repair facilities and 201,675 employees ringing up a total of $19.8 billion in sales receipts, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
While independent numbers increased, dealership collision facility numbers began to decrease, because of the effects of consolidation. These numbers continue to decrease, although at a slower rate.
In 1998, the number of independent collision repair facilities increased again, to 37,389 facilities employing 205,182 individuals and generating nearly $21.5 billion in total sales receipts.
Early estimates of 1999 numbers show continued growth, with the number of collision facilities increasing to 38,172, employing 208,465 workers generating an estimated $23 billion in total receipts.
Since the economy remained constant in 2000 up until the last quarter, 2000 projections point up continued growth, with an estimated 38,935 collision facilities employing more than 211,800 workers generating nearly $24.9 billion in total receipts.
Again, once final numbers for 2000 and 1999 become available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ASA will update the estimated figures and provide an actual count.
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Stat Corner is written by Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 236.
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