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Letter to the Editor

ARAPro Airbags Launch on the Market

ARAPro airbags are non-deployed OEM airbag modules, inspected and checked by trained and certified technicians in accordance with the ARA Airbag Protocol, the international standard for OEM, non-deployed airbags. ARAPro airbags come with a Certificate of Inspection which offers users reassurance that every step in handling and inspection has been carried out in accordance with the standard and has been fully documented.

Jeff Kantor of CarWorld, Inc. in New Hampshire commented, “The launch of the ARAPro brand airbag module is an exciting and important development for the insurance and collision repair industry. Carriers and body shops have been using recycled airbags modules for many years with great success, as they allow repairers to control material costs while maintaining original equipment part performance levels.”

According to the company, the lack of meaningful competition in the replacement airbag market hurts body shops, insurers, and ultimately consumers, who pick up the tab for higher repair costs. Against this background, the arrival of ARAPro airbags heralds a new era of much needed competition and choice in the replacement airbag market. A million new vehicles are sold each month, all of which have frontal airbags and many have side and roof curtain bags as well.

“Despite this enormous growth in applications, and consequent increase in demand for replacement bags for collision repairs, the supply of new airbags remains limited to franchised dealers,” said Kantor. “More airbags will result in more totals without a viable alternative. ARAPro airbags offer body shops and carriers a cost-effective and quality-controlled alternative that will allow them to provide more options to customers.”

ARAPro airbags meet specific niches within the collision repair field that are not currently being addressed by new airbags that are supplied by franchised dealers.

“We don’t think ARAPro airbags will directly compete with new OEM airbags, in fact will complement them in may instances,” said Kantor. “For example, when you have an older car that is maybe seven or eight years old which requires both frontal bags to be replaced, requiring new replacement airbags will contribute to the totaling of the vehicle. Because of their lower cost (when compared to the equivalent dealer purchased airbag), ARAPro airbags can contribute to lowering the material cost of the repair, thus avoiding a total loss declaration on the car. In some instances replacement airbags are on lengthy back order, and an ARAPro airbag may be available to meet the need, thereby allowing the shop to complete the repair, and saving the customer from having to pay for a rental car while his car is in the shop for an extended period of time.”

ARAPro airbags are available from certified ARA-member suppliers nationwide through www.airbagresources.com, designed to make it easy for body shops and insurance appraisers to find and locate ARAPro airbags quickly and easily. ARAPro airbags can also be found on Car-Part.com. Many of the major collision repair estimating systems can display ARAPro part information as well.

“Our new on-line Parts Search feature (developed in collaboration with Car-Part.com) allows carriers and shops to search for ARAPro airbags and get an immediate response with current information on part availability and pricing,” said Peter Byrne, Director of Airbag Resources.com.

ARAPro airbags are OEM parts so their reliability is built in, while their handling, inspection, storage and shipping is guaranteed to be done with the utmost care by certified suppliers meeting strict training standards. They are designed for specific makes models and years and therefore can be correctly matched with the vehicle.

Founded in 2006, ARA Product Services, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) based in Fairfax, Va., an international trade association representing an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of automotive parts, and the safe disposal of inoperable motor vehicles. ARA Product Services, LLC owns and operates the ARA Airbag Protocol, on which the ARAPro airbag handling training and certification are based.

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