Event focused on what the industry can do now to prepare businesses, technicians, and consumers as ADAS technologies grow
Research Triangle Park, N.C.—MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers partnered with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) to host the second annual ADAS Symposium, bringing together leading voices from across the automotive industry to address calibration challenges and the growing opportunities associated with servicing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) equipped vehicles.
The symposium drew 63 attendees representing 47 companies and organizations across the maintenance and repair, collision, and vehicle modification channels, as well as vehicle manufacturers, safety researchers, standards organizations, and companies involved in ADAS testing, diagnostics, calibration, software, and technical training.
“The second annual ADAS Symposium moved the industry from identifying challenges to aligning around what comes next,” said Chris Gardner, senior vice president, MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. “We came away with clear priorities: better education, greater transparency around the status of vehicle safety systems, and stronger collaboration across the maintenance and repair, collision, and modification channels.
“Getting this right will help ensure ADAS technologies perform as intended throughout a vehicle’s lifetime while preparing the aftermarket for significant growth in calibration and replacement component opportunities.”
As advanced driver assistance systems become more prevalent across the U.S. vehicle fleet, the need to properly maintain, repair, and calibrate these technologies will continue to grow. The symposium focused on what the industry can do now to prepare businesses, technicians, and consumers for that shift.
Several priorities emerged from the discussions:
Expand education. Repair professionals, vehicle owners, and other stakeholders need a greater understanding of when and why ADAS calibration is necessary.
Improve transparency for vehicle owners. Second and third owners need visibility into the status of a vehicle’s safety systems, including calibration history, and whether individual systems are enabled or disabled.
Prepare for aftermarket growth. As more ADAS-equipped vehicles enter the vehicle population over the next decade, opportunities for calibration services, and replacement components will grow significantly.
Ensure systems continue to perform. As more safety technologies are required on new vehicles, industry and policymakers must consider how to ensure those systems continue to operate properly throughout the vehicle’s lifetime.
“ADAS technology has advanced faster than the standards we use to verify it continues to perform. Leading the inspections workshop reinforced how much progress the industry can make when it addresses performance, compliance, and safety together.” said Matt Braam, director of aftermarket automotive, BurkePorter, an Ascential Technologies Company.
The symposium built on the inaugural 2025 event and expanded the conversation beyond calibration to include ADAS performance and testing, standards and serviceability, software, cybersecurity, and public policy. Eight facilitated workshops gave participants an opportunity to compare perspectives, identify shared challenges, and discuss potential paths forward.
MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers will continue working with members and industry partners to advance these conversations and help aftermarket suppliers prepare for the technologies and business opportunities reshaping vehicle maintenance and repair.
Comments are closed.