What’s Happening
Mitchell, an Enlyte company, has become the first collision industry information provider to sign a data licensing agreement with electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian. The agreement allows auto insurers and collision repairers using Mitchell Cloud Estimating and Mitchell Cloud Estimating TruckMax to write damage appraisals and access repair procedures for Rivian’s complete range of passenger and commercial vehicles, including the R1T, R1S, and Electric Delivery Van (EDV).
Why It Matters
Rivian has rapidly increased production since delivering its first electric vehicles in 2021. By Q1 2023, the company has manufactured over 34,000 passenger and commercial vehicles and plans to boost production throughout the year. These vehicles will be delivered to the US, Canada, and Europe. As EVs gain market share and gain mass adoption, having accurate data and repair procedures is essential for auto insurers and collision repairers.
Key Points
Rivian’s partnership with Mitchell provides crucial support for insurance carriers and repairers in restoring Rivian vehicles to pre-accident integrity, according to Brandon Chittenden, Rivian’s Manager of Collision Data and Industry Relations. In 2022, while total new vehicle sales fell by 8%, EV sales grew by 65%, reaching over 800,000 units for the first time, as reported by Kelley Blue Book. EVs accounted for 5.8% of new cars purchased in the US and experienced significant growth in Canada.
Bottom Line
Mitchell has expanded its EV coverage and enhanced its cloud-based estimating platform to better support accurate and efficient BEV damage appraisals, according to Debbie Day, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Mitchell’s Auto Physical Damage division. Industry-first enhancements to Mitchell Cloud Estimating include a BEV-specific data structure that dynamically updates the user interface, new part categories, and data organization. Furthermore, Mitchell has established industry-standard definitions for EV battery capacity and motor size. The updates were made available to US and Canadian customers in fall 2022, and the first Rivian-authored vehicle data will appear in 2023 in Mitchell TechAdvisor and Mitchell’s estimating solutions. Mitchell has authored data for 168 mild hybrid, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles, covering 3,500 unique configurations.
