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Drive-Through Inspection Competition Rises With Aussie CMT U.S. Launch
11/04/2024 by FORBES
Swift Collision
Australian company CMT Scanner is launching its U.S. business. The company’s drive-through
The drive-through wars are about to escalate. The spoils don’t include profits from fast food, but rather revenues from fast flaw detection in cars and trucks.
After about three years operating mainly in its home nation of Australia tech company CMT Scanner is readying a launch in North America, it announced Monday.
Like Israeli company, UVeye, which already has established a firm base in the United States and opened offices, CMT Scanner produces devices that provide instant inspections for various flaws as the vehicle drives through them.
Focused mainly on work with insurance companies in Australia, CMT CEO John Ashton says the company wants its U.S. expansion to include fleets and especially dealerships to boost their service revenues.
Focused mainly on work with insurance companies in Australia, CMT CEO John Ashton says the company wants its U.S. expansion to include fleets and especially dealerships to boost their service revenues.
John Ashton, CEO, CMT Scanner.
“We’ve kind of built out the structure and a pricing matrix so you drive a car through and it’s going to start generating quotes and assessments with images, and it starts quantifying your size and your volume of how many of detections have been detected throughout the scan,” explained Ashton, in an interview. “So you can actually turn it into an ROI and generate substantial revenue through your service department.”
CMT is currently in talks with several fleet operators and what chief revenue officer Jamie Anderson described in an interview as “very large dealer groups,” along with discussions aimed at creating partnerships between insurance companies and automakers.
“We’re in discussions with one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S. and tying that in with one of the biggest OEMs, and how they can kind of work together,” said Anderson. “We’re kind of the connectors of it because insurance is going to leverage the footprint of the dealership being nationwide, where, that way, they can send their customers, and then also the OEM has the ability to create new revenue lines from that, and then also create more more enthusiasm for their product.”
Vehicle driving through CMT Scanner inspection station.
But the company’s first U.S. customer is Oklahama City-based Swift Collision, which operates a chain of vehicle reconditioning centers.
“Its advanced AI and automated scanning capabilities set a new standard for accuracy in vehicle assessments, making repairs more precise and efficient,” said Swift Collision founder and CEO Kyle Al-Rifai, in an email response for comment. “It’s a game-changer for the industry.”
CMT’s business model is simple. After it installs its equipment at a customer’s location, the customer pays a subscription fee to operate it.
“Depending on the volume and what the size and how many scanners they’ve got, is going to determine their monthly subscription,” Ashton explained. “In general, the more scans you do, the less cost per scan.”
There are some key differences between the CMT and UVeye systems. For one, CMT’s focuses on exterior damage—dings and dents, according to Anderson.
UVeye’s systems, which also scan a vehicle’s interior, were originally developed for the security industry to detect contraband at border crossings with capabilities expanded to find flaws inside and out for the automotive industry.
Vehicle driving through UVeye inspection station at a General Motors dealership.
The company actually operates three separate inspection systems that detect a wide variety of problems including frame damage, missing parts and fluid leaks, brake- and exhaust-system issues, damage to sheet metal and other external body components and tires .
CMT’s system consists of a pair of arches a vehicle drives through, which Ashton contends take up less room making it possible to install several inspection lanes. The inspection results, he explained are quick and simple.
“It generates a quote, sends an SMS, and then it actually communicates with the customer, with the transparency to go, do you want to get this all done while your car gets serviced and so forth.”
A current customer in Australia vouches for the CMT system’s effectiveness and ability to boost service revenues.
“CMT Scanner has revolutionized our aftersales business, providing new revenue streams and increasing efficiencies across our entire dealership,” said Anthony Matthews, assistant service manager at Mercedes-Benz Melbourne, in emailed remarks.
Ashton and Anderson admit CMT is coming into the U.S. market as a direct competitor of UVeye.
But UVeye chief marketing officer Yaron Saghiv is confident his company’s technology and established inroads are competitive advantages.
Yaron Saghiv, UVeye Chief Marketing Officer
“Our proprietary hardware and advanced system specifications enable precise scans of a vehicle’s underbody, tires, and exterior, increasing the accuracy and depth of detection across all areas,” Saghiv said in emailed remarks. “This comprehensive approach supports both fixed and variable dealership operations, empowering dealerships to operate more efficiently and deliver an enhanced experience to their customers.”
Indeed, UVeye has installed over 300 of its inspection stations worldwide including dealerships selling General Motors, Volvo and Hyundai vehicles as well as at Carmax locations.
Just how soon the first CMT Scanner inspection stations start operating in the U.S. is a bit unclear right now. It could be anywhere from within the next two months but most likely January due to the upcoming holidays, according to Ashton.
The company also has its sights on expanding to Japan where it’s engaged with a partner and then “probably” on to the United Kingdom and continental Europe, Ashton said.
It’s not burgers and fries, but this drive-through competition is already looking pretty tasty.
