ADVANCED driver assistance systems (ADAS) this month became a named focus of the federal compliance plan for post-approval market surveillance on emerging vehicle technologies, signalling a clear direction of travel that the collision repair aftermarket needs to respond to.

The latest Department of Infrastructure’s ‘Compliance and Enforcement Strategy 2026–29’ bulletin has named ADAS as a focus for post-approval market surveillance and technical intelligence. 

Autogroup Solutions general manager Gonzalo Haddad told GoAutoNews Premium that this was not a workshop calibration manual but was “a clear signal that safety systems are being treated as evidence-based compliance work, not optional technology”.

Gonzalo-Haddad

“Released in August 2026, the strategy defines ADAS as active safety systems using sensors, cameras and algorithms to assist with steering, braking and information,” said Mr Haddad.

“It says the rapid uptake of ADAS and new market entrants demand a risk-based compliance approach and calls for post-approval surveillance and technical intelligence on emerging technologies, including ADAS and other safety-related systems. 

“The Strategy itself sits on the manufacturer and importer side of the market, but the direction it signals lines up with what the aftermarket already has to do under OEM repair procedures, ADR98 for AEB, ADR107 for lane keeping and VSB14 where modifications are involved. Quality-system documentation and traceable evidence are becoming baseline expectations across the industry, not optional extras.”

He said that from the workshop floor “the lesson is pretty simple: if the vehicle’s safety system is part of the repair, the proof of what was checked is part of the repair too”.

“Suspension work can change the steering reference. A small knock can disturb the relationship between sensors that get the vehicle to misbehave ,” he added.

“The vehicle can drive fine, but it could tell a different story once the ADAS systems are active on the road.. 

“Autogroup Solutions sees the value of that evidence trail every week. 

“A proper job is not just getting the warning light off; it is following the vehicle-maker procedure, confirming the AEB and sensor-fusion functions are back where they should be, and recording what was done before the car leaves the bay.

“For repairers, insurers and fleet managers, my translation is that they should budget for diagnosis, calibration/validation and documentation from the start. 

“Don’t treat it as a surprise add-on when the vehicle has a warning light or the customer complains about the vehicle misbehaving on the road. 

“And for the government and OEMs, make the information practical for the independent trade, because Australian cars don’t only get repaired in dealer workshops.”

The release of the bulletin coincides with Autogroup Solutions announcing that it has obtained the BYD factory dealer OEM diagnostic tool that allows it to scan, code, program, and calibrate BYD vehicles to the same standard as a BYD dealership.

It brings to about 30 brands that Autogroup Solutions – part of MotorOne – has OEM diagnostic equipment that it uses for calibration of vital ADAS equipment. It allows Autogroup, which has a mobile service, to carry out ADAS calibrations after vehicle accidents and bring the vehicle up to factory safety specifications.

Mr Haddad said the BYD diagnostic tool, obtained under Australia’s Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme, meant his company would be an alternative to a BYD dealer in calibrating ADAS.

“It is important for us to have the ability to calibrate BYD vehicles because the brand is very popular, with June sales only 243 units below Toyota and being Australia’s second best-selling brand for three months,” he said. 

“BYD volume is landing faster than the aftermarket support around it. Having the factory tool changes that overnight, with more repair solutions for ADAS for owners who have had an accident, plus it provides an efficient alternative for collision repair shops.” 

Mr Haddad said that it is important for repairers, insurers and fleets that if a BYD is booked in after a windscreen job, a bumper hit, suspension work, or an HV service, there are alternative repair solutions.

“We handle the full diagnostic and calibration workflow in-house with OEM procedures and full documentation,” he noted.

“This is what growth looks like at Autogroup Solutions. We invest in the tools before the demand becomes a crisis.”