Recent estimates report that over 98 million vehicles on U.S. roads now feature advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
This figure is massively important for two reasons.
One, it accounts for approximately 80% of the current automotive market. With pending regulations in the United States and abroad, this growing market isn’t slowing any time soon.
Two, it fundamentally changes how automotive professionals approach vehicle maintenance and repair. More complex vehicles with more systems equipped onboard will, by necessity, require more time to ensure that everything is calibrated properly and running smoothly.
Whether you're managing a repair shop, running a dealership service department, or overseeing a fleet maintenance operation, it’s important to understand the state of ADAS from a market perspective. Insights will help you make informed decisions about equipment investments, training requirements, and service offerings.
In this analysis, we'll examine a few crucial trends that every calibration professional should understand and account for.
#1 - ADAS adoption’s rise will only continue
The automotive service industry stands at a pivotal moment. As we covered up top, ADAS features are present in nearly every vehicle with certain systems gaining more and more traction as time goes on.
Specifically, according to a PARTS report, 10 out of 14 major ADAS features now exceed 50% market penetration in new vehicles.
Let's look at one subset of the numbers in detail:
- In 2015, basic features like Forward Collision Warning appeared in just 12.8% of new vehicles
- By 2023, this same feature reaches 94% of new vehicles
Similar growth patterns appear across multiple ADAS technologies and even spans all major manufacturers, from Ford to Toyota.
For automotive service providers, these numbers translate directly to business impact. Consider this: nearly every new vehicle entering your service bay will have multiple ADAS systems requiring potential calibration.
This means that:
- Shops or calibration specialists will need specialized equipment for different calibration procedures
- Technicians require ongoing training to stay current with new systems
- Proper documentation and verification processes become essential
- Revenue opportunities expand with each new ADAS-equipped vehicle
This applies not just to collision repair, but to routine maintenance procedures that might affect system alignment, including windshield replacement, suspension work, or wheel alignment.
Market projections indicate this trend will continue accelerating.
#2 - Forward-facing systems are now a foundation of vehicle safety
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) are all but universal in new vehicles with 94% penetration in 2023 models.
For calibration professionals, understanding these systems provides a strong foundation for ADAS service for a few reasons. The high adoption rate means consistent service opportunities, while the safety-critical nature of these systems demands premium pricing for qualified technicians.
Similarly, the prevalence of these systems makes them an ideal starting point for shops entering the ADAS calibration market. Their standardization across manufacturers provides a clear pathway for training and equipment investment, while their critical safety role justifies the necessary resource allocation.
There are a few additional things to keep in mind about these systems.
Market expansion means more opportunity
The widespread adoption of forward-facing systems spans impressively across the automotive industry.
All nine major manufacturers in the study have implemented these technologies, with systems appearing in every vehicle segment from small cars to heavy-duty pickups. With 168 different vehicle models now equipped with these systems, representing approximately 80% of the current U.S. automobile market.
Each and every one of those systems and features requires calibration to ensure they’re working correctly which can open a host of opportunities for shops and providers ready to meet them.
Regulations can help guide business planning
The rapid adoption of these systems can be traced to the 2016 voluntary agreement between NHTSA and manufacturers.
This regulatory influence provides a valuable blueprint for predicting future safety system requirements and adoption patterns. We’re hearing of a lot of regulatory changes worldwide related to ADAS features. For service centers, these changes become particularly relevant as they can help inform investment decisions and future service offerings.
Integration with other ADAS features
Forward-facing systems serve as the foundation for multiple ADAS functions.
For instance, the same sensors and cameras might also support Pedestrian Detection Warning and Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking with the two latter systems reaching 91.9% adoption in 2023 models.
Additionally, these basic systems integrate with emerging technologies like Intersection AEB, which has already achieved 34.2% adoption despite being relatively new to the market.
#3 - Multiple interconnected ADAS features means more complexity
Last year’s PARTS report reveals a significant trend toward system integration, with newer vehicles increasingly combining multiple ADAS features into sophisticated safety networks.
For instance, the data shows that Active Driving Assistance (ADA), which combines multiple ADAS functions, has increased from 0% adoption in 2015 and ‘16 to 33.8% in 2023 models.
Understand system interconnection
The more ADAS continues to evolve, the more each of these individual safety systems become intertwined. Take for instance systems like Lane Centering Assistance and Adaptive Cruise Control. Individually they are powerful safety features for the vehicle but together they create more advanced capabilities. This requires calibration professionals to understand not just individual components, but how they interact within the larger system.
Calibration complexity
The increasing complexity of integrated systems creates new demands for service centers.
For example, a single windshield replacement might now require calibration of multiple systems:
- Forward Collision Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assistance
- Automatic High Beam
Equipment and training requirements
The data indicates a clear need for comprehensive calibration solutions.
With 10 out of 14 ADAS features now exceeding 50% market penetration, service centers must invest in equipment and training that addresses multiple systems.
This includes:
- Multi-function diagnostic tools
- Various calibration targets
- Software updates and subscriptions
- Continuous technical education
Quality control considerations
With systems becoming more interconnected, the margin for error in calibration decreases. A misaligned sensor or camera can affect multiple safety features, making thorough testing and documentation essential. The high adoption rates across all systems emphasize the importance of establishing robust quality control procedures.
Preparing your shop for the next “wave” of ADAS
We’ve talked a lot here about what’s already prevalent in vehicles but what about newer features? The PARTS report also provides insight into future service requirements and business opportunities for calibration professionals.
The rapid adoption of newer, more sophisticated ADAS features tells an important story about where vehicle technology is heading.
Consider how Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking has achieved far higher market penetration in the last five years. Curve Speed Correction has also been increasing in adoption rates since its introduction in 2020.
These adoption rates, combined with the growth of others—Blind Spot Intervention and Active Driving Assistance for instance—indicate that increasingly complex ADAS features are becoming standard equipment.
For service centers, these emerging technologies require careful strategic planning for a few reasons.
- The equipment needed for calibration grows more sophisticated and expensive.
- Space requirements for calibration procedures continue to expand.
- Training investments must account for both current and emerging technologies
Current trends point to a future where ADAS calibration becomes increasingly central to vehicle maintenance.
The integration of multiple systems will continue to accelerate, driven by both consumer demand and safety regulations. At the same time, these systems are becoming more sophisticated and so calibration procedures will require even greater precision and expertise.
This evolution suggests that specialized calibration services will command premium pricing, reflecting the investment in equipment, training, and expertise required to properly maintain these safety-critical systems.
Add ADAS calibrations to your services without adding headaches
ADAS calibration is quickly becoming a fundamental offering in automotive service.
With nearly 100,000,000 ADAS-equipped vehicles on U.S. roads and adoption rates exceeding 90% for key safety systems, shops that master calibration will define the future of automotive repair.
Success, however, will require staying current with manufacturer requirements, maintaining precise documentation, and investing in ongoing training. This is where Revv ADAS becomes invaluable for service professionals.
Revv transforms how shops handle ADAS calibrations across the whole process:
- Reducing calibration identification time from 60 minutes to 2 seconds
- Automatically generating the correct documentation for insurers and customers
- Seamless integration with your estimating system—no extra steps for your estimators required.
As ADAS technology continues to advance, the difference between thriving and surviving will come down to having the right systems in place.
Talk to a Revv expert today to see why our platform should be one of them.
