#Proto Rios #Accident Vehicle #BSR

Transforming the Future of Accident Vehicle Estimation

The Accident Vehicle Estimation Forum, set to take place on September 18, 2026, at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel and online, is spearheaded by Proto Rios Inc., a company specializing in the development and sale of software for automotive maintenance and repair. This forum is backed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), ensuring significant insights from key industry figures and government officials.

Background and Purpose of the Forum

The essence of this gathering is to address the alarming findings from a survey conducted by the MLIT that exposed a shocking disparity in time estimates for automotive repair. Specifically, the research compared Japan's JKC index with the CAB workload figures commonly used in Europe and worldwide, revealing that the CAB workload is approximately 1.5 times greater than the JKC index. This discrepancy poses enormous challenges to the profitability of auto body repair shops and has sparked urgent discussions around proper work hours and precise estimation methods.

This forum aims to bring together administrative officials, industry leaders, and legislators to foster a dialogue around sustainable practices in the automotive repair industry.

Keynote Speakers and Panel Discussion

Notable panelists for the event include:

• - Takahiro Hirase, Director of Automotive Maintenance Division, MLIT
• - Makoto Nishida, Secretary-General of Komeito and a member of the House of Councillors
• - Ryuichi Ogura, President of the Japan Automotive Body Repair Cooperative Union
• - Hideyuki Ishii, Chairman of the B.S. Summit Cooperative, facilitating the discussions.

This robust line-up guarantees rich discussions concerning the future of the automotive maintenance industry. Topics of discussion will focus on defining appropriate standard work hours and rates while exploring ways to connect these with technician wages and resource acquisition.

Program Details

The forum will consist of two main segments:
1. Keynote Address:
- Speaker: Kenkazu Ishikawa, Proto Rios Inc.
- Overview: A deep analysis of the “standard operational time for accident vehicle repairs” results released by the MLIT, with insights into what constitutes actual work hours in this context.
2. Panel Discussion - “Towards a Sustainable Future for the Industry”
- Themes include:
- Considering suitable