Economic pressures have converged on the automotive industry to create a condition that's difficult to swallow for many recyclers and collision repairers.  Expensive vehicle technology, an increasing number of foreign repairers, and the rising cost of scrap metal add up to more totaled vehicles, said John Fischl, a longtime automotive recycler in Phoenix and a participant in the United Recyclers Group (URG) and Premium Recycled Parts (PRP).

As an observer of the auto insurance industry, Brian Sullivan offers a unique perspective on what collision repairers can expect in the future. Among his predictions:
 - A painful reduction in the number of collision repair shops;
 - Continued efforts by insurers to control various aspects of the process; and,
 - Changes in various insurers' market share as the "advertising war" continues.