ARAPro airbags come with a Certificate of Inspection assuring that every step in handling and inspection has been carried out in accordance with the standard and has been fully documented.

"The launch of the ARAPro brand airbag module is an exciting and important development for the insurance and collision repair industry," said Jeff Kantor of CarWorld Inc. in New Hampshire.  "Carriers and body shops have been using recycled airbag modules for many years with great success, as they allow repairers to control material costs while maintaining original equipment part performance levels."

Lack of meaningful competition in the replacement-airbag market hurts body shops, insurers, and ultimately consumers, who pick up the tab for higher repair costs, ARA officials said.  Against that background, the arrival of ARAPro airbags adds much needed competition and choice in the replacement airbag market, they added. 

 
A million new vehicles are sold each month, all of which have frontal airbags and many have side and roof curtain bags as well.

"Despite this enormous growth in applications, and consequent increase in demand for replacement bags for collision repairs, the supply of new airbags remains limited to franchised dealers," Kantor said.  "More airbags will result in more totals without a viable alternative.  ARAPro airbags offer body shops and carriers a cost-effective and quality-controlled alternative that will allow them to provide more options to customers."

ARAPro airbags meet specific niches in the collision repair field that are not addressed by the new airbags supplied by franchised dealers, Kantor said.  "We don't think ARAPro airbags will directly compete with new OEM airbags; in fact, they will complement them in many instances," he said. 

"For example, when you have a car that is maybe seven or eight years old that requires both frontal bags to be replaced, requiring new replacement airbags will contribute to the totaling of the vehicle," Kantor said.

"Because of their lower cost (when compared to the equivalent dealer-purchased airbag), ARAPro airbags can contribute to lowering the material cost of the repair, thus avoiding a total loss declaration on the car," he said.

Furthermore, Kantor said, "in some instances replacement airbags are on lengthy back order, and an ARAPro airbag may be available to meet the need, thereby allowing the shop to complete the repair, and saving the customer from having to pay for a rental car while his car is in the shop for an extended period of time."

ARAPro airbags are OEM parts, so their reliability is built in, while their handling, inspection, storage, and shipping is guaranteed to be done with the utmost care by certified suppliers meeting strict training standards, ARA officials said.  They are designed for specific makes, models, and years and therefore can be correctly matched with the vehicle.