SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Mitchell International has announced a new partnership with Thatcham (The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre), which for the first time brings Thatcham's fully researched, proprietary repair methodologies to the North American collision repair market.

Thatcham's online solution, ThatchamNet, works in concert with and complements Mitchell Information Center's OEM repair data, to provide technicians with the critical collision repair information they need to keep up with the industry's increasing demands.

Thatcham's collision experts' methodology includes tearing down the latest vehicles in their U.K.-based technical research center to completely understand vehicle construction and devise pragmatic repair techniques that replicate the strength and integrity of the original construction. Thatcham's research team works very closely with both vehicle manufacturers to "design in" reparability and the collision repair industry to enable shops to repair high-tech vehicles with complete confidence.  

"Mitchell's partnership with Thatcham brings our customers unprecedented coverage of collision repair content, especially for complex, difficult to repair European and Asian market models. At the touch of a finger, our customers will be able to go online to the Mitchell Information Center and instantly identify the critical information they need to be able to safely and efficiently restore vehicles to pre-accident condition," said Marc Brungger, executive vice president of Auto Physical Damage for Mitchell International. "With this new partnership, we will be the first to introduce the North American market to repair procedures that are both independently researched and OEM backed, and we are very pleased to have Thatcham's world-class research experts on our team." 

Peter Roberts, Thatcham chief executive, said, "Repairers have frequently asked us to bring our collision methodologies to North America. However, it was important for us to partner with an established marketplace leader that is well respected throughout the industry, with a solid track record for bringing innovative solutions to the marketplace. Having worked closely with the Mitchell International for over a year, the Thatcham Team is confident that we have found the best solution provider to bring ThatchamNet to the North American market."