The Vehicle Manufacturer Body Repair Council has been disbanded and brought into the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) working group framework.

The group, which met to discuss issues facing the sector, took the decision to create the SMMT Vehicle Manufacturer Body Repair Group (VMBRG), in order to gain recognition and lobbying capabilities, on issues which affect the sector.

Seeking to interact with government at home and abroad and act as a single point of contact for the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and motor industry insurance research centre, Thatcham, it will set out a vehicle manufacturer consensus industry position on all activities which affect body repair.

It will also support all SMMT member companies in technical areas relating to body repair and provide advice and recommendations to the Society's technical boards and engineering committees.

Membership of the group is open to all vehicle manufacturers and the next meeting is scheduled for October 12, 2009.