VIVE Collision is speeding ahead in the world of auto repair. The Northeast-based MSO just inked a deal with its 51st partner shop, a sharp jump from the 46 locations it had on board in July.
VIVE Collision’s latest milestone takes its reach into New Hampshire, adding partnerships in Keene, Manchester and Portsmouth. The MSO now operates across eight states in the Northeast, with shops in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
“It’s a huge milestone for us as a business,” VIVE CEO Vartan Jerian Jr. told Autobody News, reflecting on the company’s rapid growth with its 50th and 51st store partnerships. Jerian, a veteran of the collision repair space, co-founded VIVE alongside Scott Leffler and Phil Taub to disrupt what they see as an outdated industry model.
On its website, VIVE doesn’t hold back, calling the collision repair industry “broken.” Unlike competitors that plant new flags in fresh markets, VIVE focuses on improving existing operations. Partner shops typically keep their original names, adding a “powered by VIVE Collision” tag to their branding. After the agreement, VIVE partners with the technicians to overhaul the repair experience, improving technical skills, strengthening talent pipelines and creating a people-focused work environment.
“Some things have gotten stale,” Jerian said, while touting the brand’s customer quality assurance program. “We want to change the mentality of the business. It’s not just how quickly we process the car, but the quality of repair and making sure all the steps are followed.”
VIVE’s approach to repairs treats every job as a full-on remanufacturing process. Instead of just patching up broken parts, technicians work to ensure changes integrate seamlessly into the vehicle’s systems. To pull this off, the company consistently trains its teams with cutting-edge expertise in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and electric vehicle (EV) repair. But updating technicians with the latest information isn’t without its challenges.
“We’re doing acquisition in one state, and everyone thinks they have all of the required equipment and training,” he said. “For us, it’s like, ‘holy gadzooks, we have to send way more money than we thought we did.’ But that’s the investment we make.”
VIVE’s rapid expansion got a serious boost in November 2023, when Greenbriar Equity Group stepped in with a growth recapitalization partnership. With more than $10 billion in capital commitments across industries, Greenbriar helped fuel VIVE’s plans for scaling.
Jerian’s vision includes partnerships with 150 shops, focusing on three key criteria: collision certification, strong positioning with OEM partners, and a scalable presence in new markets.
This strategy has strengthened VIVE’s relationships with major vehicle manufacturers. The company boasts certifications with Tesla, Porsche, BMW and Audi, among others, although a few niche luxury brands remain outside its network.
Maintaining successful partnerships with individual shops also hinges on a commitment to safety protocols and repairs done right the first time. According to Jerian, VIVE fosters an open, non-punitive culture with its technicians, emphasizing transparency and collaboration.
“It’s always like a snake eating an elephant -- one bite at a time,” he said. “We can’t go in there and demand everybody change. We have to make sure everybody understands the ‘why’ behind everything.”
Ben Shimkus