Lightstone marked a major milestone this year, celebrating 20 years of excellence in South Africa’s motor body repair industry at the 2024 EchoMBR Awards Breakfast in Midrand. The EchoMBR programme has become the trusted benchmark for measuring customer satisfaction, repair quality, and service standards across the country.

Now in its 20th year, the EchoMBR Awards continue to recognise Motor Body Repairers (MBRs) who deliver great customer service, “first-time-right” repairs, and consistent communication during the repair process. Every winner is selected based on EchoMBR data — real customer feedback, not opinions — making it one of the most credible ratings in the industry.

“These awards celebrate the workshops that don’t just repair cars, but build trust, elevate standards and drive the industry forward,” said Paul Marshall, Managing Director of Lightstone Auto.

Motor Accident Group — 2024 EchoMBR National Winner

For over 40 years, Motor Accident Group has set the standard for motor body repairs in South Africa. From a small Johannesburg workshop, they’ve grown into a trusted network with branches in Oakdene, Edenvale, Pretoria, and a Selby head office. Specialising in aluminium and electric vehicle repairs, they combine modern technology with expert craftsmanship. Their 2024 EchoMBR National Winner award highlights their commitment to quality, precision, and customer satisfaction. 

“Technology, precision, and quality work need to go hand in hand,” said director John Magalhaes. “We are honoured to be recognised as the national leader for 2024.” 

Since 2005, EchoMBR has collected real feedback from customers after repairs and turned it into useful data for workshops, insurers, and consumers. Lightstone uses a predictive data model to identify repairers most likely to deliver quality work month after month — not just once.

Each year, over 70 000 customer interactions are analysed to produce rankings in these categories mentioned above. This approach helps consumers choose a repairer they can trust, and it gives insurers a transparent, fair performance indicator when approving workshops.

“Excellence isn’t a destination, it’s a daily discipline,” said Bernard De Vantier-Strydom, Head of Projects and Research at Lightstone.

The 2024 EchoMBR Awards show that South Africa’s panel shops are continuing to improve service, invest in staff training, and adopt new technology. Data-driven recognition is pushing the industry forward, giving customers better repair experiences, and helping top performers stand out. Lightstone says the goal remains simple: keep raising the standard of service in motor body repair and help customers feel confident after an accident.