Winter has been unforgiving to the windshield of my Model 3, which, as you may know, is not averse to driving at high speeds and mostly on the freeway, where debris and small rocks are often more aggressive. I’ve included glass insurance for years, but this first time that I accidentally ended up in replace Tesla. This is where I found things to be a little different from other brands.
In fact, after contacting the insurance company, they offered me a limited choice of workshops and advised me to go to one that was certified by Tesla in Bergamo and could also work on the windshield. Previously, given the capillarity, I contacted Carglass, with whom I had the opportunity to meet personally and evaluate the quality of work, but I noticed that when it comes to Tesla, the insurance company could not find a more convenient offer for their centers. Why? They couldn’t explain this to me.
On the occasion of the Italian edition of Best of Belron (here I told you about the latest international edition), an internal competition that Carglass organizes to select a representative who will compete at the international event with their colleagues from other countries, I had the opportunity to talk with Lorenzo Premuda, Technical Director of Carglass.
The conversation began with my personal case: what will change with Tesla Considering that I have never had such “difficulties” with other brands.
First of all, it must be pointed out that for ADAS to work, recalibration after windshield replacement is necessary and fundamental, otherwise there is a risk of false alarms or failure of basic functions such as automatic emergency braking for example. Carglass uses Bosch equipment and checks camera angles and positions, then calibrates and issues a certificate.
This applies to all cars, including Tesla.. Tesla’s problem is that Electric vehicles are exempt from the obligation to diagnose via the OBD-II connector; let’s just say they travel in regulatory limbo. The Tesla OBD is still present – and to get to it I had to create a connection using a special cable, as described here – but although it exists, the real diagnostics and interface happen through the proprietary connector.
The OBD connector has been standard on all internal combustion vehicles since 1991, but the diagnostic system has not yet been standardized for electric vehicles. The latest news is about the approval, expected from 2026, of a US initiative that will allow operators in the mechatronics sector to have a single system to interact with the vehicle.
Therefore, given the cost of diagnostic and calibration equipment, Carglass (like anyone who wants to work for Tesla) is forced to arm itself with Musk’s proprietary system, and the spread of this system is currently following data on the spread of Tesla in various areas, hence the uneven availability of Carglass workshops , capable of recalibrating Tesla ADAS.
I then continue the conversation with Lorenzo, turning to the topic other manufacturerswhere it is confirmed that the hardware of the interface with the car does not change, and the differences are only at the software level. With Bosch equipment used by Carglass, it practically covers 95% of models in circulation because updates are constant.
What about the remaining 5%? For this reason, all Carglass centers use Astec, a remote diagnostic tool that interfaces with the parent company’s official diagnostic software and allows technicians to work remotely in real time. Bosch and Astec coverage reaches 99% of vehicles.
I keep asking then Chinese electric vehicles. Premuda confirmed to me that Carglass has already started to repair and replace windshields of imported Eastern cars, but other foreign divisions make up the largest numbers because in Italy we are still faced with low sales quotas. The company is also working with new brands debuting in Europe to understand differences in diagnostic software and interfaces.
I will use the technical manager’s experience to also satisfy some curiosity about any critical problems caused by the introduction of the first models with Level 3 autonomous driving and lidar, and Francesco confirms that there are no particular differences in the management of the recalibration. However, at the moment I am trying to understand what will be the future scenario? Will the need for recalibration disappear sooner or later?
The answer cannot be predicted by fortune telling or a crystal ball, but Premoli simply confirms to me that in the medium term, 3/5 years, recalibration will be required. Even a Tesla, for example, which can trigger calibration from the on-board computer (this can be done by the user), currently still requires the operator to check the angles and position of the camera to achieve absolute confidence in accuracy and safety.
I then conclude the interview by questioning two recent innovations that focus on the windshield (or glass surfaces in general). The first concerns me augmented reality windshieldwhere increasing the projection area leads to increased complexity, and in some cases even to recalibrating the projector.
Carglass is already at an advanced stage of study and has already worked on the most advanced models (for example, the head-up display of the Audi A8 or Mercedes E Class). The procedure includes a photograph of the original state before the windshield was replaced and a final calibration to return the projection to that state by working with four fundamental parameters. Unlike ADAS, recalibration is not always required, but diagnostics can pinpoint any differences and enable or disable this procedure, which itself takes about ten minutes.
For electrochromic glasslike a panoramic glass roof that darkens, for example, there are no special critical issues, because it is a single piece of laminated glass, and the only difference is the presence of an electrical connection, which the world of repairmen has been using for some time, since the advent of heated glass.
The competition continues between one chat and another. Starting in the morning, it continues throughout the day with various tests, and in the evening elections take place. Marco Pitzalis Casalecchio di Reno as the best among Italians Fights at the Alfa Romeo Historical Museum in Arese.
Marco outperformed Pasquale Guadagno and Davide Vazzetti, getting the best results in all tests, which, for those who don’t know, include windshield repair, side glass replacement, windshield replacement, ADAS recalibration. and “check-in/check-out”, when the client is met and the car is returned to him after repair.
The World Finals will be more than just a competition. It will be an exciting gathering of colleagues from 37 countries who will compete together under the Belron flag to ensure the group excels in providing excellent service to the public and ensuring safety for all motorists.” – Fabio Felisi, CEO of Belron Italia
Pitzalis’ appointment will therefore take place in Lisbon: the international final will take place on June 12, 13 and 14, with the winner being offered a prize equivalent to a year’s salary.
Source: HD Motori
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.