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AIA Founding Standards

Automotive Integrity Alliance

Generating Trust in Automotive Repair & Sales

AIA Founding Standards

Automotive Integrity Alliance

Generating Trust in Automotive Repair & Sales

Our Purpose

The Automotive Integrity Alliance (AIA) exists to generate trust between automotive businesses and the communities they serve.

Trust is not repaired after it is broken —
trust is intentionally built, demonstrated, and protected every day.

Our Founding Standards establish a clear, measurable framework for how trustworthy automotive businesses operate, communicate, and serve their customers.

Membership in the Alliance is a voluntary commitment to leadership, transparency, and long-term customer relationships.

Our Core Belief

Trust is not a marketing claim — it is a business practice.

Alliance Members understand that:

  • Ethical behavior is a competitive advantage
  • Transparency creates confidence and loyalty
  • Long-term success comes from doing the right thing when no one is watching

The Automotive Integrity Pledge

All Alliance Members publicly commit to the following pledge:

“We commit to operating our business in a manner that consistently generates trust through honesty, transparency, professional competence, and respect for every customer. We understand that trust must be earned, demonstrated, and upheld through our actions.”

1. Transparency in Pricing & Recommendations

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Clearly explaining what services are recommended and why
  • Providing estimates that are accurate, understandable, and complete
  • Disclosing material information that could influence a customer’s decision
  • Avoiding unnecessary or misleading upsells

Trust is generated when customers understand their options — not when they feel pressured.

2. Honest Communication

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Using plain language instead of technical intimidation
  • Clearly distinguishing between required, recommended, and optional services
  • Communicating timelines, costs, and outcomes honestly
  • Addressing mistakes promptly and professionally when they occur

Trust grows when communication is clear, calm, and respectful.

3. Ethical Sales & Service Practices

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Recommending only services and vehicles that serve the customer’s needs
  • Never exploiting fear, urgency, or lack of technical knowledge
  • Ensuring customers feel informed — not rushed
  • Prioritizing long-term relationships over short-term transactions

Trust is generated when customers feel protected, not sold.

4. Professional Competence & Accountability

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Employing properly trained and qualified staff
  • Staying current with evolving vehicle technologies
  • Following manufacturer procedures and industry best practices
  • Standing behind their work and correcting issues responsibly

Competence builds confidence. Accountability preserves it.

5. Respect for the Customer

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Treating every customer with dignity and fairness
  • Respecting financial constraints and personal circumstances
  • Avoiding judgment, condescension, or assumptions
  • Creating a welcoming, inclusive environment

Trust thrives in environments where customers feel respected and heard.

6. Clear Documentation & Records

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Maintaining accurate service records and documentation
  • Providing customers with copies of estimates, invoices, and inspections
  • Ensuring documentation reflects actual work performed
  • Protecting customer data and privacy

Clear records create clarity — and clarity builds trust.

7. Fair Warranty & Resolution Practices

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Clearly explaining warranty terms and limitations
  • Honoring warranty obligations in good faith
  • Addressing disputes with professionalism and transparency
  • Seeking fair resolution before escalation

Trust is reinforced by how issues are handled, not whether issues occur.

8. Ethical Marketing & Representation

Alliance Members commit to:

  • Advertising truthfully and accurately
  • Avoiding misleading claims, bait-and-switch tactics, or deceptive pricing
  • Representing certifications, affiliations, and warranties honestly
  • Using Alliance branding responsibly and accurately

Trust cannot be generated through exaggeration — only through truth.

Generating Trust Through Technical Excellence

Alliance-affiliated technicians commit to:

  • Performing diagnostics and repairs honestly and accurately
  • Following proper repair procedures
  • Reporting findings truthfully — even when inconvenient
  • Respecting customer property and safety
  • Continuing education as technology evolves

Trust in the shop begins at the technician level.

Generating Trust Through Communication

Alliance-affiliated service advisors commit to:

  • Acting as educators and advocates — not pressure agents
  • Clearly explaining repair needs and alternatives
  • Respecting customer decisions without manipulation
  • Ensuring customers understand both benefits and risks

Service advisors are the bridge between expertise and understanding.

Consumer Promise

When a customer chooses an Automotive Integrity Alliance Member, they can expect:

  • Honest explanations
  • Transparent pricing
  • Ethical recommendations
  • Professional accountability
  • Respectful treatment

Membership does not mean perfection —
it means responsibility, openness, and commitment to doing better every day.

Oversight & Accountability

Alliance Members acknowledge that:

  • Membership is a privilege, not a guarantee
  • Standards are reviewed and reinforced regularly
  • Violations may result in corrective action or revocation
  • Alliance branding represents a shared responsibility

Trust must be protected to remain meaningful.

Final Statement

The Automotive Integrity Alliance does not exist to call out bad actors.

We exist to:

  • Highlight good ones
  • Elevate the industry
  • Generate trust where it matters most — with customers

Trust must be protected to remain meaningful.