Driving Force Collision Enters New York Market with Acquisition of Precision Auto Works

Driving Force Collision, supported by TRP Capital Partners, has taken a significant step forward by acquiring Precision Auto Works of LIC, a multi-site collision repair operator with deep roots in New York City and Long Island. This move marks Driving Force’s first formal expansion into the Northeast - signaling its long-term intention to build a quality-focused collision network in a critical metropolitan corridor.

Deal Summary

The buyer is Driving Force Collision, a private equity–backed collision repair platform supported by TRP Capital.

The seller is Precision Auto Works of LIC, a three-location collision repair operator with shops across New York City and Long Island.

The acquisition was completed in November 2024, but publicly announced in May 2025, after a deliberate integration period.

Collective shop footprint totals ~48,000 sq ft across the three facilities.

Precision Auto Works brings OEM certifications for electric vehicle (EV) brands - Tesla, Lucid, and Rivian - and is known for its technical sophistication and highly trained staff.

The legacy leadership team at Precision - including George Anastasopoulos, Vasilis Kalosinis, and Eric Ross - will remain involved post-acquisition, helping drive the business under Driving Force.

Key Driving Force executives behind the deal are Darren DuVall (CEO) and Scott Foulke (COO), both with extensive MSO and repair leadership experience.

Advisors: Hammer Group Holdings and Zoran Advisors guided the transaction.

Industry Context

This transaction occurs amid a broader wave of consolidation in the collision-repair market, especially as private equity firms target MSOs with advanced technical capabilities, OEM certification, and geographic diversity. Driving Force’s entry into the Northeast via a high-quality, EV-certified operator is particularly notable: the region is dense, competitive, and demands top-tier repair standards, especially as electric vehicles proliferate.

EV repair capability is becoming a central differentiator for collision networks. OEM certifications (like those held by Precision) are no longer “nice-to-have” but increasingly strategic for capturing future repair volume. Driving Force is clearly placing a bet on this.

Lower-Middle-Market Roll-Up Perspective

From a roll-up strategy point of view, several key themes emerge:

• Strategic Geographical Build: Driving Force is deliberately expanding into the Northeast, a market known for high repair demand and technical complexity.
• Quality Over Scale: Rather than targeting volume plays, Driving Force is prioritizing partner shops with deep technical capabilities, including EV certifications.
• Leadership Continuity: By retaining Precision’s leadership, Driving Force preserves institutional know-how, customer relationships, and the quality culture.
• Platform Scaling With Discipline: This transaction suggests Driving Force’s strategy is not just to roll up any available shops, but to thoughtfully build a network of high-value, OEM-aligned collision centers.
• PE-Enabled Growth: Backed by TRP Capital’s transportation-investing expertise, Driving Force has the capital base and sector focus required to execute a high-quality buy-and-build strategy.

Why This Sector Is Attractive for Roll-Ups

• EV Adoption Rising: As EVs grow in market share, certified collision repair shops are well-positioned for future demand.
• Fragmented Legacy Operators: Many older collision operators lack scale, making them ideal targets for platforms that can provide capital and operational infrastructure.
• High Margins on Repair Work: Certified collision work, especially with OEM parts and processes, generates higher margins than undifferentiated repair.
• Stickiness & Technical Barrier: Certifications, training, and OEM-part relationships create higher customer retention and acquisition barriers, favorable to consolidators.
• Private Capital Appetite: Investors like TRP Capital see collision repair as a resilient, service-driven asset class with recurring demand and consolidation opportunities.

Conclusion

The acquisition of Precision Auto Works gives Driving Force Collision a strong entry point into the Northeast market - combining local expertise, EV repair capability, and a management team that aligns with its values. For Driving Force, this is much more than geographic expansion; it's a platform bet on technical excellence, OEM certification, and quality-focused scale.

For collision-shop owners, the deal underscores the value of partnering with platforms that respect legacy while offering growth capital and operational support. For investors, Driving Force’s disciplined approach highlights a compelling blueprint: roll up high-quality, certified collision operators in key markets to build a differentiated, future-proof network.