Change is good. Usually. For the most part. There is no shortage of disrupters and innovators in any industry. The auto body and collision repair industry has had its fair share. For the most part, these disruptions have been good – especially in recent years. In no particular order, here are the top three trends to impact the auto body and collision repair industry over the past several years.
Aluminum bodies
In the past car manufacturers almost exclusively made automobiles out of steel. Every part that could be made of steel was made of steel. The nature of mass production and assembly line methods made it make more sense to have as much of the product built from the same material as possible. The trend now, however, is away from heavy duty and toward aluminum. These body parts are much lighter and easier to work with, with minimal differences in structural integrity.
3D part printing
Automobile parts have often been elusive. Depending on where you live and the type of car you need parts for, you may be out of luck. 3D printing can change this forever. As long as you have the right hardware, and the right supplies for them, you can download some specs for the parts you need and voila: 3D printed parts.
Technology and aerodynamics
This is two, I know. But these two are tied for the last spot. The break neck pace at which technology has advanced has bled into the automotive industry as well. This has made for some incredible advancements in safety technology that dramatically reduce the likelihood of roadside incidents. Collision prevention hardware and software advance each and every year.
Car manufacturers are also making incredible advancements in the aerodynamic features of new vehicles. Newer vehicles are more streamlined and efficient than ever before. Focusing on down lift and drag has allowed designers to build vehicles that are safer and sturdier than ever before.
These are some of the biggest changes the auto body repair industry has faced lately, from a general point of view. Car manufacturers are always looking for better ways to build better products. As they strive to innovate means the auto body repair industry is one that will always be facing change.
At Downtown Autobody in Rohnert Park, we’re keeping up on the latest technologies ensure your car looks as good leaving our lot as it did the first day it was driven off the car lot.
