At present any sort of car body repair whether it is a collision repair like structural damage or a minor knock like a bumper scuff or bumper scratch, would be repaired at either a body shop or a mobile car body repair/smart repair service. This has been the status quo for a number of years but how will the automotive industry and car body repair services evolve in future years. In this article I will look beyond the now and try to assume the future of both industries with the evolution of current techniques and paint repair systems.
One obvious and currently possible future is that of cheap replacement parts. This can be predicted for most cars now have multiple plastic parts, and this will surely increase as the year's progress. Plastic formed parts are cheaper to produce then there metal counter parts and simple colours can be added during their manufacture unlike the metal alloy panels. By producing cheaper panels the cost to repair a damaged panel will far exceed the cost to purchase a replacement plastic part, reducing the need for panel repairs by body shops and accident repair centres reducing them to a fitting service. This process skips the need for a body shop or accident repair centre if a replacement panel is required. This sinario suits the manufacturer for the replacement parts will be produced solely by them increasing their turn over and only requiring a fitting service for the panel and not a panel repair service
Other current advances in paint technology is the self repairing paint. Developed in Japan, Honda produced a paint system that when applied self seals and repairs when light scratches and stone chips are incurred on a panel, this paint system is applied at the manufacturing point. Although not in mass production yet I'm sure those nerds from the east will create a cheaper and more cost effective alternative for the future that will be rolled out worldwide. By having a self repairing paint for scuffs and scratches this again will reduce the need for mobile car body repairers and any form of car body paint repair services.
The future for car body repair services are looking bleak if all what stated above comes to fleuression, but as the automotive industry evolves so will the car body repair sector which will have to to try and accommodate the loss of demand. I'm pretty sure that mechanical repairs will still be in demand in the future as they are at present and this is a possible area for expansion for all the body repair centres out there.