Auto Body Shops Not Ready For Aluminum Body F-150 Repairs

After laboring for five years to develop its aluminum F-150, Ford Motor Co. now confronts a new challenge: preventing higher insurance rates and a dearth of mechanics equipped to repair its body from deterring buyers.

Less than 10 percent of the more than 30,000 independent repair shops in the United States are certified and meet training and equipment requirements to work with most aluminum auto body parts, according to an estimate by Darrell Amberson, chairman of the Automotive Service Association. While some dealerships do in-house body work, independent businesses handle the vast majority of collision repair in the United States, he said.

randy3023 - 1/21/2014 10:07:23 AM

+3 Boost

Boo hoo.

As with any other sector, the businesses that anticipate better than their competition WIN, those who don't LOSE.

The smarter body shops will have seen the aluminum age coming, and rehired and retooled accordingly.

trmckin - 1/21/2014 12:26:20 PM

+1 Boost

This is definitely a concern but at the same time, body shops used to have problems replacing airbags and electrical. Now, it's standard operating procedure. We have thumbs and the ability to learn. Should be a short term problem as most shops will make the changes to keep business flowing. In the meantime, ford in-house shops should retool and train to help make up for the shortfall. Otherwise, these things will sit on lots.

xjug1987a - 1/21/2014 4:37:38 PM

+1 Boost

Ford will have their dealers up and running for this soon, which will ensure repairs are done at the dealer not a mom & pop repair shop. Pretty smart to do that if you're Ford...

Terry989 - 1/21/2014 6:33:08 PM

+1 Boost

We'll see how true that is since most dealers don't have body and paint shops, but rather subcontract it out.