April 26, 2017—Tesla has vowed to update its third-party approved body shop program, largely in an effort to avoid long wait times, due in part to the pending launch of its Model 3. Tesla plans to simplify training and reduce the cost to become certified to repair its vehicles.
Many areas have few Tesla-approved body shops, which can lead to a backlog for repairs. And, the fact that Tesla demands on-site training can make it costly for shops to become approved by the auto manufacturer. Tesla announced last month that it plans to add 300 body shops to its network in the coming weeks. Additionally, electrek.co reports Tesla is partnering with I-CAR to expand its program, transitioning to online training for structural technicians.
The manufacturer is also changing its equipment requirements and has approved eight aluminum welders that are common throughout the collision repair industry.
Tesla’s Model 3 is scheduled to enter production in July.
