INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
TO 2022 AND BEYOND FROM PAINT MATERIALS TO IMPROVED ADAS AWARENESS, THERE’S A LOT IN STORE FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET
By Allison Rogers and Max Reid
W
ith the events of the last 18 months considered, the only direction to look for the future is upward. If there is one sentiment any veteran collision repairer stands by, it’s the fact that the last five years have delivered more disruption and change than the previous 20 years combined. Imagine the possibilities the next five years, not to mention the next 10, or 20.
Here are a few of the aspects Canada’s collision repairers are anticipating, according to Collision Repair mag’s sources. A carbon fibre incorporated taillight.
Mixin’ it Up Recall the shockwaves felt in bodyshops across North America when Ford announced the aluminum F-150, back in 2015? Well, there could be more substrate switches of the eco-conscious variety in the future for the vehicles of tomorrow. At the end of 2020, the Canadian government announced a $1.2 million pour into Green Nano Technologies for its research into wood-fibre composite use for automotive parts. In a similar, eco-friendly vein, Leamington, Ontario-based Competitive Green Technologies (CGT) has a partnership with Ford and McDonald’s; the green minds at CGT take coffee waste from McDonald’s and use a patented process to transform it into resin for car parts. With the over-arching goal of minimal collision damage in mind, automakers are also turning their sights to carbon fibre car parts. Touted as a lighter, stronger alternative to steel and even aluminum, luxury automakers, in particular, are keen to incorporate the material in their models to add that certain wow factor. McLaren even incorporated a carbon fibre chassis in its Elva model in 2019. While luxury makes are not the everyday repairer’s frequent find—the Elva literally has no windshield, making it pretty impractical and unattainable for the everyday commuter—such ideas could one day trickle down to average light vehicles. 24 BUYERSGUIDE.COLLISIONREPAIRMAG.COM
