BMW Group Australia says it has raised the bar for local repair competency with the launch of an enhanced carbon fibre repair programme for its Accredited BMW Bodyshop network.
According to BMW, the initiative will elevate the network’s capability to repair carbon fibre composites. The first session was held at a purpose-built facility in Melbourne in February 2022.
Renowned for its combination of low weight, high strength and ability to disperse energy, carbon fibre was used extensively in the manufacture of BMW’s i3 EV nearly a decade ago. It is now used in the construction of the BMW iX EV, which launched in Australia late last year. It has also featured prominently in the safety cell passenger compartment of flagship vehicles such as the 7 Series and 8 Series, along with multiple elements of BMW’s high performance M models.
The i3 and iX feature in the new training programme, giving professionals an in-depth understanding of the role carbon fibre plays in these vehicles.
Glen Keddie, Bodyshop Network Development Manager for BMW Group Australia, said the training will keep BMW at the vanguard of local repair capability.
“Carbon fibre requires specialist handling and skills, both in its diagnosis and its repair, to ensure it retains the qualities for which it is recognised and so it can contribute to ongoing cabin integrity and therefore safety of the vehicle for occupants,” Keddie said.
“And although our network already has a strong level of competency in this area, this training takes it to the next level to ensure our BMW body shop professionals can deliver an even higher level of repair for our customers.
“Seven BMW body shops are already certified to repair carbon fibre components, and our training will ensure we can rapidly build on that number with the aim of having the entire network fully equipped in the coming years.”
The bolstered programme builds upon BMW’s deployment of globally certified training standards in June 2020 that helped enable Authorised BMW Bodyshops in Australia to repair customer vehicles to ‘beyond OEM standards’.