Mercedes turns bodyshop repairer

IN SOMETHING OF a watershed moment for Australian autobody repair, Mercedes-Benz is due to open its own bodyshop in Melbourne by year’s end that will go head to head with authorised Mercedes repairers in the southern state.

Located in Port Melbourne, the new autobody repairer will provide, what the company describes as, “first-class paint and panel repairs “ for passenger vehicles and vans.

It’s an intriguing move. The German automaker has outlined what sounds like a very comprehensive set-up with state-of-the-art equipment and skills to provide customers with the highest level of care when their vehicle is damaged.

No job will be too big or too small.

The new autobody repairer is the result of the combination of two long-standing authorised Mercedes-Benz paint and panel repair centres - Worrells Motors and Mercedes Benz Melbourne - joining forces to produce the new all-purpose built facility.

A Mercedes-Benz spokesman said the company had owned both facilities for some time, with Worrells maintaining its trading name until now.

The spokesman said that the new shop would have three new spray booths, one big enough to accommodate the largest models from the Mercedes-Benz van range. The paint mixing room sits between the two booths and there are five preparation booths and an individual aluminium repair room.

Mercedes has also installed two dedicated stations for vehicle computer diagnostics.

Around Australia there are several authorised Mercedes-Benz autobody shops in the main centres with full technological and equipment back-up geared to meet high company standards.

It is a rigorous process to become such a repairer and meet the high Benz standards. This new Melbourne
move is interesting as several other vehicle makers are looking at similar autobody repair shops arrangements around the country.