The Guy Salmon Bodyshop in Coventry has become one of the first crash repair businesses in the UK to be appointed a category A repairer for the predominantly aluminium Jaguar XJ, due to be launched next spring.

AM understands Jaguar is preparing to confer the status on a number of other bodyshop businesses as part of the first stage in creating an elite national network of approved XJ repairers.

Part of the Sytner Group, Guy Salmon will invest more than £250,000 in facilities and tools to build a sealed cabin for aluminium repairs and to refurbish a dedicated area in its bodyshop building to meet the demand for specialist work.

The centre, which has contributed profits of more than £500,000 since the implementation of new training, recruitment and customer service processes three years ago under the guidance of bodyshop manager Peter Loach, is located on a five-and-a-half acre site alongside Guy Salmon Land Rover.

“The motor industry is looking to aluminium car construction as a lighter body option to improve fuel efficiency,” says Guy Salmon Bodyshop managing director David Martin.

“We believe our investment in refurbishment will establish us as market leaders in aluminium repair.”