General Motors last month introduced its Goodwrench Auto Body Center (GABC) program, a national network of dealer auto body repair centers. The program will be launched nationally, with pilot facilities opened in the Miami and Dallas markets. 

"The insurance industry today is aligning itself with highly efficient, quality suppliers who can not only provide their customers with high caliber repairs, but can also offer better claims and customer management," said Duane Miller, general sales manager, GM dealers. "We believe that to remain competitive in the rapidly consolidating collision repair market, we must support our dealers with an industry leading, nationally branded and marketed body shop program. "

The goal of these centers is to establish GABCs as the consumer's first choice for body and paint repair. Customers who have work done at a GABC are promised timely vehicle service and have a single dealer contact during their collision or paint repair.

All repairs performed at a GABC are backed by a network lifetime limited warranty. Additionally, GABCs will offer a variety of other consumer benefits such as child play areas, customer lounges with magazines, complimentary beverages and snacks and a designated customer reception area.

GM dealers who qualify for the Goodwrench Auto Body Center program will incorporate GABC signage at their shops, which may include their name. This will help the dealer to leverage the strong brand presence they have in the local market with the national acceptance of the Goodwrench name and the national Goodwrench Auto Body network.

GM will also provide dealers with a GABC template for every aspect of their business, including operation and production systems, tools for attracting, maintaining and training personnel and quality and efficiency support for maintaining strong insurance industry relations.

"The Goodwrench Auto Body Centers are designed to establish trusting and long-term relationships both with our customers and with the insurance industry," added Bill Kelley, owner of Kelley Chevrolet and participating dealer in the GABC program. "With support from General Motors in this program, we feel confident that we can meet and exceed all of our customers' expectations."

GM Service Parts Operations has worked closely with the insurance industry to identify key market requirements. National rollout of this program will continue as markets and qualified dealers are identified.

The Goodwrench Auto Body Centers by Kelley Chevrolet in Hallendale, Fla, Crest Auto Group in Plano, Texas and Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas offer local residents high-quality, hassle free vehicle repairs, all under the Goodwrench banner.

Owned and operated by local GM dealers, Kelley Chevrolet, Crest Auto Group and Classic Chevrolet, the GABCs in Hallendale, Plano and Grapevine all qualified and met GM's strict program standards, which are focused on consumer and insurer needs. Customers receive timely vehicle repairs and a single point of contact during their collision or paint repair. Furthermore, all repairs performed at the GABCs are backed by a network lifetime limited warranty.

Under the program, GM has provided Kelley, Crest Auto Group and Classic with a template for every aspect of business, including operation and production systems, tools for attracting, maintaining and training personnel and quality and efficiency support for maintaining strong insurance industry relations.

"This is an idea whose time has come," said Rob La Rivirere, fixed operations manager at Crest Auto Group in Plano. "Ours is a high-volume, complex shop. Through the Goodwrench Auto Body Center program, we began seeing results immediately. Qualifying for this program and working with GM to meet and maintain its strict standards has definitely been worth our time and investment."

"The Goodwrench Auto Body Center program is designed to establish trusting and long-term relationships both with our customers and with the insurance industry," said Bill Kelley, owner of the Goodwrench Auto Body Center by Kelley, "By working with GM and utilizing the business tools provided under the program, we feel confident that we will be able to meet and exceed all of our customers' expectations."