Tesla owners no longer have to drive out of state for certified repairs

For years, Tesla owners have had to drive out of state to receive certified repairs on their electric vehicles, but that has changed.

“We’re just trying to make it more convenient for our customers,” said Jeff Coykendall, who owns Andover Auto Body at 115 W. Cloud Ave. in Andover.

Coykendall’s shop is now Tesla certified, and he said it’s the only shop in a 175-radius to have the certification.

“Not to say other people won’t try to do it.”

He said it’s an extensive process that requires a lot of special training and equipment.

“Tesla won’t sell you parts unless you’re certified,” Coykendall said.

He said he decided it would be worth it to invest in becoming certified.

“You see more and more Teslas every day.”

Coykendall said every electric vehicle has its own procedures and parts, which makes the auto body business much different than it used to be.

Andover Auto Body also is certified for GM, Ford, Kia and Hyundai electric vehicles, and Coykendall said the shop should be certified in Honda and Acura electric vehicles by next week.

Coykendall opened the 11,000-square-foot shop in 2021 to do auto body repairs and paintless dent repairs.

He’s now expanding with another 5,000 square feet.

“And we’re adding another paint booth and two more prep stations and another body technician.”

Coykendall purchased more than two and a half acres behind his shop earlier this year, so he has plenty of room to keep expanding.

He’s not planning to expand to Wichita, even with a small shop just for Tesla repairs.

“Being that people have to go to Kansas City or Oklahoma City,” he said of previous Tesla repairs, “I don’t think Andover’s too far out of Wichita’s area.”