Fleet MoTs, Servicing Kwik-Fit Growth Areas in 2010

Demand from fleet customers for mechanical work on company cars and vans at Kwik-Fit is said to be soaring. The fast fitter comments that operators are looking to reduce operating costs and this appears to be a significant contributor towards Kwik-Fit’s record breaking 2010. The company reports that demand for MoTs, vehicle servicing and brake part replacement rose by up to almost 50 per cent last year, and in 2011 a “core goal” is to further increase the volume of mechanical and MoT fleet work performed through Kwik-Fit centres.

End of year data from the UK’s largest independent fast-fit company shows the number of fleet vehicle MoT tests undertaken in 2010 increasing 49.1 per cent to 35,666, the number of break related jobs on fleet vehicles growing ten per cent to 59,248 and a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of company cars and vans serviced. These fleet customers, the company notes, include “virtually all of the UK’s top 50 contract hire and leasing companies as defined by the ‘FN50’ compiled by industry publication Fleet News.”

The majority of Kwik-Fit’s fleet business relates to tyre repair and replacement, but the company states it is leveraging long-established business relationships following the launch of mechanical work at its 669 centres in recent years. This is particularly manifesting itself in the increase in the volume of MoTs and services being undertaken at centres, comments Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Peter Lambert: “We continue to provide an excellent service to existing tyre customers. Approximately 95 per cent of Kwik-Fit Fleet turnover is from tyre business with contract hire and leasing companies and end-user fleets.

“Typically, existing fleet customers first look to Kwik-Fit to undertake MoTs on their vehicles. Following that experience they are then more than happy for our technicians to undertake more complex brake and servicing work,” Lambert added. The company credits the increase in fleet mechanical work undertaken to a number of factors, including the company’s nationwide presence and customer-friendly opening hours, short waiting times when booking, national pricing agreements and prices that are on average 20 per cent lower than those charged by franchise dealers. Lengthening fleet replacement cycles in recent years has also played a role.

“Fleets want a fast, efficient and cost-effective service that is convenient for their company car and van drivers. That is exactly what Kwik-Fit Fleet is delivering,” Lambert continued. “As a result of our long-established reputation for high quality service delivery built on the repair and replacement of tyres, batteries and exhausts more organisation are turning to Kwik-Fit for vehicle-related mechanical work.”

As for the coming months, Kwik-Fit Fleet is confident its rollout of new initiatives intended to make fleet servicing and MoTs even more attractive will lead to a further increase in demand for all mechanical work.