Bosch Car Service partners with Elite Garages

The Bosch Car Service network now totals to more than 350 garages across the UK and Ireland following the addition of Elite Garages, the single largest independent garage group to join the Bosch Car Service (BCS) UK network, with all 16 of its branches joining BCS.

According to the company, Bosch Car Service offers a full range of services and “ensures affordable quality that consumers can trust”. All garages that are a part of the network commit to a strict Code of Practice that is recognised by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

With around 300 employees, Elite Garages is described as “one of the south’s leading independent tyre, MOT and car service operators”.

BCS support independent garages at all levels of their daily operation, from Bosch quality parts and workshop equipment to helping improve the efficiency of everyday processes. Even external signage features as well as business stationery and marketing initiatives.

As well as 16 vehicle repair centres, Elite Garages operates nine petrol stations, 10 convenience stores, a tyre wholesale business and a rental property business.

David Lomas, the head of Bosch Car Service at Bosch UK & Ireland, said: “Everyone at Bosch Car Service is looking forward to working with our new partners at Elite Garages. Like all the partners in our network, Elite Garages provide expert advice, repairs and service and they have a long history of running a successful company. We have more than 350 Bosch Car Service locations across the UK and Ireland and we’re excited to expand that to include Elite Garages’ network across southern and south east England.”

Richard Whittemore, managing director at Elite Garages,said: “We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Bosch Car Service, which provides a professional workshop concept, business support and a premium national brand. We visited the Bosch Car Service stand at the UK Garage and Bodyshop event in 2022 and the concept sounded very interesting. We had several meetings, and it became clear that the BCS programme would be mutually beneficial for our businesses. We can build on our well-known family business in partnership with Bosch. As our company continues to grow, we knew it was the right time to partner with another well-established premium automotive brand.”

Kelsie Whittemore, Elite Garages Management, said: “We wanted to partner with a premium brand like Bosch who have the trust, confidence, training and equipment expertise to support our business. And we also wanted to have ability to use the Bosch corporate training programmes to support with staff recruitment and retention. The other key focus areas within Bosch are their expertise in Electric and Hybrid vehicles and also the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).”

The Bosch Car Service network began in 1921 and it now has more than 15,000 authorised workshops in 150 countries around the world. This year Bosch is celebrating 125 years since it began operating in the United Kingdom. The founder of the company, Robert Bosch, opened a sales office in London in 1898 and the UK was the first country he entered as his company rapidly spread throughout the world after being established in Stuttgart, Germany.