Leading fast-fit chain, National Tyres and Autocare have introduced a new Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) accredited brake training programme for its’ nationwide network of over 200 branches. National have added to their existing very successful City & Guilds brake training with a new Technical Awareness & Diagnostic Course produced in conjunction with Entyrety and Acorn Training.
Kwik-Fit Fleet has won a rolling tyre repair and replacement contract with Renault Business Finance, which operates a fleet of over 11,000 vehicles. The contract, which went live on 1 August was won from a so-far unnamed rival supplier. The new arrangement will mean that Kwik-Fit Fleet, together with the Renault Dealer Network, will be the principal supplier of tyre services to Renault Business Finance. Michelin and Continental will be the primary tyre manufacturer suppliers under the terms of the new arrangement.
Kwik-Fit is renewing its fleet of 200 mobile vans. Twenty-one new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans have already joined the fleet and a further 27 vehicles will be ordered shortly. Eventually Sprinters will replace the entire current fleet of Renault Masters and Ford Transits.
As well as being equipped with the latest tyre changing technology, the new vehicles have undergone a corporate livery makeover. The newly liveried vans also promote the Kwik-Fit website – www.kwik-fit.com. The new vehicles are all also equipped with ‘third arms’ which mean ultra-low profile and run-flat tyres can be replaced at the location of driver choice.
Britain’s largest and fastest-growing contract hire and leasing company, Lex, has extended its solus fast-fit contract with Kwik-Fit Fleet for a further three years. Lex now operates a fleet of more than 180,000 company cars and light commercial vehicles, which means the contract involves fitting more than 2 million tyres over the next three years.
A business partnership stretching over more than 20 years between two of the biggest names in the UK fleet industry – Kwik-Fit Fleet and Arval – has been further extended with the signing of a new two-year contract. The new contract, with an option to extend for a third year, gives Kwik-Fit Fleet AllStar preferred supplier status with Arval for tyre replacement and the provision of other fast-fit services across the leasing and maintenance management company’s 160,000-strong UK vehicle fleet. AllStar recognition is being awarded only to suppliers who meet strict criteria to deliver service quality and value to Arval customers.
Established contract hire, leasing and fleet management company lease 360 evolution plc has signed a new three-year solus tyre management and fast-fit services contract with Kwik-Fit Fleet.
Wakefield-based lease 360 evolution, which was launched almost four years ago, now has 3,500 vehicles on its books. Kwik-Fit Fleet, which already supplied a raft of fast-fit services to lease 360 evolution customers through both its nationwide centre network and mobile operation, will additionally now supply fixed monthly cost tyre management under the terms of the new contract, which went live in April.
Formula One Autocentres’ has heralded the start of its ongoing expansion plans by officially launching three new state-of-the-art Centres in Doncaster, Harrow and Chesterfield. Formula One Autocentres investment programme will see the fast-fit chain increase its network of centres to 43 nationwide. Continued expansion throughout 2006 will see a further seven new Autocentres Centres opened.
Kwik-Fit Fleet has been named “Best Fast-Fit Company” by weekly fleet industry newspaper Fleet News at a prestigious awards ceremony held recently at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. This is the second accolade for the company this year, having taken first prize in the Fleet Excellence Awards – voted for by the fleet professionals who read Fleet Week and Fleet Management – for an unprecedented 13th year in succession.
Following a growing representation within franchised dealer networks, Group Tyre (UK) Ltd has announced plans to restructure its Car Dealership Department to further strengthen its operation. The appointments of James Marriott and John Welsh are seen as key elements of the restructure, which provide dedicated regional Training and Sales Development roles across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
Fast-fit workshop manager Andy Smedley (38) has beaten 500 other entrants across the UK, displaying outstanding tyre knowledge.
Andy Smedley, the workshop manager for Fast-Fit in Norwich, entered the Michelin Certified Programme competition after being put forward by his area manager. He answered all 47 questions on tyre technology correctly, securing him a place in the top ten for the semi finals.
Fast-Fit, a leading East Anglian tyre and exhaust specialist with branches across the region, has become one of the largest fast fit companies to achieve the Pirelli Driver accreditation.
All eleven branches of Fast-Fit, which sells and fits batteries, tyres and exhausts, have achieved the ‘Driver’ standard from the world famous Pirelli brand, after successfully meeting all elements of the technical audits.
Battery manufacturer Varta has highlighted an anomaly regarding automotive batteries – with today’s products vastly superior to those of a few years ago in both performance and longevity, how come the battery is still the cause of most calls to motoring organisations and breakdown service providers?
The answer, says Varta, is that there are so many power consumers on today’s cars that these can adversely impact on the ability of the battery and alternator to provide constant energy, particularly in winter where the nominal output of the alternator can be easily exceeded in even the shortest journey. And we are talking about modern cars with healthy batteries with comparatively low power consumers, such as lights and heaters.
The European Commission has officially approved P.A.I Partner’s acquisition of Kwik-Fit, under the EU Merger Regulation.
The new owner of the fast-fit chain manages and advises dedicated private equity funds focused in different industry sectors, from food and food additives, water and waste management services to the production and sale of hydraulic clutch and brake systems and components.
Hofmann, has won the contract to supply Fast Fit Ireland with all of their wheel service equipment requirements. Fast Fit Ireland, who look over the Kwik-Fit depots in the Republic of Ireland last year, are now one of the largest fast-fit chains in Ireland with over 22 depots. All depots have been equipped with “top of the range Hofmann products,” the company reports.
Kwik-Fit Fleet picked up a couple of new contracts recently.
The first of these is a three-year deal with HSBC Vehicle Finance, under which Kwik-Fit Fleet is named as preferred supplier of fast-fit services to its fleet of 90,000 vehicles.
Mike Wise, Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director, said: “More and more contract hire and leasing companies are looking to consolidate their purchasing power to keep costs down and cement service standards for drivers.” Peter Hollinshead, head of HSBC Vehicle Finance, agreed, saying: “We task ourselves with maximising our purchasing power, improving service levels and making efficiency savings, which we can pass on to our customers. This agreement with Kwik-Fit Fleet will help us achieve these objectives.”
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