Demand for Kwik-Fit Fleet mobile services has rocketed in the first-half of 2009 compared to the same period last year.

Mobile turnover is up by 17% at £34.7 million with a 7% rise in the number of new tyres fitted to almost 317,000.

Meanwhile, the number of tyre safety inspections completed in the first half of 2009 reached almost 100,000 with mobile technicians carrying out almost 600 more inspections per man than in the first six months of 2008 - a 9% rise.

“Convenience and an increase in the number of employees working from home is driving mobile demand,” explained Mike Wise, head of Kwik-Fit Fleet, which includes the mobile division.

“The increase in mobile business in the first half of 2009 is incremental and not substitutional. We have also seen a 3.6% rise in traffic through our nationwide network of 650 centres in the first half of the year.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the year and into 2010, Wise added: “We expect demand for our mobile services to continue to increase.

“With many companies extending fleet replacement cycles it means that the number of older vehicles on the roads is increasing. As a result, we expect tyre repair and replacement work to continue to rise with many motorists opting for Kwik-Fit mobile.”