Halfords has acquired Nationwide Autocentres, the independent car servicing and repair provider.

Nationwide Autocentres - that will be renamed Halfords Autocentres - has 224 centres  offering fleets and private mototrists car servicing, MOTs and repairs.

Halfords said the objective in buying Nationwide is to acquire a "high quality company with proven management in a market very close to their current market where they can accelerate growth". 

The growth includes opening a further 200 centres, creating 1,000 new jobs.

Duncan Wilkes, chief executive officer at Nationwide Autocentres stressed that fleet business will remain a primary focus of the newly acquired and enlarged company.

“Fleet is, and will remain, a core focus for the business and is central to our growth plans," he said.

"Halfords has the vision and financial ability to invest in our service and product, and this will very quickly see significant investments in equipment and training, new centres and our people.”

Halfords said it has no plans to integrate the businesses operationally and it will continue to be managed and located separately from its stores.

Nationwide’s management team will join the enlarged Halfords Group.

"All managers will continue unchanged in their current roles and existing centres will remain open and operating as usual," said Halfords.

David Wild, chief executive of Halfords added: “Our expansion into the adjacent car servicing and repair market is an exciting and logical move for Halfords.

"Car maintenance is a large and highly attractive sector where there is increasing demand from motorists and fleet operators for reliable service at affordable prices."