A major independent vehicle service and maintenance provider has signalled its intention to break into the fleet sector promising lower prices than franchise dealers and a wider range of services than its competitors.

Mr Clutch, which as its name suggests is best known for transmission maintenance, has expanded the services its 40+ outlets offer.

They now provide multi-marque servicing that does not affect a vehicle’s warranty, as well as tyres, brakes, exhausts, gearboxes, smart repairs and, of course, clutches.
Now the company is turning its attention to fleets.

“We can offer all the benefits of a main dealer operation – skilled mechanics, the latest diagnostic equipment, original manufacturers’ components – but without the huge mark-ups and sky-high hourly rates,” said Mr Clutch managing director Joe Yussuf.

With an eye on outright-purchase fleets and SME fleets, he added: “Fleets that have vehicles that have gone out of warranty still need to keep them on the road as cheaply as possible, but they still demand high standards of service in good locations - this is the market we are expert in.”

Mr Clutch is hitting the fleet market at the right time. With pressures on cost and vehicles staying with companies longer, there is growing demand for cheaper independent service and maintenance providers.

A recent Fleet News poll found that 50% of respondents have already switched away from franchise dealers to an independent provider to service their vehicles, while another 24% were considering doing so (Fleet News February 18).

The news that Mr Cutch wants to attract fleet business comes just after Nationwide Autocentres was acquired by Halfords. Halfords said it intends to almost double the number of outlets to 424.