Crystal Motor Group, the automotive retailer to aftermarket firm, says it hopes to expand its repair network later this year.

Over the last two years Crystal has been gradually selling off its dealership interest, including the Ford dealerships in Scarborough and Harrogate, Peugeot in Grimsby and the accident repair centre in Harrogate to concentrate on its aftersales business, CarWorks.

Two CarWorks centres are operating in Sheffield and Crystal managing director Nick Oughtred said that when the time is right the network will be expanded.

“We are aiming to deliver a transparent and reliable service to the consumer which are two strengths the repair industry is not known for. We've opened our first two centres and when we think we've got the model right we will grow the network,” Mr Oughtred said.

“We expect that to begin later this year, beginning in south Yorkshire and then further afield in time.”

Crystal withdrew from car retailing because of the market's instability. “We wanted a business that was in our control and we could develop as opposed to being part of a franchise,” Mr Oughtred said.

It has retained the Nissan dealership in Grantham because “it's performing well and we work well with Nissan” added Mr Oughtred.