Kwik-Fit is continuing to take fleet business away from franchised dealers and is concentrating on increasing corporate sales this year.

Kwik-Fit Fleet saw demand for MoTs, vehicle servicing and brake part replacement work rise by 50% in 2010.

Dealers appear to be losing out on tyre business from fleets specifically. Kwik-Fit Fleet also believes it is 20% cheaper than franchise dealers for servicing.

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Peter Lambert, Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director, said: “Approximately 95% of Kwik-Fit Fleet turnover is from tyre business with contract hire and leasing companies and end-user fleets.

“Typically, existing fleet customers first look to Kwik-Fit to undertake MoTs on their vehicles. Following that experience they are then more than happy for our technicians to undertake more complex brake and servicing work.”

• The number of fleet vehicle MoT tests undertaken in 2010 was 35,666, a rise of nearly 50% on 2009’s total of 23,927
• The number of brake-related jobs on fleet vehicles undertaken was 59,248 last year (2009: 53,840).
• The number of services on company cars and vans completed last year was up by 16% compared with 2009.

Kwik-Fit Fleet believes it is winning more corporate business due to:

• Seven-day a week centre opening
• A booking typically available within 48 hours rather than the 14-day wait for some franchised dealers
• National pricing agreements across all centres in place
• 20% saving against prices charged by some franchise dealers for servicing work
• Vehicle serviced in accordance with manufacturer scheduled servicing requirements
• The introduction last year of Bosch brake products across the network
• Recession-induced lengthening fleet replacement cycles meaning more vehicles require MoTs and services.