The 70-strong Nationwide Accident Repair Centres network is even dipping its toe into the sector, with a pilot of three workshops in Redruth, Kettering and Leicester beside its bodyshops.

Each site, branded Fast Fit Plus, sells tyres, MoTs, brakes, and servicing and is targeting local businesses and retail customers.

ATS Euromaster has spent £10m in the past two years modernising its network of 200 UK centres and broadening their services to include air-con services and computerised wheel alignment.

At 60 of its sites it has added vehicle servicing, and 120 sites now offer MoT testing. It aims to triple its share of the car servicing market.

“The current economic climate has seen a strong trend for privately-owned business fleets and leasing companies to look at cost-effective alternatives to main dealers, and we are meeting this demand head-on,” said Chris Hufflett, its group operations director.

He added: “Expanding our technical capabilities, particularly in the SMR market, is a key part of our business strategy.”

Hufflett said: “While we share ambitious plans for car servicing, our own business model and mix of business means that some of our centres are more geared to supporting commercial vehicles and would therefore be unsuitable for such an offer.

“However, we intend to aggressively grow our presence in the car servicing sector, where suitable sites exist, and forecast our own market share in this area to triple over the next three years.”

John Tustain, chairman of Vauxhall dealer Tustain Motors, said franchised dealers “have never been short of a challenge” and will be “happy to take this one on”.

He said the key to preventing customers from abandoning the franchised sector in favour of independents, such as Kwik-Fit, was to do a good job in car sales and to generate a desire among customers to return.

“We have to make sure we remain competitive in all areas and drive higher return business.

“We must improve customer care and show we can be trusted to do a job to the highest standards and with integrity.”

With tyre programmes under renewed focus from more and more car manufacturers, particularly those in the premium segment, dealers will be encouraged to fight their corner.