Vauxhall is offering all its franchised retailers’ service customers 12-months’ free roadside assistance from the RAC as part of a new ‘Here For You’ aftersales promise.

Offered across the Stellantis-owned brand’s 290 UK car retail sites, ‘Here For You’ also promises customers: Vauxhall-trained technicians; price-matched original parts with a 12-month warranty; complimentary safety checks; a courtesy car during service work; tailored payment plans; and a clean car.

Vauxhall said that the free 12-month roadside assistance plan not only covers breakdown recoveries, but also instances of punctures, lost keys, misfuelling and home starts and is available to retail customers who service their Vauxhall, of any age, at a participating Vauxhall retailer.

Vauxhall customer experience director Richard Hughes said: “With ‘Here For You’, Vauxhall is placing all of its added value services under a single promise that’s guaranteed for owners with every service at their local retailer.

“Importantly, the ‘Here For You’ promise doesn’t end with the service, as our 12-month Roadside Assistance plan ensures that if help is needed, it is only a phone call away.”

‘Here For You’ reflects car makers acknowledgement that they must work hard to retain aftersales services for their franchised retail networks as the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and, in some cases, agency model retail agreements threaten the volume and profitability of work.

In an interview with AM Kia UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott said the Korean brand had recently launched eCare, offering its EV customers a bi-annual vehicle check to fill the gaps in a service schedule demanding a dealership visit just one every two years.

Last year Toyota and Lexus, meanwhile, aimed to drive franchisees' aftersales customer retention by extending the warranty on its cars to 10 years and 100,000 miles through its new service-activated Relax scheme.

Through the Japanese brands’ new aftersales offering the owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles aged up to 10 years or 100,000 miles will qualify for a year of warranty cover whenever they visit a franchised retailer for a service – incentivising use of the authorised network.