News 15 www.aftermarketonline.net September 2024 Intercounty invests £2m in new site, apprentice drive Mercedes-Benz dealership Intercounty Truck & Van has announced a £2 million investment into a new service and parts location in Bedfordshire, including a recruitment drive for the next generation of technicians. Intercounty said on July 15 that Dunstable’s Woodside Industrial Estate site offers a state-of-the-art workshop for the servicing and maintenance of all makes of vans and over-the-counter parts. EV facilities include eight charging points to keep customers and the local EV infrastructure moving. The site, just minutes from J11/J11a of the M1 and London Luton Airport, will also house three 24-hour service vans offering roadside assistance in the local area and emergency customer site visits. There are plans to introduce full 24-hour servicing at the dealership in the near future. The dealership said it will actively recruit future skilled technicians through an apprentice programme and take part in the MercedesBenz EV technical training pathway. Intercounty MD Nick Skillman (pictured) said: “The launch of our new Dunstable site offers incredible opportunity, both for us as a business and for the local economy, particularly as we welcome the transition to electric. “We’ve been operating as a Mercedes-Benz franchise for over 20 years, covering Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire.” Simon Neill, customer operations director at Mercedes-Benz Vans in the UK, said Intercounty had been a partner of MercedesBenz Vans for over 20 years. He said the site is set to provide customers and those travelling up and down the M1 with a huge range of services, parts, EV expertise and roadside assistance cover. “We’re also incredibly pleased to see Intercounty Truck & Van investing in 30 more roles that will bring new talent and skill sets to the Mercedes-Benz Vans brand network.” SMMT in Germany mission for UK auto investment Trade partnerships and international investment are among key priorities to boost the UK’s automotive sector, SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes has said. Hawes revealed the SMMT has already launched a “fresh focus” on ramping up trade relationships – hosting automotive representatives from Britain and Germany’s business departments in Berlin during the summer. The Berlin trade mission was organised in partnership with SMMT’s counterparts, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA). “From trade and industrial policy to the skills transition and automated vehicles, our two markets are intertwined and many of our challenges shared,” Hawes said. “By working together and sharing best practice, we can seek successful, sustainable solutions that deliver a new generation of mobility and prosperity in the UK and across the EU.” Hawes also welcomed the new UK government’s plans to go ahead with a global investment summit later this year. “Putting our country front of mind for international investors is key, so is renewing the UK’s global trade strategy.” VCDS ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS TRUSTED & AFFORDABLE KITS FOR MECHANICS & GARAGE WORKSHOPS ADVANCED LEVEL DIAGNOSTICS & CODING SUPPORT FOR VW, AUDI, SEAT & SKODA MODELS WITH UNLIMITED VIN, WI-FI CAPABILITY, CABLE OPTIONS & FREE SOFTWARE UPDATES NEED MORE INFO? OUR TEAM IS HERE TO HELP! 01491 834666 MI-UK.COM
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