News 10 www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2026 BookMyGarage in £134m retail work boost for workshops Independent garages and franchise garages benefitted from a record £134 million of retail work booked via the BookMyGarage platform in 2025, the MOTs, servicing and repairs comparison website has revealed. The site said it boosted bookings for its sector partners by 39% last year compared to 2024, with 88% for independent garages and 12% for its franchise partners. More than half (57%) of its independent garage partners signed up to Accelerate, its premium package designed to drive measurable growth through digital marketing, customer acquisition, and operational support. The average review score for Accelerate partners is 4.72/5, demonstrating that excellent customer service and quality workmanship sit hand-inhand with more bookings and ultimately, increased profitability, BookMyGarage said. Central to Accelerate’s proposition is its risk-free promise with a revenue return guarantee of £3 back for every £1 investment in the first 12-months of using the platform. Meanwhile, bookings from BookMyGarage had a significant impact on business for almost four-fifths (79%) of garages, according to the company’s latest survey, conducted last November, based on 111 responses from 2,354 BookMyGarage partners. Almost a fifth (17%) said bookings from the site were vital for their business. Garage partner respondents also ranked BookMyGarage as ‘great’ in the NPS score showing strong satisfaction in the network. BookMyGarage chief marketing officer Jessica Ruddick said: “We are delighted that 2025 was the most profitable year to date for our independent and franchise garage partners. BookMyGarage gives drivers the choice and convenience they want while helping garages connect with customers they might otherwise struggle to reach. “The 39% year on year increase in our booking volumes demonstrates the growing confidence drivers have in using our platform. Our insights show that while price matters, convenience and trust – including proximity to home, availability and strong customer reviews – are the real drivers behind booking decisions.” ELTA Automotive has announced the acquisition of Tamworth-based Cooling Components and its Serck Automotive brand. ELTA said on January 28 the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, marked a further milestone in the firm’s growth and reinforced its commitment to investing in strong, specialist businesses serving the independent automotive aftermarket. Cooling Components, a neighbouring business to ELTA, will continue to operate from its Tamworth warehouse, with all day-today operations unchanged. Cooling and thermal management are increasingly strategic categories for the automotive aftermarket, ELTA said. As vehicles become more complex, effective temperature control is critical to performance, reliability, and emissions compliance. As part of the acquisition, Paul Baggot will remain as director of Cooling Components. Baggot said: “This acquisition marks a key moment in the next phase of the Serck Automotive brand. Cooling Components has built a built a strong respected business, but to take Serck Automotive to the next level required significant new investment and additional resources.” ELTA managing director Ian Hallam said cooling and thermal management are vital growth areas for the aftermarket as vehicle technology continues to evolve. ELTA Automotive acquires Cooling Components
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