Trade body the Retail Motor Industry is to launch a scheme for garages to bring it closer to motorists.
The consumer scheme, entitled Trust My Garage, will be rolled out in a few weeks.
The RMI said it will not clash with Motor Codes, the body which operates the consumer codes of practice for the motor industry. RMI chairman Paul Williams, speaking at the RMI Annual Dinner in London, said the RMI was supportive of Motor Codes.
“However, we believe as a trade body we need to do more and that is exactly what the RMI is doing.”
The new scheme will add to the RMI’s arsenal to attract more independent garages to its membership although it is also open to franchised dealers.
Competition to attract new independent garage members and retain existing members has become intense as the RMI’s garage division competes with the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation, which was formed out of the Automotive Distribution Federation.
Williams said the RMI is on target to attract 1,300 new sites in 2010 which would make it the best recruitment year ever. Membership revenue is 250 per cent up on 2009, he said.
Its training arm ReMit is now the largest training provider in the automotive sector. In 2009 it generated £536,000 pre-tax profit for the trade body.
