Kwik Fit is set to offer e-bike and e-cargo bike servicing and repair in the UK, through a strategic partnership with “faff-free” bike repair provider Fettle.
Fettle at Kwik Fit operations will initially open in three Kwik Fit centres in London and Bristol in the coming weeks, with a plan to roll out the partnership to centres across the UK. The partnership will serve all cyclists, but a key initial focus will be to support fleets who are using e-bikes and cargo bikes for last mile deliveries.
Last year the Dutch version of Kwik Fit also started doing e-bike servicing, in a move that is part of a broader shift towards ‘e-servicing’ that saw the first electric vehicle-only branch of Kwik Fit open in Amsterdam.
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Mark Slade, managing director of Kwik Fit, said: “A growing number of our customers who operate vehicle fleets have been asking if we can support their expanding cargo bike operations. Bikes and cargo bikes, especially electric models, are increasingly being used for short urban journeys.
“However, the fragmented nature of the industry’s current network of largely independent bike shops makes it hard for manufacturers and fleet operators to secure reliable and consistent high quality servicing across their operations.
“By partnering with Fettle, we can offer its services and the expertise of its dedicated teams at Kwik Fit locations. Bikes are becoming more complex, and as well as the demand from fleet operators, the fact that many cyclists now buy through online channels means there is a requirement for the type of servicing and repair aftermarket that we are well used to in the automotive sector.
“Fettle has learnt a great deal over the last three years on the processes and skills required to tackle these trends, and a partnership between the businesses is a unique way to address this demand.”
Fettle says it is in talks with a number of manufacturers and fleets to support their nationwide expansion and growing investment in the UK’s micromobility market, as companies look to replace cars and vans with e-bikes and cargo bikes for last mile deliveries.
The companies say they are also exploring the potential for offering the Fettle collection and delivery service from Kwik Fit centres beyond those initial locations. In the immediate term, Fettle operations will remain separate from Kwik Fit with Fettle providing all staff, products and services for bicycle customers.
Jeyda Heselton, CEO and founder of Fettle, said: “Over the past three years we have experimented and invested in skills, processes, systems and locations. This has enabled us to understand how to best meet the growing demand for bike servicing and maintenance by consumers, manufacturers and fleets to help see green travel succeed in the UK.
“Combining our knowhow with Kwik Fit’s network and experience in the automotive sector was therefore a natural next step to accelerate our ability to service customers at scale."
