Epyx integration streamlines fleet maintenance booking with Halfords and NTA

New auto repair shops must navigate industry challenges by integrating advanced technology, strategic location choices, and customer-centric services to succeed in a rapidly evolving market.Starting up an auto repair shop can be quite an appealing prospect for entrepreneurs looking to get into the growing automotive aftermarket scene. That said, it’s not exactly a walk in the park—it requires careful planning, solid strategy, and a pretty good grasp of how the industry works. As car tech gets more advanced and what customers expect changes, succeeding in this competitive environment means navigating a bunch of challenges—regulations, operations, and customer service, just to name a few. Getting a clear picture of the automotive repair market is absolutely fundamental when you're launching a new shop. For example, industry projections point to about 4% growth in demand for automotive service technicians over the next ten years. This signals that people will still rely on repair services pretty steadily. Doing thorough market research to pinpoint what’s in high demand—whether that’s general repairs, specialized maintenance, or niche services—can really help tailor your shop’s offerings so they fit your local market. It’s pretty important to match these services with what local customers need; this positioning can make or break your customer base initially, and, hopefully, keep those customers coming back over the longer term. Creating a solid business plan is just as important. This document should lay out what you want to achieve, what services you’ll offer, who your target customers are, and who your competitors will be. Plus, having detailed financial projections makes a big difference. A clear plan for marketing, managing your budget, and engaging with customers acts as your roadmap for dodging those start-up pitfalls and growing the business sustainably. To be honest, a well-prepared business plan also makes you look more trustworthy in the eyes of lenders or investors—something that’s crucial when you’re trying to secure loans, whether they’re SBA-backed or for equipment financing. Location, yeah, that’s a huge deal. Picking the right spot for your shop involves thinking about traffic flow, how easy it is for customers to get to you, parking space, and how close you are to competitors. For an automotive shop, being visible and accessible can really tip the scales when it comes to attracting new customers. Whether you lease or buy, decisions should align with your financial situation and your long-term vision. And don't forget—the layout of your workspace needs to support efficient workflows, but it should also be inviting and professional—these elements impact how customers view your shop and how smoothly you can run things. Investing in good quality equipment and the latest diagnostic tech is another cornerstone for success. From hydraulic lifts and hand tools to sophisticated diagnosis systems for modern electronics—having these is key. Industry insiders emphasize that finding competitive prices for lifts and staying updated on new technology are crucial steps. Embracing new tools not only speeds up the repairs and improves accuracy but also shows your customers that your shop is ready for the next generation of automotive tech, which builds trust and encourages repeat visits. Getting your team right matters too. Hiring skilled mechanics, customer service pros, and support staff keeps everything running smoothly and ensures customers walk away happy. Plus, ongoing training helps your team stay up-to-date on the latest systems and repair techniques—this helps boost customer satisfaction and keeps staff loyalty high. Regular performance reviews and feedback sessions also motivate employees and keep everyone aligned with your shop’s quality standards. Of course, you can’t ignore the legal side of things. That means securing all the necessary licenses and permits—like local business licenses, occupational permits, environmental clearances, and sales tax registrations. Insurance is equally crucial; not just basic coverage like general liability and property insurance, but also workers’ comp, garage keepers, and specialized garage policies. Separating your personal and business finances through dedicated bank accounts and credit lines is smart, too—it supports your financial health and makes your credit profile stronger. Marketing plays a big role, too. Building a strong online presence with a well-designed website optimized for search engines, active social media accounts, and gathering positive reviews can really broaden your reach. Local networking, partnerships, and word-of-mouth referrals are also valuable tools for increasing your visibility. Using customer relationship management (CRM) systems makes it easier to stay in touch, customize marketing efforts, and develop loyalty programs or follow-up services that encourage folks to keep coming back. All in all, launching a successful auto repair shop is about combining industry know-how, strategic planning, and a genuine focus on what your customers need. Research from consulting giants like McKinsey shows that continuous tech investments and improving the customer experience are strongly linked with higher profits in this industry. Patience and perseverance are non-negotiable, especially when it comes to delivering consistent value and building a skilled, motivated team. If done right, this comprehensive approach can turn a startup into a solid, reputable business that holds its own in the automotive supply chain. References: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2], [3] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [4], [7] - Paragraph 4 – [1], [4], [6] - Paragraph 5 – [1], [4], [6] - Paragraph 6 – [1], [3], [5], [6] - Paragraph 7 – [1], [2], [4], [7] - Paragraph 8 – [1], [2], [3], [4] Source: Noah Wire Services

German car manufacturers are increasingly turning to Ukraine for parts production to navigate economic pressures and geopolitical tensions, reshaping European supply chains despite ongoing conflicts and global disruptions.German automakers are increasingly looking at Ukraine as a strategic hub for parts manufacturing, especially now, with the automotive industry in Europe facing a bunch of serious pressures. Big names like Volkswagen and Audi, for example, are trying to find ways to cut costs and keep their supply chains intact. They see Ukraine’s cheaper labor, the skilled workforce there, and its convenient location near major EU markets as potential solutions. This move signals quite a noticeable reshuffling of supply chains, as European car makers adjust to both economic shifts and geopolitical tensions. Ukraine provides significant cost advantages when compared to traditional manufacturing centers in Western Europe or even other regions like North Africa or Eastern Europe. The labor costs are much lower, yet the skill level remains decent enough to produce complex parts—think wiring harnesses, electronic components, and body panels essential to vehicle assembly. Industry insiders mention that companies like Kromberg & Schubert, for instance, have already set up production sites there to benefit from these lower costs. Plus, Ukraine’s position makes logistics to key markets—Germany, Poland, France—quicker and cheaper, which is pretty important with inflation climbing and supply chains being disrupted by both the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts. That said, the ongoing conflict with Russia really throws a wrench into the works. The war has seriously disrupted critical supply chains—metal supplies, wiring harnesses, and other key vehicle components have taken a hit. Ukrainian suppliers, which experts say have been part of the European automotive supply line for ages, are now facing delays, operational hiccups, and infrastructure damage. So, companies are caught between the attractive cost benefits and skilled labor on one side, and the risks of instability and chaos on the other. As a result, German manufacturers are mainly focusing their Ukrainian operations on wiring systems and other vital technical parts needed for vehicle assembly, trying to keep some resilience in their supply chains. This whole shift comes at a pretty tumultuous time for the European auto industry, which is now undergoing some major structural changes. Data shows that in 2024, there’s been a sharp spike in job losses among car parts suppliers—more than doubling compared to the previous year. This slowdown, driven by the pandemic, inflation, and ongoing geopolitical issues, is hitting the industry hard. The push toward electric vehicles (EVs), though promising for the future, hasn't yet offset the losses in traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) supply chains because costs and subsidies still pose challenges. Meanwhile, stricter EU emissions regulations and the upcoming ban on new ICE vehicles by 2035 are forcing manufacturers to reconsider where they produce and source parts, looking more toward markets like the US and China. And it’s not just Europe that’s feeling the ripple effects. The war, for example, has driven up prices for metals like nickel, palladium, aluminum, and steel—many of which Russia provides. These spikes—on top of sanctions and export restrictions—are pushing car prices higher worldwide, especially in the US, where both new and used vehicle costs have gone up quite a bit. Transportation costs are also climbing because disrupted trade routes make importing parts more expensive. All this naturally gets passed along to consumers in the end. Meanwhile, there’s also a big push to secure semiconductor supplies—the brain of modern vehicle electronics. Legislation like the US CHIPS Act is part of this effort, aiming to boost local chip production and lessen reliance on international supply chains that have proven to be pretty volatile lately. These industry-wide efforts toward reshoring and diversification are responses to vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. Despite all these challenges, governments seem to be keeping their intervention cautious. Experts suggest that blanket government support for entire value chains might not be necessary. Instead, targeted measures—focused on real security issues and better info flow—could do the trick. The auto industry’s embrace of Ukraine’s role in their supply networks shows that a blend of market opportunity and risk mitigation is the way they’re approaching things, trying to balance opportunity with caution in a complex global arena. All in all, the shift by German automakers toward Ukraine is really a kind of strategic recalibration for the automotive supply chain in Europe. The lower costs and skilled labor are tempting, but the war’s risks aren’t negligible. This situation keeps the path forward uncertain but also full of potential. And as geopolitics, industry shift toward electric vehicles, and supply chain improvements continue to unfold, they’ll significantly influence what the European auto landscape looks like in the coming years. Sources reference: - Paragraph 1 – [1], [4] - Paragraph 2 – [1], [2] - Paragraph 3 – [1], [5] - Paragraph 4 – [2], [6] - Paragraph 5 – [4], [7] - Paragraph 6 – [1], [7] Source: Noah Wire Services

Southern Company and Ford Pro have completed a six-month project demonstrating efficient EV fleet charging, while Volkswagen and Audi accelerate North American manufacturing investments to mitigate tariff impacts and boost market share amidst a changing trade landscape.Southern Company and Ford Pro have wrapped up a six-month pilot project aimed at optimizing how fleets charge their electric vehicles (EVs). By blending Ford Pro’s cutting-edge software platform with real-time data pulled from vehicles and chargers, the program showed it’s possible to cut down on energy demand—without messing with the fleet’s ability to operate smoothly. According to what they found, managed charging schedules can really help boost energy efficiency. This offers some useful insights for fleet managers who are either planning or speeding up their switch to electric vehicles. Basically, this project is a good example of how the commercial aftermarket is evolving—trying to balance sustainability goals while still meeting the strict demands of fleet operations, which, you know, can be quite rigorous. At the same time, the larger automotive aftermarket scene is going through some significant shifts, especially as tariffs become more of a concern. Volkswagen, for example, has reported that tariffs in the U.S.—which are currently at 27.5%—have hit their bottom line pretty hard. CEO Oliver Blume shared that the company’s paid several billion euros extra this year because of these tariffs, with brands like Porsche and Audi feeling the pinch the most. The lack of local U.S. manufacturing facilities in those brands has made things worse—they’ve absorbed most of the burden. This tariff burden has led to earnings pressures, with Audi taking a €600 million hit in the first half of 2025 alone and Porsche losing about €300 million during the spring months. It’s kind of a tricky situation, because Volkswagen is now weighing whether to make more investments in the U.S., including expanding manufacturing facilities—something that might get a boost with upcoming tax incentives being discussed by the government. Volkswagen’s broader plan for the U.S. aims to counteract declining sales in China and Europe. They’re aiming for some pretty bold growth targets—trying to bump their U.S. market share from around 4% up to 10% by 2030. Part of that strategy involves investing heavily, like their €4.8 billion battery plant in Ontario, Canada, which is meant to supply EVs for North America. But of course, there’s some uncertainty because tariffs could be extended to add taxes on imports from Mexico, Canada, and Europe. That could make supply chain planning quite complicated. Still, Volkswagen expects its profit margins to stay stable this year. They’re also getting ready to roll out new EV models, including an electric version of the Scout pickup truck—an important move into the U.S. market’s popular SUV and electric segments. Audi, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, is also working to deal with tariff-related issues by expanding its production facilities in North America. They’re expected to decide on exactly where to build these plants sometime this year. The idea is that increasing local manufacturing will help soften the blow from tariffs, especially since they’re supported by incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. This move is also in line with broader market trends, where demand is shifting toward electric and SUV models—so Audi’s strategy is really trying to adapt to those changing preferences. All these tariff pressures and strategic shifts highlight a pretty complex environment for automakers and parts suppliers alike. Companies are juggling evolving trade policies, the need for investment, and the push toward electrification—all at once. The Southern Company and Ford Pro pilot adds to this narrative by demonstrating how tech can improve fleet efficiency operationally, while Volkswagen and Audi’s moves reflect the geopolitical, economic, and market forces reshaping how vehicles are made and sold in North America. It’s definitely a busy space these days, and it’ll be interesting to see how everything unfolds. Honestly, these developments—both technical and strategic—are pretty fascinating, don’t you think? Source: Noah Wire Services