One, several, or multiple brands – how do European garages approach repairs?
Servicing multiple vehicle brands in a single garage requires extensive knowledge and special tools. On the other hand, versatility secures a steady flow of customers. How do garages in Europe approach the subject of multi-brand handling?
Most of the garages surveyed in Central and Eastern Europe undertake repairs on cars of most brands available on the market. One reason for this could be customer loyalty. While it does not necessarily relate to the brands of cars they buy, everybody appreciates a reliable specialist who will professionally take care of their vehicle. If this is the case, the driver will be happy to return to a trusted garage once they change their car rather than look for a new garage simply because they have switched to a different brand. Garages that choose to service many brands can also expect to find new customers more easily. Being able to do so is, without a doubt, a reflection of their wide range and knowledge of technological solutions used by various car manufacturers.
On the other hand, expertise in fewer brands is the domain of Western European garages, perhaps because the average age of cars on the roads there is noticeably lower. New cars are increasingly complex and the solutions used in them vary considerably between manufacturers. Therefore, specialists need to acquire much more extensive knowledge to handle a smaller range of brands.
Scale of car repairs in Europe
European garages tend to lean towards repairing a lower average number of cars per week. In today’s garage market, customers value quality over repair time. This trend influences service technicians to be more committed to carrying out their tasks conscientiously, at the expense of servicing fewer vehicles.
‘Today, vehicle documentation is widely available, making it much easier to repair modern cars. However, the experience gained in servicing a group or 1-2 brands makes it possible to provide an accurate diagnosis more quickly in the case of more complex repairs. This gives garages a certain advantage over multi-brand ones and customers can perceive them as brand experts.
Of course, success also depends on the extent of repairs carried out, available tools, and, above all, good personnel. Day-to-day car maintenance at the fundamental level can undoubtedly be carried out by any garage. A wide range of training courses guarantees appropriate service and professionalism during repairs’ – says Tomasz Bińkowski, Technical and Sales Advisor at Continental Aftermarket & Services GmbH.
Research methodology
The survey which served as the source for the claims in this article was conducted by MotoFocus.eu, in the form of an online interview among car repair shops in the following European countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Croatia, Hungary, Italy. In total, over 722 individuals took part in the survey.
