Hi AllA recent mystery seems to be coming clearer after reading the AM magazine yesterday
As many of you know, i am a Unipart Car Care Centre and have used an Express Factors in Crawley for the last 27 years, mainly because of the excellent service and deliveries. Then in mid January i get a call, the Express Factors in Crawley is closing overnight with no real explanation, leaving about 6 Car Care Centres high and dry. The Express Franchise was owned by Caffyn's of Hove (near Brighton - MG Rover Dealer), but they made a large profit last year, so money was not the reason for closure
Unipart sent in a hit squad and we have all now been persuaded to use Partco, which in our area has been re branded "Unipart Automotive"
Could a new global player in the Aftermarket be the reason, called the X-PART
It seems that from May we are going to see the launch of the X-Part Factor based at MG Rover franchises and supply parts, not only for their own dealerships, but for independents as well. The X-Part is taking over from Unipart who have lost the right to supply aftermarket parts for Rover
The only difference with the X-Part is that they are not going to bother re-branding their parts unlike Unipart, so they will stock items such as Lucas Braking, Crosland Filters, NGK Spark Plugs, AP Clutches, Bosal Exhausts and more, all this will be backed up with Caterpillar Logistics Services
So my guess is that Caffyn's are withdrawing from being a Unipart stockist to become one of the new "ALL MAKES" X-Part Suppliers, as well as being a X-Part AutoService Centre to repair all makes and models (could be wrong)
As a Unipart Car Care Centre i now use Partco (Unipart Automotive), but when ordering Unipart parts, you may get sent Coopers filters, Mintex pads, Gabriel shocks ect - so are Unipart going to change their strategy by supplying non Unipart branded parts, in line with the X-Part Factors
So look out for your new X-Part Supplier in the next few months, it may change the way you buy your parts. I have an MG Rover franchise about 6 miles away - so i shall expect a visit from an X-Part rep very soon
Peter
PS: All the above is only my opinion, all comment welcome