Servicesure award winner and Top Garage finalist, Adam Green Motors, says its success this year is just the start as it gears up to safeguard the business for the next 10 years and beyond.
The garage, based in Berwickshire, Scotland, was an early adopter of electric vehicle (EV) services, despite the uncertainty of what the future car parc will look like.
“For me, it is not about whether to believe in EV or not, it is about being ready for whatever is coming,” commented Adam Nowak, Owner of Adam Green Motors. “You must be qualified, and you must be ready. For us, that includes EV because the demand is there.”
Nowak says EV will form a significant part of Adam Green Motors’ growth strategy as it targets fleet contract work and sees retail customers considering the change from internal combustion engine (ICE) to EV or hybrid.
Fleets drive market
He continued: “Fleets have driven EV numbers over the last few years. There is a huge opportunity for independent garages if they can show those companies that they do not have to go to main dealers for service contracts.
“There is also the fact that the number of ex-fleet EVs entering the aftermarket is growing, and these are being bought by retail customers.
Fleets often change their vehicles after three years, to avoid the MOT and additional servicing requirements. In 2024, the SMMT highlighted that just one in 10 private buyers chose an EV. Conversely, 64,000 more all-electric models were registered by businesses and fleets than a year ago. This represented 25.4% of those segments’ total registrations in the year.
With this trend having been set since the EV boom began in 2021, more electric models than ever will be finding their way into used-car showrooms, often through auction channels. With no ties to franchised dealers, buyers wanting a cheaper EV will look to the independent sector to service it. Therefore, the amount of all-electric servicing work could increase in the coming months and years.
Customers key for Adam Green Motors
Adam Green Motors was the winner of the Customer Service Trophy at the recent Servicesure Autocentre of the Year Awards, and has highlighted how listening and understanding customer needs has benefitted the business.
“We have people asking for advice about changing their ICE vehicle, and we always recommend what’s right for them personally,” added Nowak. “It is excellent for customer relations because we can help them make an independent and informed decision. They remember that and come back to us because we can look after their vehicle, regardless of their decision.”
The garage now plans to drive its expansion with the help of an extended online strategy from Garage Services Online (GSO).
As a specialist aftermarket website provider, GSO already works with Adam Green Motors, having created its new website earlier this year. It is now working with the garage business to create a dedicated EV website.
“Since its launch in April 2024 our website has brought in lots of new customers. Our previous site never brought in one!” said Nowak. “These are customers we just would not have otherwise. And so many people say they looked at our website first, even if they book over the phone.
“The decision to now have a dedicated EV website for Adam Green Motors was an easy one. Ask me that 12 months ago and I would not have believed I would say that. I was the guy who thought websites were pointless and not cost-effective. How wrong I was!
“However, I do listen to industry professionals. I soon realised my ideal customers are looking online, they are asking Siri, and a lot of them either cannot talk during opening hours, or just do not want to!
“That is why being open-minded is key, whether it is about websites or EVs. We do not know what things will look like in 10 years’ time, but we can set foundations and be prepared.”
