GIANT Australian and New Zealand automotive parts and services group Bapcor Ltd has opened its first Midas Tyre and Auto store as part of a planned expansion in the retail vehicle parts and full service sector.

Midas, which is more than exhausts and mufflers these days, covers the whole gamut of vehicle maintenance and repairs from tyres, brakes, batteries, steering, suspension etc, including logbook service.

The first of its new stores, in the Brisbane suburb of Newmarket, expands on the 90 existing Midas outlets by adding tyre sales and wheel services and repairs.

Bapcor stated in its 2020 annual report that it planned to boost its retail outlets at the rate of 10 new stores a year. Bapcor’s retail includes Burson, Midas, ABS, Autobarn, Autopro and Opposite Lock.

Midas at Newmarket, operated by franchisee Ben Neighbour and his team, has been purpose-designed for tyre replacements for passenger cars, four-wheel drives, light commercial vehicles and trucks.

Mr Neighbour, who also owns Midas stores in the Brisbane suburbs of Ashgrove and Albion, has been a Midas franchisee for 16 years.

“This is an exciting opportunity to expand the Midas brand into the tyre replacement and wheel servicing space and, having been involved with Midas over the past two decades, it is a privilege to open the first Midas Tyre and Auto Store in Australia,” Mr Neighbour said.

“We have completely re-designed and equipped this workshop to handle all manner of tyre replacements for cars, SUVs , 4WDs and commercial vehicles and we look forward to offering the same level of dedicated service, advice and value pricing that Midas is famous for with tyre replacements, along with all automotive servicing and repairs.”

Midas Tyre and Auto in Newmarket uses diagnostic scan equipment and has made a major $50,000 equipment investment by adding a Hunter wheel-alignment machine that suits all vehicles including those with lane-sensing technology. It also offers nitrogen tyre fills.

Midas said one in five cars presented for servicing at its national workshops displays signs of worn or damaged tyres.

Bapcor said in its latest annual report that its service businesses of Midas and ABS aimed to be experts at scheduled car servicing at affordable prices.

The two brand names had 102 stores at June 30, 2020 of which 100 were franchised.

“Bapcor considers service a potential growth area due to the industry consolidation opportunities and the potential to vertically integrate supply of product through its trade and specialist wholesale segments and will actively expand this segment,” the company said in its report to the Australian Securities Exchange.

Revenues from retail arms of Bapcor, including Midas, were up 47 per cent in the first quarter of the current financial year compared with the same period last year.

Bapcor said the results in retail were “exceptional” and compared with Bapcor’s total revenue for the quarter were up 27 per cent.

By Neil Dowling