Elite Garages Completes 14 ex-ATS Branch Transfer

Elite Garages has completed the transfer of 14 former ATS Euromaster branches into its South of England network, taking the business to 38 vehicle repair centres. The move matters to the tyre sector because it preserves local fitting capacity, keeps experienced staff in place and strengthens an independent retailer at a time of change across the UK fast-fit market.

A larger independent footprint

Elite Garages has confirmed that all 14 former ATS Euromaster sites and their colleagues have now joined the business, completing a deal first outlined when ATS Euromaster began its structured wind-down of UK operations. The family-run operator said the transfer marks another stage in a long-term expansion plan that has accelerated over the past year.

This builds on earlier growth covered by TyreNews.co.uk, including Elite Garages’ Weston-super-Mare branch opening and its Croydon and Poole openings that took the network to 24 sites. With the latest transfer complete, Elite has moved from organic site launches to larger-scale acquisition-led growth.

Richard Whittemore, Managing Director at Elite Garages, said it had been “particularly rewarding” to meet long-serving staff across the incoming branches. He said their local knowledge, technical experience and customer relationships matched the culture already established within the business.

Why it matters for the tyre trade

For tyre retailers and suppliers, the significance is not just the change of fascia. The deal keeps 14 trading locations active under a buyer with an existing regional network, rather than removing those service points from the market. In practice, that helps preserve tyre fitting capacity, workshop utilisation and local customer relationships in towns where ATS had an established presence.

The transfer also matters because continuity reduces disruption. Elite Garages said customers will continue to see the same branch teams, now backed by a wider network with broader training, equipment investment and purchasing scale. For wholesalers and manufacturers, that can mean a more stable route to market across the South and South West, supported by an operator already active in tyre retail and wholesale.

The company says the incoming branches will benefit from expanded support while keeping their local service identity. That approach may help Elite hold existing ATS customer demand rather than forcing motorists and local fleets to switch to rival fast-fit chains.

A staff transfer with operational value

The people element is central to the transaction. Under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) framework, staff move across with protections on existing terms. GOV.UK’s TUPE guidance sets out the rules that apply when a business or service changes hands.

For the tyre sector, that matters because branch performance often depends on technician retention, front-counter experience and repeat local trade. Dave Morrison, Operations Director at Elite Garages, said customers could expect “the same great service from the same familiar faces”, with the additional backing of the wider Elite network.

That continuity gives Elite a faster route to integration than a new-build rollout. It also reduces the risk of lost knowledge in areas such as fleet accounts, seasonal tyre demand, MOT conversion work and repeat service bookings.

What customers and suppliers can expect

Elite Garages said the former ATS branches will continue to offer core workshop services including MOT testing, servicing, diagnostics, repairs and tyre fitting. The business also highlighted online tyre reservation, same-day fitting at many sites and a product mix that runs from budget to premium brands.

In practice, the immediate trade implication is coverage. A 38-centre network gives Elite greater density across its operating region, which can support stronger stock placement, better inter-branch support and more efficient response to local demand peaks. That matters in a market where retailers are under pressure to balance availability, price competition and service turnaround.

The move also adds weight to the independent channel. As larger national networks restructure, established family-owned operators with regional scale may find more room to grow through selective branch purchases rather than greenfield openings alone.

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Tagged with: Elite Garages, ATS Euromaster, tyre retail, fast-fit centres, branch acquisition, TUPE transfer, South of England garages, tyre fitting, MOT testing, independent tyre retailers, workshop capacity, aftermarket expansion

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