The first New Zealand Fix Auto location has opened.
Fix Auto Penrose, located in Auckland, is owned and operated by Dean and Emma Letcher, who bring more than 25 years of combined collision repair experience to the network.
“Entering New Zealand is an important step for our network,” said Steve Leal, president and CEO of Fix Network. “Dean and Emma bring strong experience and a clear commitment to quality. We’re looking forward to growing the Fix Auto presence in this market alongside them.”
Fix Auto Penrose is the first of several planned locations in the country. Three more collision centres are expected to open within the next two months. It is the first of four planned collision repair locations in New Zealand.
The launch gives Fix Auto a collision repair presence in a market where Fix Network already operates through NOVUS Glass. NOVUS has operated in New Zealand for decades and joined Fix Network in 2017. The glass banner has more than 60 locally owned locations across the country and will support Fix Auto’s development in the market.
“We’ve built NOVUS Glass in New Zealand around local ownership and consistent service,” said John Armstrong, managing director of NOVUS Glass New Zealand and Fix Auto Collision New Zealand. “That same approach will guide the growth of Fix Auto, starting here in Auckland.”
The addition of Fix Auto Penrose brings the Fix Auto network to more than 875 locations across 10 countries. Fix Auto operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Mexico and New Zealand.
Fix Auto was founded in Quebec in 1992 as a network model for independently owned collision repair facilities. The brand was created to bring structure to a fragmented collision repair sector and support shop owners through shared standards, insurer relationships, training and operating processes. The brand later expanded across Canada and into international markets.
The Fix Network has more than 2,000 points of service worldwide across collision repair, glass, mechanical services, products and restoration. Its portfolio includes Fix Auto Collision, Fix Auto Service, NOVUS Glass, ProColor Collision, Speedy Auto Service, Speedy Glass USA, SRP Products, NOVUS Polish and Fix Nation Restoration.
Other Canadian-founded franchise systems have expanded outside Canada in recent years. Pita Pit, founded in Kingston, Ont., has expanded across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Mary Brown’s Chicken, founded in Newfoundland and Labrador, has announced international growth in markets including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan and India. Booster Juice, founded in Sherwood Park, Alta., has also expanded outside Canada.
