KwikFit to start servicing bicycles with Fettle partnership

Oil changes, MOTs, brake checks… and now bicycle repairs and servicing will be undertaken at KwikFit thanks to a new partnership with Fettle, a fast growing bike repair company.

Bristol and London will see KwikFit servicing bicycles initially. This partnership will be open to serve all cyclists but has the primary initial focus will be to support fleets using e-bikes and cargo bikes for last mile deliveries.

While the news may come as a shock, industry observers may recall that KwikFit in the Netherlands launched e-bike and EV servicing centres last year.

KwikFit has over 600 centres in the UK and three centres will start the collaboration. Meanwhile Fettle has been building a bike repair network – offering “faff-free” repairs and servicing – across London with a tech-led approach.

With e-bike sales having risen from 3% of all bike sold in 2018 to 8% in 2022 (representing 30% of overall bike sales value), cargo bike sales at some retailers have risen 40% between 2021 and 2022. Fettle is in talks with manufacturers and fleets to support their nationwide expansion and the growing investment in the UK’s micromobility market, as companies look to e-bikes and cargo bikes to replace cars and vans for last mile deliveries.

There is also the potential the partnership will see the Fettle collection and delivery service from KwikFit centres beyond those initial locations with on-site bike servicing, thus rapidly expanding the availability of the Fettle service. In the immediate term, Fettle operations will remain separate from KwikFit with Fettle providing all staff, products and services for bicycle customers.

Mark Slade, managing director of KwikFit, said: “A growing number of our customers who operate vehicle fleets have been asking if we can support their expanding cargo bike operations.  Bikes and cargo bikes, especially electric models, are increasingly being used for short urban journeys. However, the fragmented nature of the industry’s current network of largely independent bike shops makes it hard for manufacturers and fleet operators to secure reliable and consistent high quality servicing across their operations.

“By partnering with Fettle, we can offer its services and the expertise of its dedicated teams at KwikFit locations.  Bikes are becoming more complex, and as well as the demand from fleet operators, the fact that many cyclists now buy through online channels means there is a requirement for the type of servicing and repair aftermarket that we are well used to in the automotive sector. Fettle has learnt a great deal over the last three years on the processes and skills required to tackle these trends, and a partnership between the businesses is a unique way to address this demand.”

Jeyda Heselton, CEO and Founder of Fettle, said: “Over the past three years we have experimented and invested in skills, processes, systems and locations. This has enabled us to understand how to best meet the growing demand for bike servicing and maintenance by consumers, manufacturers and fleets to help see green travel succeed in the UK. Combining our knowhow with KwikFit’s network and experience in the automotive sector was therefore a natural next step to accelerate our ability to service customers at scale.”

Fettle at KwikFit will provide a full roster of its services including free bike assessments and quotes, as well as the company’s proprietary Bicycle MOT. There are more details on the fettle website.