Pep Boys Launches Dedicated Fleet Program
Icahn Automotive Group has debuted Pep Boys Fleet, a program placing renewed focus on automotive service designed to better meet the needs of today’s growing fleets, according to the company. With a new tagline, driving your business forward, Pep Boys Fleet is positioned to meet the needs of the many small fleets emerging from the explosive growth of transportation network companies and last mile delivery services, according to the company.
Pep Boys Fleet is experienced to handle any size fleet, providing inspections and warranty-backed repairs, both routine and complex. The division’s service will include preventative maintenance, such as tires, brakes, batteries and suspension. The company’s national network consists of more than 9,000 service bays in more than 1,000 company-owned locations.
Pep Boys Mobile Crew, which launched in 2018 with state-of-art trailers, will now expand to include smaller-format fleet vans that are fully equipped with all the necessary supplies and staffed by trained technicians to complete common fleet maintenance and repair needs on-location.
“No matter the size of the fleet, our goal is always to decrease the vehicle’s downtime, ultimately providing a more convenient, flexible and personalized way of addressing repairs and vehicle maintenance,” said Brian Kaner, president of service for Icahn Automotive. “Pep Boys Fleet is the only service provider to be backed by a national network and offer mobile maintenance and repairs, as well as provide dedicated fleet team support and solutions designed to both streamline the fleet manager’s role and help an owner focus on the running the business and not the fleet.”
Market Condiitons
Today, 20 percent of vehicles are sold to fleets, a number that’s expected to shift as high as 40 percent during the next 20 years as ride-sharing, ride-hailing and online retail continues to grow.
Pep Boys Fleet and the company’s trained and certified technicians can work on all makes and models. Changes have been made to the service format in Pep Boys locations to establish dedicated Pep Boys Fleet bays reserved exclusively to expedite fleet jobs, and locations are also being updated to include meeting rooms with amenities where fleet customers can conduct business while their vehicle is undergoing maintenance.
Pep Boys Fleet provides customers with national, regional, local and store-level support where customers receive a single point-of-contact that gets to know them and their business, according to the company. The Pep Boys Fleet team representative develops a customized service program and pricing plan and remains engaged to help manage a customer’s fleet business.
Pep Boys Fleet also provides customers with a universal fleet services credit card that allows fleet managers to track and pay for vehicle repairs and preventive service and earn rewards, according to the company. All fleet customers can also take advantage of a specialized online invoicing and payment system and a 24/7 towing program to any Pep Boys location.
Later this year, Pep Boys plans to launch a management technology solution to help small and mid-size businesses better manage their fleet maintenance.
The launch of Pep Boys Fleet is a continuation of Icahn Automotive’s investments in its service business and follows the announcement of a comprehensive program to recruit and train automotive service technicians to meet the demands of the industry, which are being driven largely by the fleet customer. In addition to launching new service formats such as Mobile Crew, the company continues expanding its footprint in key markets by acquiring both franchised and owned service centers and remodeling existing Pep Boys locations.
