Another blow as drivers' go-to garage with over 200 branches suddenly shuts site for good after string of closures
The National Tyres and Autocare site on St Cross Road in
3
The garage had served locals for years
3
It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK
3
Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce
It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK.
The garage had served locals for years, but staff have now been moved to the Halfords Autocentre at Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane — about a seven-minute drive away.
A Halfords spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on St Cross Road has closed following a review of our estate in the area.
'We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible.
Read more on Motors
'We'd like to thank our customers for their support and hope to welcome them at our Halfords Autocentre garage which is about a seven-minute drive away in Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane.
'Customers can also access Halfords Mobile Expert – our mobile service that delivers tyre fittings, battery replacements, and other essential services directly to their doorstep.'
Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce.
A nearby Peugeot dealership was transformed into swanky new homes around a decade ago, and the land could now attract similar interest.
Most read in Motors
The closure comes just months after National Tyres shut branches in Huddersfield,
Earlier this year, drivers in Eastbourne were left stunned when their local Kwik Fit branch shut suddenly, with staff reportedly given just days' notice.
Elsewhere, a historic MOT centre in Sheffield, open since the 1970s, closed for good in April after soaring rent and repair bills made it 'impossible to keep going'.
And in January, motorists in Swansea were hit with a double whammy after both a Halfords garage and an independent tyre shop shut within weeks of each other.
And over in Sheffield, a family-run garage that had served the community since the 1970s finally gave up in April after rent hikes and equipment costs became unmanageable.
Owner Paul, 61, said: 'We did everything we could. But the bills just kept going up — and people don't come in like they used to.'
Industry analysts warn the trend may continue, especially as EVs (electric vehicles) need less servicing, cutting demand for traditional repairs.
Why are so many car dealerships closing down?
By Summer Raemason
According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK.
The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships.
With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore.
Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared.
Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket.
Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors.
The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry.
A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars.
They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050.
The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals.
This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
/
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Another blow as drivers' go-to garage with over 200 branches suddenly shuts site for good after string of closures
A LONG-RUNNING garage in the heart of a busy city centre has shut its doors for good — marking another blow for drivers across the country. The National Tyres and Autocare site on St Cross Road in 3 The garage had served locals for years 3 It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK 3 Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK. The garage had served locals for years, but staff have now been moved to the Halfords Autocentre at Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane — about a seven-minute drive away. A Halfords spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on St Cross Road has closed following a review of our estate in the area. 'We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible. Read more on Motors 'We'd like to thank our customers for their support and hope to welcome them at our Halfords Autocentre garage which is about a seven-minute drive away in Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane. 'Customers can also access Halfords Mobile Expert – our mobile service that delivers tyre fittings, battery replacements, and other essential services directly to their doorstep.' Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce. A nearby Peugeot dealership was transformed into swanky new homes around a decade ago, and the land could now attract similar interest. Most read in Motors The closure comes just months after National Tyres shut branches in Huddersfield, Earlier this year, drivers in Eastbourne were left stunned when their local Kwik Fit branch shut suddenly, with staff reportedly given just days' notice. Elsewhere, a historic MOT centre in Sheffield, open since the 1970s, closed for good in April after soaring rent and repair bills made it 'impossible to keep going'. And in January, motorists in Swansea were hit with a double whammy after both a Halfords garage and an independent tyre shop shut within weeks of each other. And over in Sheffield, a family-run garage that had served the community since the 1970s finally gave up in April after rent hikes and equipment costs became unmanageable. Owner Paul, 61, said: 'We did everything we could. But the bills just kept going up — and people don't come in like they used to.' Industry analysts warn the trend may continue, especially as EVs (electric vehicles) need less servicing, cutting demand for traditional repairs. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. /
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Struggling major car brand to axe hundreds of jobs at huge UK factory after £4billion losses
A STRUGGLING car brand has confirmed it will be axing hundreds of jobs at one of its UK factories. The move comes after the firm reported 4 Around 250 jobs are to be axed from the brand's Sunderland factory Credit: Getty 4 Nissan reported £4 billion losses last year Credit: AFP Nissan has now confirmed the axing of around 250 jobs from its Sunderland factory. The It comes just weeks after the The job losses will hit non-manufacturing positions with around 250 staff to be made redundant. Read more in Motors Nissan has announced the cuts amid a The attempts to save the brand were ramped up after Earlier this year the firm announced 20,000 job losses, seven factory closures and a pause on all post-2026 new car development. The closures of Most read in Motors The Japanese brand has been undergoing significant restructuring since the appointment of new New boss Espinosa hopes to put an end to the company's decline and has begun implementing massive cuts in an effort to turn things around. Nissan's gloomy future These plans reportedly include cutting 25% of Earlier this year, he made way for a £2.6 billion decrease in the value of production and forked out £316 million in restructuring costs. Despite the sweeping cuts there is no guarantee the firm will return to So far it has estimated a first-quarter loss of $1.36 billion. 4 Sweeping cuts are being made in an effort to save the floundering car maker Credit: Getty 4 The job losses will hit non-manufacturing positions Credit: Getty The brand is reportedly considering several drastic measures in a bid to save its profitability with A Nissan spokesperson told The Sun: 'Our Sunderland Plant remains at the forefront of our electrification strategy, with the new LEAF coming later this year, a new EV Juke arriving next year and our new e-POWER system coming to 'In order to support future competitiveness, this week we are beginning discussions with some of our team in Sunderland about the opportunity to voluntarily leave 'This will support the plant's efficiency as we aim to become a leaner, more resilient Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Car expert shares warning with motorists over importance of vehicle's colour
A motoring expert has urged drivers to be cautious of one small decision when they purchase a new vehicle, which could end them up with some significant extra costs. Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, warned that picking the colour of a car can have some financial implications, as some manufacturers charge extra for specific colours. Paul shared that while the practice is not new, it can impact monthly repayments for those using finance agreements. He cited examples from Nissan and Skoda, illustrating how the costs vary between companies, reports the Express. Paul said: "It's entirely likely that anyone shopping for a new Nissan Qashqai might also have a Skoda Karoq on their shortlist. "Unless you want your Qashqai in red, you'll need to budget another €870 above the list price to cover the paint, whereas you can have your Skoda in any one of five colours including a pearl finish and so-called Exclusive Meteor Grey completely free of charge. "So, if you're not having your Qashqai in red, the cost of this mid-size SUV has jumped up by €390 - and most likely more than €820 - versus the Skoda." While the colour of a car may not affect its performance, for many motorists it could be crucial in deciding whether to buy a particular brand. Paul highlighted that Nissan is not alone in this approach, with companies like SEAT and Maserati also adopting distinctive rules and pricing structures regarding car colours. He concluded: "So whatever car you're looking at, don't get distracted by the shiny colours - and make sure you're not in the dark about what your favourite shade will cost you." Drivers are also being alerted to the pitfalls of purchasing a used car and the errors to be aware of. Key among these is neglecting to perform essential checks before forking out cash for the car. A study by AA Cars revealed a startling 79 percent of people bought a pre-owned vehicle without getting a professional check first. James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, commented: "Buying a used car is a major financial decision, so it's concerning how many people aren't ticking off even the most basic checks. "Failing to thoroughly assess a car before buying it could mean missing warning signs that point to costly repairs down the line. It also makes it harder to know whether you're getting good value for money."
