Autodex has acquired three sites from the Whites Group, bringing the total number of bodyshops owned by the company to 11.

Located at Croydon, Reading and Wimbledon, the repair centres fit in with Autodex’s ambition to expand around the M25. Earlier this year Richard Fagan, managing director at Autodex, spoke to AM of his plans to add at least two sites to his business, moving it into the AM50 top three.

Whites Group, which exits the bodyshop industry tow years after quitting retail, had a fourth repair centre at Farnborough which it has sold to Rainbow Bodyshop Limited.

Fagan said: “The acquisitions form part of our planned expansion for 2007 and 2008. Our three new sites are all first class facilities, each with their own highly skilled workforce.

“We are looking forward to developing positive relationships and providing a premium service to existing Whites insurance clients, some of whom are new to Autodex.”

Staff at the three sites are to receive training to ensure Autodex’s processes are followed, enabling all sites to achieve the same standard of service and corporate identity.

In the future Fagan will look to open additional sites in east and north London “to improve drive time for customers and provide additional capacity for new business we have recently been awarded”.

Last year Autodex posted a turn-over of just under £16m, with the target for 2007 at £19.5m, including the acquisitions. It has bodyshops at Southall, Uxbridge, Rickmansworth, Aldershot, Slough and Reading.