Richard Hardie Group has expanded its presence in North East England with the opening of a new HiQ Tyres & Autocare centre at its Ashington, Northumberland premises. The move enhances the company’s aftersales offering alongside its existing Fiat and MG Motor UK dealership, providing a full suite of servicing and repair solutions for local motorists.

The family-run business, which has served customers in the North East for more than 50 years, sees the launch as a natural step in response to evolving customer needs. Partnering with HiQ, a nationally recognised brand backed by Goodyear, enables Richard Hardie to offer both vehicle sales and comprehensive autocare services under one roof.

Nick Hardie, managing director of Richard Hardie Group, said, “We’ve always specialised in new car sales, but we’ve noticed that more customers are holding onto their cars for longer, meaning there’s a greater need for reliable and competitively priced servicing. We saw an opportunity to work with HiQ to provide a recognised, trusted and main dealer-quality autocare experience for our customers, ensuring we continue to deliver the best possible service for local motorists in Ashington and build strong customer relationships.”

The new HiQ centre in Ashington offers a full range of services, including tyres, servicing, brakes, MOTs, and general repairs. Customers benefit from same-day or next-day appointments, HiQ’s industry-leading booking portal, and main dealer-quality service.

Hardie added, “Working with HiQ provides us with a well-established national brand that appeals to a broad customer base. We’re confident that this will drive new footfall while offering our existing customers even more value.”

The new centre is managed by Darren Browne, formerly the company’s service manager, who now leads HiQ operations. While the initial focus is on delivering a successful launch, Richard Hardie Group has plans to expand its workforce, with two additional technician roles expected to be created soon.

HiQ Tyres & Autocare Ashington officially opened on Monday, 3 March 2025.