NATIONAL Tyres and Autocare has set up the UK's largest network of tyre retailers after forging a strategic alliance with the Autostop Fleet chain of independent outlets. The new structure gives fleet customers a branch network of 850 outlets plus 80 mobile fitting vans and National's increasingly popular Call and Collect facility - and is expected to form the template for the introduction of a pan-European service in the future.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of German tyre giant Continental, National is perfectly placed to use its growing experience of the UK fleet industry to satisfy increasing demand for a Europe-wide corporate service. The alliance - which also includes National subsidiary Smiley Tyre and Exhaust centres will offer standard pricing and tyre availability and centralised invoicing across the network.

Established in 1995, Autostop comprises a network of 450 independent tyre retailers linked by computer. Smiley and National's computer systems are already linked and by hooking up directly with Autostop's systems, National claims it can offer a genuinely integrated service.