FORTY-one Lex Autocentres are to be renamed Nationwide Autocentres after being sold to private equity fund NGBI for an undisclosed sum. Lex announced it was disposing of almost a third of its 137 Autocentres in January.

They had become part of the RAC's motoring services division following its sale to Lex in 1999. The Nationwide Autocentres network, which in 2000 had revenues of £10 million, will be based in the West Midlands, headed by managing director Tom Dunn, formerly operations director of Lex Autocentres.

RAC managing director Graeme Potts said the remaining 96 Lex Autocentres would focus on providing independent service for private and business motorists.