Automotive Solutions Matamata
1 Farmers Road, Matamata
Owner: Greg Smith
Telephone and Fax: (07) 888 8801
Email: matamata@asgroupnz.co.nz
I first met Greg when I took my Daihatsu to his
Garage for a Warrant of Fitness and general servicing, 16 years ago.
In
this day and age, integrity and honesty seem to be a fading memory, so
it was refreshing and uplifting to be treated with courtesy.
He made direct
eye contact with me, and was genuinely interested in what I had to say.
One can always gauge the character of a person by the way that they treat
others.
Greg has maintained a high standard of workmanship throughout
the years. He doesn’t regard his work simply as a job, but rather as
a vocation. Knowing one’s craft is a vital part of a successful business
practice, and he is contributing much to the Matamata community, of which
he is an integral part.
Recently when we were chatting he made the observation
that “everyone is of equal value, and deserves the same courtesy and
should be treated thus”. That is the Code that he lives by.
It is refreshing
to be greeted by this friendly proprietor of Automotive Solutions, and
to receive premium quality workmanship on one’s vehicle.
Greg has a generosity
of spirit, and one would, indeed, be privileged to call him “Friend”.
P.S.
He also has a “wicked” sense of humour!
Avis Pennell
Automotive Solutions Matamata
Greg Smith opened Automotive Solutions Matamata in March 1991. Based in the lovely Waikato rural town of Matamata, the business has a fantastic reputation locally as an efficient workshop where customers can always expect and receive friendly, personal service.
Since opening in 1991, Automotive Solutions Matamata has remained busy – due in no small part to the support of our great team.
In 2005 we moved to our present location at 1 Farmers Road. This enabled us to expand our premises to include a full reception area, a comfortable client waiting room, and a larger work area – all so that we can better attend to the needs of our customers.
The History of Automotive Solutions Matamata
After completing his apprenticeship, owner Greg Smith worked for dealerships for nine years.
During that time he was also a fire-fighter with the local volunteer fire brigade. Eventually Greg fulfilled his wish to become a career (professional) fire-fighter when he was accepted into the Hamilton Fire Service. Throughout the next 10 years with the Fire Service Greg still dreamt of owning a Service Station and Workshop.
In 1991 the opportunity arrived. He
opened Smith’s Service Centre.
“We grafted away, shoulder to the wheel and it worked very well. We
created a great foundation to raise a family and form a financial base
for the future,” says Greg.
Joining the Automotive Solutions Group
In 2003 Greg was invited to join the Automotive Solutions Group by Peter Morton, a founding member and someone whom Greg had known for years.
When it came to rebranding and taking on the responsibility of maintaining the high standards of the Group, Greg jumped at the opportunity; after all, this was how he already operated.
He also wanted the chance to share information and network with other engineers and technicians in the industry.
As Automotive Solutions Matamata is not a franchised member of any company or group, Greg follows his own principle: “please the client”.
“Working in the rural environment we are asked to do just about anything from large horse truck servicing and repairs to fixing a lawn mower, owned by the little old lady who thinks that you can fix anything (‘and by the way, how is that daughter of yours handling being pregnant in this heat, dear?),” says Greg.
“My job isn’t so much about fixing cars, but fixing people. Often when they come to me they’re sad – their car is broken! So I pick them up, make them happy. Oh and by the way, I fix their car.”
Meet the Team
Our friendly crew consists of Bev (office manager, P.A., invoice generator and vacuum cleaner driver), Mike (qualified technician who does mainly WOFs and general servicing and repairs), Troy (the apprentice who does lubes and the “simple stuff”) and Greg, who does “all the rest”.
We pride ourselves on our up-to-date knowledge of current technology, and we have the necessary tools and equipment to allow us to do so.
We have a particularly large hard copy library and to compliment that we run two large computer programmes side by side. Not only does this give us information on the older Marques, but detailed information for the new products on the market.
Our latest acquisition is an ECU scanner which gave us the chance to do work in-house which we used to outsource. Now other repairers are sending their extra work to us.