Driven by Partnership: The Evolution of Auto Tech Group
- Auto Tech
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
In an industry where workshop chains often grow through corporate rollouts and cookie-cutter branding, Auto Tech Group took the scenic route—through hard-earned trust, meaningful partnerships, and the relentless drive of founder Matt Webb.
What started as a single workshop on Malvern Road in 1998 has since evolved into a thriving, multi-site group. But this isn't just a story of expansion—it's a story of connection: across people, places, and purpose.
The Beginning: 1316 Malvern Road, Malvern
The journey began in 1998, with the opening of Malvern Auto Tech at 1316 Malvern Road. With a spanner in hand and a mindset grounded in honesty, Malvern Auto Tech quietly built a reputation as the go-to mechanic in the area—offering dealership-level skill with down-to-earth service.
The mantra was simple: Look after the car, look after the customer, and the business will look after itself.
Spoiler: it worked.
Growth Through Relationships, Not Rush
Many businesses expand quickly. Auto Tech grew deliberately, through the strength of relationships.
2019: Malvern East Auto Tech was opened in response to growing demand.
2019: A partnership was formed with HTA Advisory—an inflection point that allowed Auto Tech to build a more structured, scalable business without sacrificing values.
2023: The Auto Tech Group was officially formed in its current structure. That same year, BM Tech—a respected European car specialist—was welcomed into the fold, adding prestige specialist servicing expertise to the group.
2024: Auto Tech Canterbury opened, expanding coverage into Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
2025: Watch this space...
Each step forward wasn’t just about physical expansion. It was about widening the circle—of staff, customers, and collaborators.
A Mechanic Who Builds People, Not Just Businesses
Ask anyone who’s worked with the partners at Auto Tech Group, and you’ll hear the same thing: they're real. No ego, no fluff—just a fierce commitment to doing things properly.
While they remains deeply involved in operations, Auto Tech's true legacy is how they elevates others. Staff aren’t just taught to fix cars—they’re taught to lead, make decisions, and take pride in their craft. Every team member is part of the mission.
And thanks to the group’s modern structure, they’re now supported by systems that allow them to thrive.
The HTA Partnership: Modernising the Mission
In 2019, Auto Tech Group brought on HTA Advisory, a firm known for helping owner-led businesses transition into well-oiled, multi-site operations. And this partnership has been transformative.
HTA provided:
Succession planning frameworks
Governance models to clarify roles and responsibilities
HR systems to attract and retain talent
IT upgrades to streamline workshop operations
Leadership development, allowing Matt to step back without the wheels falling off
This collaboration helped shape Auto Tech Group’s current iteration, formalised in 2023. What was once a great small business is now a robust organisation with scalable foundations and room for everyone to grow.
Internal Partnerships: The People Engine
What really sets Auto Tech Group apart? It’s the way they partner internally—across all three core branches and BM Tech.
Staff Empowerment: Branch managers have true authority. They lead, they innovate, and they’re backed by trust, not micromanagement.
Apprenticeship Support: The group trains its own talent, investing in future technicians from day one.
Cross-Location Collaboration: Stuck on a tricky fault? Techs share insights across branches. It’s not competition—it’s cooperation.
Values-Led Culture: No sharks. No sales pressure. Just a commitment to fixing what needs fixing, and explaining why.
The modern automotive technician needs to be a diagnostician, a communicator, and a continuous learner. And Auto Tech fosters all three.
External Partnerships: Community and Clients
The group has built long-standing partnerships with:
Prestige car owners: Clients who expect the best—because they’ve been burned elsewhere.
Suppliers and parts distributors: Ensuring access to the best OEM and aftermarket components.
Local businesses and schools: Supporting events, sponsorships, and apprenticeship pipelines.
Specialist service providers: Diagnostics, programming, and calibration experts when needed.
And then there’s the customer partnership: Every booking is a two-way conversation. Every quote is transparent. Every review is taken seriously. It’s a client-first model, and it shows.
Locations and Milestones
A Genuine Alternative to Dealership Servicing
Through BM Tech and the broader Auto Tech network, the group has carved a niche as a prestige vehicle specialist—servicing BMW, MINI, Audi, VW, Mercedes-Benz, and more.
But they don’t just market themselves as a dealership alternative—they earn that trust:
Factory-grade diagnostics
Transparent communication
No pushy upselling
Loan cars, airport valet, and online bookings
You get the quality without the eye-rolls and invoices that require translation.
Looking Forward: The Next Chapter
Auto Tech Group isn’t gunning for a national franchise. Their vision is sustainable, localised growth that sticks to their values.
Future focus areas include:
Developing sites for R&D, training, or central operations
Expanding leadership training to future-proof internal promotions
Improving digital systems to make bookings, diagnostics, and reporting seamless
Creating career pathways for apprentices, senior techs, and admin staff
And maybe—just maybe—another site, when the right people and location line up...
Conclusion: The Power of Partnership
Auto Tech Group doesn’t just fix cars—they build relationships.
Whether it’s with a new apprentice learning the ropes, a supplier dropping in with the latest diagnostic tools, or a long-time customer handing over their third family car, every interaction is grounded in trust and mutual respect.
Matt Webb set the tone in 1998. And with the modern support of HTA, the strength of their team, and the loyalty of their clients, the Auto Tech Group of today is more than a workshop—it’s a collaborative, people-powered ecosystem of care.
Want to experience it yourself?
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