We were established in 1965, starting with radios and eight track tape players, leading to modern multimedia systems for quite literally planes, trains and automobiles today. Not to mention motor yachts, motor homes, caravans and full size luxury coaches.
Our team of fully qualified and highly experienced auto electricians are well suited to meeting the fitting needs required for all vehicles within the bus and coach field. This strong team joins our comprehensive workshop facilities, enabling all vehicle types from minibuses to double deck coaches being handled.
The bus and coach systems segment makes the most of our 35 year relationship with leading technology and services company Bosch, including product exclusivity in the process. We provide a large quantity of our own Autosound coach multimedia system products, which can be found throughout the sections of this website, along with other reliable ranges from Blaupunkt and Funtoro.
Our History
Founding and Early Years
The company was founded to supply car radios and related products to the motor trade and retail market through a team of mobile installation engineers.
Strategic Location Choice
The company chose Otley because of its low start-up costs and central location for car dealerships in Leeds, Bradford, and Harrogate.
Dealership Partnerships
Blaupunkt, Ekco, Elpico, Javelin, Motorola, Phillips, Pye, and Radiomobile all had audio dealerships.
Retail Expansion
As the company attracted the retail market, additional branches were opened in York, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, and Sheffield over the next nine years.
Acquisition by Smiths Industries
Smiths Industries was heavily involved in supplying the motor industry and purchased the company through their Radiomobile involvement, placing it in Group W, their aftermarket division alongside AF Factors, Bluecol antifreeze, and many other well-known motoring names.
Continued Growth
Following this, additional branches were opened in Doncaster, Huddersfield, Oldham, Nottingham, and Liverpool.
Adapting to Market Changes
The trade installation service still accounted for 50% of the business, but with the influx of Japanese cars, more and more cars were arriving with factory installed products. To meet these needs and expand the retail market, Autosound expanded its portfolio to include Alpine, Clarion, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Kenwood, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sansui, and Sharp, becoming the primary European service agent for Panasonic and Fujitsu original equipment. Diversification saw the addition of car alarms, sunroofs, electric windows, and central locking systems to the list of services provided.
Exploring New Markets
With the threat of OE equipment, the company looked at other markets such as caravans, coaches, tractors, and commercial vehicles, frequently exhibiting at trade shows and fairs.
Entering the Communication Market
With early System 4 and cell phones providing a ready supply of quality customers, the communication market was rapidly developing. In 1980, Autosound was appointed as a main BT Celnet dealer.
Innovation in Coach Entertainment
With the introduction of the coach deregulation market in 1981/2, a further break occurred. Operators looking to develop continental tours quickly realised that video provided the ideal solution for relieving boredom on overnight journeys.
Leadership and Management Buyout
Smiths Industries decided to exit the automotive business in 1985 and focus on its aerospace, surveillance, and medical operations. The company was offered to its management, who enthusiastically accepted the challenge, with Alan Burnell and Neil Millington completing the buyout later that year.
Refocusing Business Activities
Activities such as coaching and volunteering Keith Ellis, who had joined the company at the beginning of the bus and coach era, was appointed as his co-director.
Specialized Services and Expansion
The company now concentrated on just two activities from one location. In coach entertainment and servicing audio equipment for Blaupunkt (bus and coach) Panasonic and Fujitsu (Toyota, Honda, and Mazda} The service department expanded, employing at its peak eight bench engineers repairing on average over 80 units a day.
Unique Projects and Ventures
Many interesting projects have been undertaken and, of course, continue to be undertaken. Marine installations for sight-seeing submarines, rail entertainment for First Great Western, Harrods headphone installations, and the short-lived British Coachways There are dozens of football teams, all of which want the most up-to-date equipment.
Transition and Retirement
By now the senior director had completed 39 years in the commercial vehicle and mobile entertainment industries. In 2004 aged 55 Neil Millington took early retirement and sold his shares to Keith Ellis and Lee Fergus.