Bahrain-based Ultra Tune Middle East, a roadside assist and car body shop repair firm, plans to have a pan-GCC presence by 2015, a top official has said.

Ultra Tune Middle East is a 50:50 joint venture between BNH, the parent of Bahrain National Insurance and Bahrain National Life Assurance, and Australia-based car service franchise Ultra Tune.

Bahrain National Holding (BNH) chief executive Mahmood Al Soufi told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication, that the company has invested about BD2.5 million ($6.48 million) for a new high-tech facility in Salmabad.

Soufi was speaking on the sidelines of the opening of Ultra Tune Middle East's new headquarters that house the facility.

It was inaugurated by Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro, who welcomed the initiative attracting more investment into the kingdom.

The facility offers services to insurance companies and the motor market including roadside assist and car body shop repairs.

"We are confident of establishing ourselves as a specialised service provider catering to the motor market with unique solutions and international quality standards," said Al Soufi.

"We will continue to invest in premier locations and technologies as we expand to Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE in the future," he added.

Ultra Tune also has a separate partner for Saudi Arabia.

The Middle East joint venture company started operating in 2010 with road assistance services catering not only to Bahrain's automobile market, but also the GCC. BNH chairman Farouk Almoayyed was also present on the occasion.-TradeArabia News Service