The people behind the company
Hutt City Auto Services was established in 2001, when owner Paul Bassett decided it was time to back himself and build the kind of workshop he had always wanted to run. Paul began his automotive apprenticeship in 1991 at Metro Ford in Porirua.
After completing his training, he moved on to Barry Jackson Toyota in Wellington, where his attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship saw him promoted to workshop team leader.
With a long-term goal of owning his own business, Paul then joined Vogel Motor Services to broaden his experience across all makes and models and to gain first-hand insight into how a small, independent workshop operates.
That experience proved pivotal, and in 2001 he launched Hutt City Auto Services. The business grew quickly and soon outgrew its original Melling premises. In 2003, a separate trade division workshop was opened on Raroa Road in Lower Hutt.
While operating two locations supported growth, it was not a practical long-term solution. In 2008, Hutt City Auto Services consolidated operations and moved into its current premises on Pretoria Street, bringing the entire team together under one roof - a setup that continues to support efficient, high-quality work today.
Today, the business is run by a close-knit team of seven. This includes highly experienced technicians, a new apprentice learning the trade, Paul's wife Amanda handling reception and accounts, and workshop foreman Shaye Freeman overseeing day-to-day operations.
Many members of the team bring more than 20 years of hands-on experience, and ongoing training remains a priority, including investment in EV qualifications. While the business has grown over the years, the heart of it has remained the same - quality workmanship, genuine care and looking after people the right way.