CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -

Byrider made a move this week to strengthen its service department.

The chain of more than 140 buy-here, pay-dealerships and franchisees became a part of Openbay and its automotive services marketplace, one of the nation’s largest online consumer platforms for automotive services.

According to a news release, Byrider expanded its online presence and reach to vehicle owners and owners of business fleets in need of vehicle maintenance and repair by joining the Openbay platform. Repair services can now be booked with Byrider quickly and easily through Openbay.

The company said vehicle owners and owners of business fleet vehicles can benefit by using Openbay in several ways, including:

— The ability to quickly and conveniently find and book reliable auto repair and maintenance services

— Access to a wide range of types and brands of service centers (including dealership service centers such as Byrider). All service centers are individually vetted and trained by Openbay staff

— Receive upfront price estimates for common and complex automotive services

— Service center proximity, customer ratings and reviews, pricing information, and amenities are presented to users so they can make informed decisions

By partnering with Openbay, Byrider also is able to:

— Access an exclusive program that’s limited to only a few businesses in each area

— Participate in a new digital customer acquisition platform, gaining access to an unlimited number of consumers having an immediate need for service

— Have appointments automatically delivered to them by Openbay

— Instantly have their brand presented to consumers that match their need for select services

“Consumers today are all about speed, convenience and quality of service. Openbay delivers on all fronts by expanding its nationwide network of trusted automotive service brands to better serve the growing needs of consumers and business fleets,” the company said in a news release.

The announcement also mentioned Byrider also is now part of a soon-to-be announced program called Openbay+, which is by invitation only and provides many benefits when compared to the existing Openbay marketplace.