GreatWater 360 Auto Care announced recently the acquisition of Clutch Automotive, a seven-location automotive repair and service business serving customers across the Greater Houston Area. The acquisition marks GreatWater’s entry into the Houston market and brings the company to over 170 locations across its growing network.

Clutch Automotive will continue operating under its established name, with its leadership and shop teams remaining in place and customers continuing to receive the familiar service they know and trust.

Founder and former owner Matthew Schwab will also continue working with GreatWater as an acquisition consultant, supporting future growth opportunities in the Houston market. Andrew Boone will join GreatWater as District Manager for Houston, and Trent Barger will join as Director of Integration, a critical role as the company onboards the Clutch shops and evaluates future acquisitions in the region.

“Our mission has always been to build something great, alongside people we love, and help each other grow,” said Matthew Schwab, founder of Clutch Automotive. “GreatWater brings the support and resources to do that at a larger scale. What set them apart was their investment in our team and their alignment with our culture. That’s why I’m excited to see how this partnership strengthens what we’ve built.”

For GreatWater, retaining Clutch’s leadership team is an important part of entering a new market the right way. Their continued involvement helps preserve the operating rhythm, team culture, customer relationships, and local knowledge that made Clutch Automotive successful while connecting the shops to the broader GreatWater platform.

“Entering Houston is an important milestone for GreatWater, but the strength of this partnership is what makes it especially meaningful,” said Jim Dykstra, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GreatWater 360 Auto Care. “Clutch Automotive gives us a strong foundation in one of the largest automotive service markets in the country, and retaining Matthew, Andrew, and Trent gives us the local leadership and market knowledge to support the business the right way from day one.”

Clutch Automotive will gain access to GreatWater’s operating support platform, including resources across operations, recruiting, technician development, procurement, finance, marketing, technology, and training. With local leadership in place and dedicated integration support, GreatWater’s goal is to strengthen the business behind the scenes while preserving the customer relationships, shop culture, and local identity that have made Clutch Automotive successful.