GRAPEVINE, Texas — National Pronto Association has announced the completion of an agreement with Warden Automotive in Toronto, Canada, to acquire ownership of the “Pronto” name in Canada. Warden previously owned the Pronto trademark under the name of Pronto Auto Repair Dealerships Canada.

Warden Automotive has served the Eastern Greater Toronto-area installer business for more than 45 years. The firm operates jobber warehouses in Scarborough and Ajax, Ontario, and is actively involved in the sales and leasing of garage equipment through Warden Automotive Financial Services. The company additionally operates an industrial supply division, labeled Warden Industrial Supply.

National Pronto Association is a member-driven automotive parts association providing buying, marketing, and technology services in North America with 94 members throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. Member gross revenues were estimated at more than $2.10 billion in 2009.

According to John Raymond, president of Warden Automotive, Warden’s aggressive network expansion and specialized product warehouse distribution divisions will operate under the Warden Automotive banner and the WardenGreen and FactoryFit-DIRECT names. The Warden’s jobber operations will be known as Warden – Scarborough and Warden – Ajax.

Effective immediately, the Pronto Auto Repair Dealership’s name in any form, trademark logo, artwork and URLs will no longer be used by Warden Automotive and will become the property of National Pronto Association.

"By having ownership of the Pronto name in Canada, National Pronto Association establishes a more solid product and marketing position for its Canadian distributor members," said Bill Maggs, president of Pronto. "Pronto distributor members in Canada can now offer outstanding marketing and business building tools through the Pronto Smart Choice Advantage Service Center program for their professional automotive repair customers throughout Canada.”