9:52 am, May 3, 2018
NOW Motor Retailing has gone into administration, with Go Vauxhall buying four of its London sites.
Administrators Smith & Williamson were brought in to handle the affairs of Now Motor Retailing, which ran into financial difficulties as a result of a ‘tough marketplace’.
The group, which had a turnover of £83 million, employed more than 250 staff and operated seven Vauxhall dealerships – five in London and two in Wiltshire, while also maintaining a head office in Surrey.
The four sites in Kingston, Heathrow, Hayes and Staples Corner have now been taken over by Go Vauxhall, while its Swindon dealership has been acquired by Eden Motor Group. The administrators are selling the head office to a third party.
However, the company’s showroom in Marlborough was not purchased and nine jobs have been lost as a result.
The additions to Go Vauxhall’s portfolio means the dealer group now has 12 showrooms across the UK and an increased presence in the capital.
Go Vauxhall is part of Go Motor Retailing, which is owned by PSA Group, Vauxhall’s parent company. Also under the Go Motor Retailing umbrella is Robins & Day, the manufacturer-owned Peugeot-Citroen retail group.
Go Motor Retailing as a whole now operates 60 dealerships around the country – 27 Peugeot, 14 Citroen, seven DS and 12 Vauxhall outlets – and has a total turnover of £885 million.
Ability to expand
James Weston, a director of Go Motor Retailing and CEO of Robins & Day, said: ‘Our first quarter results across Go Vauxhall and Robins & Day have been promising and we have been able to maximise the opportunity from the four PSA brands to further improve our commercial results and ability to expand.
‘Our relationship with Vauxhall has just begun, yet we can already see the opportunity with the brand and the model range – especially the new Grandland X, which has opened a further channel in the important SUV sector.
‘The addition of the four Now Vauxhall businesses will increase our ability to represent the brand in a core strategic market and we are confident in the new strategic direction of the Vauxhall brand to increase our volumes, customer satisfaction and profitability.’
Alastair Cassels, Vauxhall’s retail network development director, added: ‘We are pleased to have supported Robins & Day in their acquisition of the Now Vauxhall retail sites, ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the business and its employees.’
Meanwhile, Eden Motor Group has added to its 20 showrooms across southern England, which sell cars from brands including Vauxhall, Mazda, Fiat, Hyundai and Peugeot.
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