8:46 am, June 10, 2013
HARROGATE-based Meridian Motor Group is marking its tenth anniversary by acquiring four west Midlands dealerships from Sytner.
The acquisitions will extend the group’s ‘Vantage’ brand and double annual group turnover to £125 million. Lexus and Kia marques now join the portfolio.
The moves, which bring the number of Vantage dealerships to twelve, almost doubling its previous size as well as extending its geographic reach, are a signal of the group’s ambition to become a national force.
The west Midlands deals produce an enlarged business selling 9,500 new and used cars a year with an annual turnover of £125 million and 300 staff. Six new central services positions will be created in the group’s Harrogate head office as a result of the deal.
It also takes the group outside its traditional homeland of Yorkshire and Lancashire for the first time.
Meridian Motor Group was founded in 2003 by managing director, Mark Robinson with the purchase of two Toyota centres, in Knaresborough and York and an accident repair centre in Knaresborough which was later sold-off.
Robinson said: ‘I am delighted that we are able to mark a decade of achievement within the group with these acquisitions and our new development in Scarborough. They signal our ambition to become a real national force whilst at the same time retaining those important ‘local business’ qualities which see us operating at the heart of the communities where we are based.
‘Our aim is to take the Vantage ethos of excellence in customer service that has been fundamental to the success of the Group to date into our new dealerships and new geographic areas. We will be investing significantly in our new sites which is good news for staff and customers.’
