TrustFord signals Scotland shift with Aberdeen car dealership application – AM Online
TrustFord has taken a step closer to taking its car retail operations to Scotland with the submission of a planning application for a dealership in Aberdeen.
The Ford-owned AM100 car retail group is set to take over the city’s Ford franchise after Arnold Clark walked away from the brand – and Japanese OEM Toyota – earlier this year.
TrustFord has previously made a move north of the border with its Parts Plus operations, but its Aberdeen site will be its first car retail franchise in Scotland.
Earmarked for land on Hillview Road, on the West Tullos Industrial estate to the south of the city, TrustFord’s planned new showroom will include aftersales, parts sales and a smart repair bay, as well as selling new and used vehicles.
Jardine Motors Group bounces back from tough 2020 to post record profits – Car Dealer Magazine
Bosses at Jardine Motors Group will be jumping for joy today after the group announced ‘exceptional’ profits for 2021 following dramatic losses in the previous financial year.
Accounts published on Companies House show that the Colchester-based outfit made a pre-tax profit of £28.9m in the 12 months to December 31, 2021.
The figure represents a gargantuan rise of almost 250 per cent from 2020, when the firm recorded a pre-tax loss of £19.5m.
Marshall's car manufacturer partners back Constellation Automotive leadership – AM Online
Marshall Motor Group’s car manufacturer franchise partners have given their backing to the AM100 retail group’s new Constellation Automotive leadership team.
BCA and cinch owner Constellation Automotive Group received the regulatory approvals required from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to complete its acquisition of Marshall Motor Holdings last month – sparking a changing of the guard in the Marshall board.
And after chief executive Daksh Gupta left the business with immediate effect just a fortnight later one former OEM boss told AM that the series of sweeping changes could trigger an automatic, two-year termination period with certain franchises, a situation that a Constellation Automotive spokesperson denied.
Pendragon launches CarStore used car sites at 10 Morrisons and Homebase stores – AM Online
Pendragon has broadened the footprint of its Sell Your Car and Click and Collect used car retail services with the opening of 10 Carstore Direct sites at Morrisons and Homebase stores across the UK.
The small pop-up locations, first trialled in 2020, are located in the car parks of the supermarket and DIY chain sites and are staffed by Personal Advisors – aiming to deliver a pressure-free retail experience – six days a week, the AM100 PLC said.
The move to grow the CarStore Direct proposition gives the CarStore brand an increased national presence after a rationalisation of its car supermarket model ultimately brought about the closure of 23 of its previous 32 locations.
Vertu Motors strengthens online parts business with Wiper Blades acquisition – AM Online
Vertu Motors has further strengthened its online automotive parts retail business through the £3.5 million acquisition of e-commerce specialist Wiper Blades Ltd.
The AM100 PLC’s addition complements the Powerbulbs.com business acquired in June last year and will add further to the Aceparts e-commerce business that the group acquired in 2015.
Vertu chief executive Robert Forrester said: "Our e-commerce parts business is performing strongly and the addition of Wiper Blades will be accretive both financially and strategically to that part of the group
