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CarShop’s second UK express store is to open in Leighton Buzzard, as the car supermarket group looks to ‘streamline the buying experience’.
The Sytner Group brand is opening the new facility later this month following the huge success of a similar site in Leicester.
The express stores differ from more conventional units as no cars are kept on site.
Instead, customers are able to browse the firm’s entire range of cars online and get their preferred vehicle transferred to the express store for no cost at all.
They are then able come and test-drive their new car or pick it up at a time that suits them.
The new Leighton Buzzard store is will be attached to CarShop’s pre-existing Preparation Centre.
The huge 15-acre site, which opened in 2002, prepares, maintains and reconditions around 30,000 cars per year and is the epicentre of CarShop’s UK-wide operations.
The express store covers 2,131 sq. ft and can be found at the front of the Preparation Centre’s site.
It will have pods where customers can speak to a specialist, a comfy waiting area and a covered external handover spot.
If customers are struggling to find the right car, they will also be able to drop in and browse the thousands of options using in-store technology with the help of staff.
Six new positions have been created as a result of the opening, with five of these roles being recruited from the local area and one relocated from the neighbouring CarShop Northampton store.
The team will be led by Andy Davis, who has vast experience in the motoring industry, having previously worked for Perrys.
Davis, who will hold the role of Business Operations Manager, said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining CarShop at what is a really exciting period of growth for the retailer, and leading the Leighton Buzzard team in offering this new type of car buying experience to the people of Bedfordshire and beyond.
‘CarShop’s ethos as the home of good carma is what also attracted me to the business – it knows that when it does the right things, customers will choose to shop with it.
‘That’s why it offers a Best Price Promise, a 14-Day Money-Back Guarantee, CarShop Warranty which provides cover for the first three months of ownership and always fixed prices meaning there’s never any awkward price negotiations.’
Nigel Hurley, CEO at CarShop, added: ‘We’re already a large employer in the area through our Preparation Centre, but we know the potential that this busy market town has.
‘It’s full of thriving businesses, connected communities and lots of potential car-buying customers, which makes it the perfect place for CarShop’s second Express store.’
‘Despite the challenges that the last year and a half has presented, the used car market has proven itself hugely resilient and we’re proud to be leading at the front of that through our unbeatable omnichannel approach.’
CarShop Express Leighton Buzzard will support the CarShop Northampton store, which is located around 30 miles away.
It is due to open on September 13.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.
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Charles Hurst Group has opened a Kia dealership in Newtownabbey as part of extra investment in its regional network and EV infrastructure.
It takes the total number of Kia showrooms within the group to five, and Northern Ireland’s largest car retailer said it had an open and expansive space to showcase a wide range of new Kia models and approved used vehicles, as well as ‘new and innovative sales and aftersales spaces’.
Group operations director Jeff McCartney said: ‘As a future-focused company, we invest in innovative brands which will deliver the technology, sustainability and driving experience required for the future.
‘Kia is an exceptional, award-winning brand, and I’m delighted that this new showroom will deliver an outstanding experience for customers and colleagues.’
The cost of the development hasn’t been given, but Charles Hurst, which is part of Lookers, said it was welcoming the Kia brand to the dealership at a time when the UK government was advancing plans for an all-electric vehicle future.
Jason Hawthorne, franchise sales manager at Charles Hurst Newtownabbey, added that the new showroom was a welcome investment for the area.
‘Our new dealership represents a really positive sign for the future – for the local economy and our commitment to the local area and for the wider car industry.
‘After significant works and investment, we’re thrilled to officially open a new Kia dealership packed with an innovative range of world-class vehicles for every need.’
To celebrate the new development and its investment with Kia, Charles Hurst will be holding a special opening event in Newtownabbey on Tuesday, September 7, when people will be able to try out the new all-electric Kia EV6 as well as the rest of the range.
Pictured at the new dealership are, from left, brand director Andrew Gilmore, Jason Hawthorne and Kia Newtownabbey sales manager Stephen Morton
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The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.
Macklin Motors has announced that Vauxhall car and commercial franchises have been added to its existing Ford dealership in Dunfermline.
The dealer group is splashing out £1.7m on refurbishing the dual franchise site with the aim of giving customers the best possible experience.
Each brand is getting a full showroom revamp to include their own servicing and aftersales departments.
The move is set to create a number of jobs in the local area in both sales and aftersales.
Among the vacancies will be master technicians, franchise qualified technicians and sales executives.
The Vauxhall dealership will showcase the new hybrid and electric models, as well as its existing portfolio of petrol and diesel vehicles.
These include the new model Corsa, Corsa-e, Grandland, the new Mokka and Mokka-e and luxury Grandland X.
It also stocks a range of award-winning commercial vehicles, including industry leading all-electric variants.
Motability customers will be welcomed at the Vauxhall dealership, with a specialist on hand to guide them through the process of choosing the best vehicle for their individual requirements.
Joe McCauley, general manager at Macklin Motors Dunfermline Vauxhall, said: ‘Adding the Vauxhall dealership to the existing Ford site in Dunfermline is an exciting move for the Group.
‘It represents a significant investment and a vote of confidence in the area.
‘The team is geared up and ready to provide fantastic service to our customers.’
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.
No point wigwam, just giving info on dealers that could be in your area and what they are doing that could be of interest to our members.
If there is no interest it will move on down the list and off the page.
Thought I would try something different as the Forum is a bit quiet just now.
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