Johnsons Cars has bought its first Volkswagen dealership.

The business in High Street, Digbeth, was acquired from Hartwells along with the neighbouring Audi garage, which was immediately sold on to the approved Audi dealer for the market area.

This is the company’s first VW dealership, which will re-locate next year to a new £5m, 30,000 sq-ft premises being built for Volkswagen on Lawley Middleway. Johnsons expects to sell 2,500 new and used VW cars per year at the new site.

There is a 12-month lease on the current site and Johnsons will then have a 20-year lease at the new development.

Mike Berwick, operations director for Johnsons, said: “This move provides us with the start of a new division, which we will look to develop and expand as we have done with other car brands over recent years.

“There has been a long-term plan for Johnsons to acquire a Volkswagen dealership, so it has been a case of waiting for the right opportunity in the right location. Adding this arm to the business and moving to the new development is a great step forward for the company.”