Hertfordshire-based motor retailer Charvill Brothers has called in administrators, leaving many of its 100 employees facing redundancy.

The £30m turnover group, established in 1946, operates three Vauxhall sites in Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford and one Mazda dealership in Hertford.

Group sales total about 600 new and 900 used cars a year.

Efforts to sell the business have proven unsuccessful despite restructuring and losses have escalated.

Nigel Ruddock, of administrator Grant Thornton, says: “Grant Thornton’s investigations into the company and my discussions with the manufacturers have led me to conclude that the business is simply not viable in the current trading environment.

“Consequently, we need to take immediate decisions to reduce the cost base of the business, which regrettably will need to include substantial redundancies across the four sites.”

Ruddock says that the locations and footprints of the sites held by Charvill Brothers do not meet with the needs of modern franchised motor retailing.

Vauxhall declined to comment on how it would ensure continued representation in the area. Mazda says it intends to keep representation in the Hertfordshire territory, and is looking into possibilities in the area.

AM reported in June that Charvill Brothers had made 24 redundancies as part of a streamlining of its 170-strong workforce.

And last month, it sold its combined Hyundai/Citroen showroom in Hoddesdon to independent tyre and exhaust specialist Mr Unique, which now operates a Citroen aftersales franchise there. The staff transferred to the new owner.

At the time, managing director John Charvill refuted rumours that the Ware HQ might be put up for sale.