Malaysian car manufacturer Proton is claiming an industry ‘first’ by opening an automotive retail outlet at a Premiership football club.

The flagship showroom, also featuring Proton Group products from Lotus Cars and the newly acquired motorcycle brands MV Agusta, Husqvarna and Cagiva, is incorporated into the Jarrold stand at Norwich City Football Club.

The centre, operated by the Coredale group, was opened by Delia Smith, the celebrity chef and Gen-2-driving majority shareholder of Norwich City, which is sponsored by Norfolk-based Proton and Lotus Cars.

Simon Park, Proton’s general manager of sales and marketing says: “The flagship site is all about raising awareness of the product and brand and we hope that by engaging fans and enhancing their new car buying experience we can really reach out to people at a local level.

“It makes sense for us to utilise our sponsorship of Norwich City Football Club to create a unique experience for car and motorcycle customers.”

Coredale operates from two other outlets in Norfolk. In Cromer it sells new and used Nissans and Citroens and nearly new Volvos. In Fakenham it has a Nissan franchise and bodyshop and recently took on Proton and Perodua.