Inchcape has gained the Porsche franchise for the first time, and looks set to build scale within the brand’s 32-point retail network.

The company completed an acquisition of the Porsche Centre in Bournemouth last week. AM understands that it has also been given approval by the sportscar manufacturer to open a second centre in Hampshire, to cover the Southampton and Portsmouth area. It is yet to identify a site, however, so the development might be several years away yet.

Inchcape declined to comment on the acquisition.

However a source told AM: “This is another key part of Inchcape’s strategy of developing scale with premium brand partners. This acquisition and the new development will give Inchcape a scale position with Porsche on the south coast. Its goal will be to deliver the ultimate Porsche brand experience for Porsche GB and its customers.”

There are 32 Porsche franchised dealerships in the UK. Porsche Centre Bournemouth has held the franchise since 1977 under dealer principal and owner Brian Deeks, who traded as Chapelgate Motors.

Chapelgate Motors’ most recent accounts filed at Companies House state that in the year to August 2006 the business turned over £20 million and made almost £3 million profit.

Last month Inchcape sold its three Ferrari and Maserati dealerships to HR Owen, Sytner Group and Jardine Motor Group.