Jardine Motors Group has sold its Scotthall Hampshire BMW and Mini dealership, leaving it with just one representing the prestige German carmaker.
It's Jardine's third sale of a BMW dealership in 18 months - it sold its Scotthall Leeds site to Pendragon in December 2011, and sold three BMW sites to Spire Automotive last month. Only its Scotthall BMW Milton Keynes site remains.
However BMW UK said it is keen to continue to build a successful relationship with Jardine's team.
After eight years as Managing Director of BMW Park Lane, BMW Group UK’s wholly-owned dealership, Toby Partridge has acquired the Scotthall Hampshire BMW business in partnership with Lincoln BMW owner Steve Soper.
All 100 staff at the Eastleigh-based dealership are transferring to the new company which will trade as Partridge of Hampshire.
Tim Abbott, managing director of BMW Group UK, said: “Under Toby’s leadership, we not only achieved impressive growth in our Park Lane business but also completed a major redevelopment of our BMW and MINI showrooms together with the opening of the world’s first BMW i Store.
"I look forward to working with Toby as our latest ‘owner-driver’ franchise operator and a key dealer network partner.
“I am also keen to continue the development of a successful relationship with Mark Herbert as the recently appointed chief executive of Jardine Motors Group and his team at Milton Keynes.”
Toby Partridge said: “I had eight fantastic years running the BMW Park Lane business but, with the support of my business partner Steve Soper who operates the BMW franchise in Lincoln, I now have the chance to inject my passion for BMW and Mini into my own dealership at a very exciting time for both brands. At the same time we will make sure our customers remain at the heart of everything we do.”
An announcement regarding Partridge’s successor at BMW Park Lane will be made in due course.
Mark - 22/04/2013 10:32
This has come as no surprise as Jardine Motors are on a downward trend. Won't be long before they start to lose other franchises.