Birchwood Group has opened its first Mitsubishi dealership, in Eastbourne.

The group has been established across Sussex for more than 20 years and employs just short of 200 people.

The Eastbourne showroom, in Lottbridge Drove, has been refurbished for the Mitsubishi franchise.

As well as space for new and used car sales, it also has a customer waiting area with coffee machine, TV and guest Wi-Fi, plus full disabled access, in addition to a workshop as well as areas for parts and accessories.

The dealership employs five people, who have been recruited from existing staff, creating jobs elsewhere.

Operations director Ian Tuttiett (pictured left with general manager Khalid Ebrahin) said: “Opening the Mitsubishi dealership has meant promotion for a couple of people while others have transferred across, because we were keen to get off to a really good start with the Mitsubishi brand by having in place staff we already knew and who had excellent experience and a proven track record.

“We’re also particularly proud of the fact that all the work to convert the showroom has been done by local businesses, who have done it in an incredible time for us.”

Lance Bradley, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: ‘Birchwood is a well-established company, and its firm belief in providing excellent customer service fits perfectly with the Mitsubishi ethos.”