MG Motor UK has added a family-run business with a century of sales experience to their franchise network in Northern Ireland with the appointment of T.M. Martin & Son.

The retailer started business selling bicycles in 1907 but has a long history of selling vehicles created at MG’s Longbridge facility and was keen to bring the brand back into the business which is based in Killyleagh, County Down.

John Martin, dealer principal of T.M. Martin & Son, said: “We’ve had an association with cars built in Longbridge for many years, so to keep the tradition going we wanted to get MG into our showroom again after all this time.

“I’ve been working for the family business since 1961. We have always prided ourselves on giving our customers the best customer service, for which we have been awarded Masters of Quality many times, and we look forward to extending this out to our new customers.”

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s head of sales and marketing, said: “It’s great to welcome on board a dealer with such a rich history.

“With this dealer becoming our third in Northern Ireland, we’re glad to see our presence is growing in this area and we hope to do the same with others areas in the UK.”

MG Motor UK currently markets the MG3 hatchback and MG6 saloon in the UK, but has new model plans, including the introduction of a Nissan Qashqai-rivalling SUV in May, 2016.

The brand recorded 3,152 registrations in the UK during 2015 (SMMT), a 26% rise on the previous year’s total and more than six times greater than the 504 cars registered in 2013.