Car dealer group Now Motor Retailing has closed its dealership in Marlborough, Wiltshire.
The group has informed customers that in future they should contact its Swindon branch, which is 17 miles away, and that any cars on order from Marlborough will be delivered to that dealership.
The Gazette & Herald newspaper reports that staff arrived for work on Monday to be told that the outlet was closing with immediate effect.
It follows an announcement by Lookers that it will close two Vauxhall dealerships in Yardley and Warrington, as it has other Vauxhall outlets within 15 miles.
After AM revealed last month that Vauxhall was planning to pare back its network of 326 franchised dealerships, by up to a third according to our dealer sources, Vauxhall's managing director Stephen Norman confirmed on April 17 that all franchisees' contracts would begin a two-year cancellation period at the end of April and some would not get the new contracts which come into effect in 2020.
Now Vauxhall was a Motors Holdings business, part owned by General Motors, until PSA Group bought Vauxhall and Opel a year ago.
AM understands that PSA required Motors Holdings dealers to buy out the shareholding it gained with the acquisition.
Now Vauxhall still has Vauxhall dealerships at Hayes, Heathrow, Kingston Upon Thames, Staples Corner in London and Swindon.
An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
geraldine - 26/04/2018 10:45
awww that's nice of the psa group what a way to treat your staff !! should be ashamed of themselves . feel very sorry for the Vauxhall dealers as they are facing carnage and having dealt with the psa group in the past they will not give a damn !!