Vertu Motors submits plans for new Macklin Motors Toyota dealership in Ayr

Vertu Motors looks poised to expand its car retail footprint in Scotland with the development of a new-build Macklin Motors Toyota dealership in Ayr.

The AM100 PLC took over the Japanese carmaker’s franchise territory in the West of Scotland from Arnold Clark 12 months ago and immediately announced plans to create four new retail sites to serve the region.

Arnold Clark had previously operated Toyota franchises in Aberdeen, Ayr, Paisley, Stirling and two in Glasgow, but chief executive Eddie Hawthorne told AM that it was orchestrating a re-franchising exercise which would also bring about its exit from the Ford network.

Now Vertu has laid plans before South Ayrshire Council for a new Toyota site in Ayr, off Old Farm Road, Ayr, which will include a main showroom, a valet building, MOT and servicing area as well as up to 360 parking spaces.

The site is close to Park’s Motor Group’s Volvo and Mazda dealerships and an existing Arnold Clark AutoParts centre.

Should the site get the go-ahead it will likely spark a recuirment drive for Vertu Motors’ Macklin Motors division, which launched a bid to recruit staff for its new Toyota Glasgow dealership in April last year.

Commenting on Vertu’s growth with Toyota in Scotland at the time, and its resulting recruitment drive, Vertu chief executive, Robert Forrester, said: “This is an exciting period of growth for Macklin Motors as we expand our representation in Scotland.

“As we drive our operations forward, in partnership with the distinguished Toyota brand, the next step is to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic team of colleagues that have the skills and dedication, across a range of roles, to deliver excellent service to our customers.”

The evolution of the Toyota and Lexus retail network in Scotland is also poised to benefit from the creation of a new dual-brand dealership location in Dundee, set for development for Eastern Western Motor Group.

Vertu has continued to drive investment in its dealership property hard, with multi-branding operations often at the top of its list of priorities.

AM also reported on an upgrade of the group’s Mercedes-Benz dealership in Ascot.

In December the group also added its first Ferrari supercar and Volvo dealerships to its car retail portfolio through the £117m acquisition of Helston Garages.

That came just a month after it became the UK’s largest BMW Motorrad motorcycle retailer with the £4.2m acquisition of two Yorkshire dealerships from Saltaire Motor Company, trading as Allan Jefferies.