Peter Cooper Motor Group acquires Viking Garages Kia in Southampton

Family-owned Peter Cooper Motor Group has acquired Viking Garages Kia for an undisclosed sum to expand its operations in Dorset, Hampshire, and West Sussex.

The Kia franchise in Southampton adds to the group’s current four Volkswagen franchises, three Prestige Cars sites, three all makes Bosch Service Centres, a bodyshop, Peter Cooper Leasing, Peter Cooper Modifications and its myEVCP (my electric vehicle charging point installation business).

Darren Cooper, Peter Cooper Motor Group managing director, said: “This acquisition represents a significant milestone for the Peter Cooper Motor Group, expanding our presence and operations in the Dorset, Hampshire, and West Sussex regions.

“With the addition of Viking Garages Kia in West End Southampton, the synergies between two local family run businesses will ensure we continue the outstanding work Viking has done with the local community and customers, strengthening our position as a leading automotive group in the area.”

Kia has grown its registrations by 2% so far this year to nearly 50,000 units. 

Kia UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott told AM earlier this year that the Korean carmaker’s ambitions will not stop after it met its long-held 100,000 registrations target in 2022.

The brand's wider ambitions are to grow its profit contribution from electric vehicle (EV) sales more than 10-fold as annual zero emissions vehicle volumes grow to 1.6 million by 2030.

Kia plans to build an EV line-up of 15 models by 2027, including the recently revealed EV9 flagship SUV revealed recently.