Dicksons opens new showroom to help younger drivers find affordable cars

Scottish dealer group Dicksons is opening a new showroom at Inverness targeting younger drivers who seek decent, low priced used cars.

It comes because the boss of Dicksons of Inverness has concerns that the high cost of cars, caused by demand exceeding supply since the 2020 COVID crisis, is leaving younger drivers a huge challenge to get behind the wheel.

An investment of around £1 million into the project, branded Carzar, is creating the new showroom opposite Dicksons existing operations in Carsegate Road, where the group already has Kia, Suzuki, MG and Nissan dealerships, and generating 10 new jobs.

Managing director Fraser Bryce is driving the project forward. Dicksons is also developing an app as part of Carzar which will help customers choose their preferred cars and check if they are eligible for any required finance; it should be launching in early 2024.

Boyce said: "Young people have, to an extent, been left behind by rising vehicle prices.

"We thought we should create an opportunity for them to buy a quality car from a reputable dealer and arrange finance at their leisure.

"Or they can come in and browse some of the top-quality vehicles we will have in the showroom.”

He said that having the option to arrange finance remotely saves young people from the fear of being embarrassed if they don't qualify for finance at the showroom. They can then adjust their expectations of what they can afford.

Sharif Sheen has joined the the business and will head up Carzar as the brand manager.

He was previously the general manager of a dealership in the Midlands and has relocated to the Highlands with his wife and four children.