Vertu Motors plans to develop more dealerships in Scotland after being awarded the Toyota franchise from April.
The Gateshead based group, which has a network of 159 outlets across the UK, has announced that Macklin Motors, the trading name for Vertu in Scotland, has been awarded the franchise in the West of Scotland from April.
The group – which trades under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu Motors and Macklin Motors banners – intends to develop four dealerships to cover the territory, with the first dealership at Darnley, south Glasgow, opening on April 1.
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The site will be the Macklin Motors brand’s first representation of the manufacturer, a best-selling car maker Vertu says is at the forefront of the electrification of the global automotive sector and the development of new mobility solutions through the Kinto brand.
Vertu Motors already operates three Toyota outlets in the East Midlands, two of which it bought last December in a £9.2m deal to acquire Farmer & Carlisle Holdings Limited in Leicestershire.
The new Toyota operations will offer the full range of new and used Toyota vehicles including the new Yaris Cross, Aygo X, the iconic Land Cruiser and the range of Toyota hybrid and electric vehicles.
Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, said recruitment has now started for the new operations.
He said: “I am delighted to announce our expansion in Scotland and the addition of Toyota to the company under our Macklin Motors brand. Toyota is a world-renowned manufacturer that we’re delighted to represent. We have confidence that its investment and wider strategy will make it one of the most successful automotive manufacturers in the UK in the coming decade.
“The addition of these dealerships augments the group’s representation in Scotland under the Macklin Motors brand and expands our operational footprint there. It also demonstrates our confidence in both the future of the automotive retail sector and in Scotland’s economy.”
Paul Marshall, general manager of network development for Toyota GB, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our operations with Vertu Motors plc through their Macklin Motors operation in this key geographic region, and are looking forward to developing several new exciting facilities for our customers.”
