Fears for jobs at car dealers
The future of a Walsall car dealership is in doubt, with 20 jobs under threat, it has emerged.
Workers at Steve Thompson Cars in Broadway have been told the Vauxhall dealership is under threat after it failed to attract a buyer. Its sister dealership in Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, has been bought by Vertu Motors in a £2.8million deal, securing jobs and its future.
A dealership has existed at the Walsall site for more than 40 years. Manager Neil Burgess said: "Consultation is being carried out with employees and we will have to see what develops from there.
"No decisions will be made until we have gone through the consultation period."
The site was still open today but owner Steve Thompson was not available to comment. A £250,000 revamp of the showroom at the Walsall site was completed in 2005 creating a new service and parts area and a customer waiting area.
New toilets and more customer parking at the rear of the premises was also created.
The Lichfield dealership opened in 1989 at a cost of £1.5million creating 60 jobs. The deal is the third this year for Vertu and brings the number of its dealerships up to 55.
The company operates under the Bristol Street Motors and Bristol Street Motor Nation brand names and is the ninth largest motor retailer in the UK.
Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, said: "We are pleased to add a further business to the group bringing our total number of sales outlets up to 55, and our number of Vauxhall dealerships to seven.
"The acquisition further strengthens the regional concentration of the Bristol Street Motors brand in the West Midlands area.
"The Lichfield Vauxhall business fits in well with our stated strategy of building a successful, scalable motor retail group delivering shareholder value and we continue to evaluate further growth opportunities that the current market conditions present."
Vertu's manufacturing partners include Citroen, Ford, Iveco, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Peugeot, Renault, Vauxhall and Chevrolet.
