Wessex Garages has opened a new £12m Kia car and van dealership at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, replacing its former showroom on Feeder Road.
The purpose-built flagship dealership opened on October 12 and gives Wessex 75% more display space than its previous Kia operation.
Located on Jupiter Road, the showroom can accommodate eight vehicles internally and more than 120 cars and vans across its external forecourt.
The investment also includes a dedicated Kia Platform Beyond Vehicle centre selling and maintaining the manufacturer’s new range of electric vans and passenger vehicles.
Workshop capacity nearly doubles
The dealership’s workshop has almost doubled in size, increasing from seven to 13 repair bays alongside dedicated MOT facilities.
Wessex said the additional capacity would help reduce waiting times for routine servicing, maintenance and repairs across both cars and vans. The dealership has 22 standard customer parking spaces and 12 electric vehicle charging bays.
A café-style customer lounge provides Wi-Fi and refreshments for motorists waiting while work is completed.
Wessex is recruiting sales executives, technicians, service advisers and business-to-business specialists to support the larger operation and anticipated increase in demand.
The Cribbs Causeway location is one of Kia UK’s specialist PBV centres, which provide dedicated sales and aftersales support for the manufacturer’s electric commercial vehicle range.
Showroom supports Kia growth
Development of the dealership was supported by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, commonly known as BREEAM whose sustainability assessment examined the environmental performance of the building throughout its construction.
Tracy Griffiths, communications director at Wessex Kia, said: “Our new flagship store demonstrates our long-term commitment to Kia and our belief in the enduring appeal of the brand in the Bristol area. We have a fantastic partnership with Kia, built around shared ambitions for growth, innovation and, most importantly, delivering an exceptional experience for our customers.
“We’re incredibly proud of what has been created here and excited about the opportunities this investment will bring for our customers, our colleagues and the Kia brand. This marks the start of a very exciting new chapter for Wessex Garages.”
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