Big Motoring World will open its 12th used car supermarket in Coventry in early 2027, creating more than 100 jobs.
The group has acquired an 11-acre property on Old Church Road, which has been unoccupied for more than three years. The dealership will accommodate more than 550 used vehicles, with electric cars representing at least 30% of stock.
Scheduled to open in Q1 next year, the operation will recruit across sales, aftersales, administration, finance, vehicle preparation, logistics and customer support.
Expansion follows record quarterly sales
The announcement follows the publication of Big Motoring World’s 2025 results earlier this month, with turnover exceeding £1 billion for the first time.
The group also reported its highest quarterly sales in Q3 this year and is targeting more than 70,000 vehicle sales this year, almost double its 2023 volume.
The Coventry opening will add capacity from 2027.
Big Motoring World typically has more than 10,000 used vehicles available across its business.
Laurence Vaughan, chief executive, said: “The launch of our new Coventry site becomes a key facet in our growth strategy and will deliver significant earnings growth and shareholder value in the years ahead.”
“Our new management team has achieved a great deal in the last two and a half years.
“We have more than doubled the size of the business and its trading profits, while introducing a much more sophisticated data-led business model that places the customer at the heart of what we do.”
Electric cars to account for 30% of Coventry stock
The planned proportion of electric cars at Coventry is higher than their recent share of group sales.
Used EVs accounted for 20% of Big Motoring World’s sales between July and September 2026, compared with the minimum 30% share of stock planned for the new dealership.
The group operates six vehicle preparation centres and holds RAC Approved Dealer status.
Vaughan also highlighted changes to employee retention as the business has expanded.
He said: “We’re particularly proud of the enormous improvements in our culture, which recognises the huge importance of our human capital.
“We’ve nearly halved staff turnover, while at the same time growing our overall headcount.”
He added that the group’s development had involved an overhaul of its senior leadership team: “This has been a challenging journey that has necessitated many difficult decisions, not least the overhaul of our senior leadership team to ensure our future is being shaped by people whose values are aligned with our vision.”
Board reshuffle follows High Court ruling
As previously reported by Automotive Management, Big Motoring World appointed Fraser Pearce as non-executive chairman following the High Court judgment in its dispute with founder and majority shareholder Peter Waddell.
Vaughan relinquished the chairmanship but remained chief executive, with no change to operational leadership.
Freshstream’s James Cartwright replaced Reza Fardad on the board, while David Thomson joined as a non-executive director.
The High Court upheld Peter Waddell Holdco’s unfair prejudice petition and found that Vaughan and Fardad had breached their directors’ duties in connection with Waddell’s removal.
Separately, it concluded that Waddell’s conduct justified dismissal without notice.
A hearing to determine the remedy arising from the successful petition is scheduled for early November.
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