Drive Motor Retail has completed a £3 million redevelopment of its Darlington dealership, creating one of the North East’s largest multi-brand centres.
The upgraded site now represents Citroën, Peugeot, Fiat, Abarth, Vauxhall, Leapmotor and MG, alongside Fiat Professional aftersales services.
Five manufacturer showrooms have been created as part of the redevelopment, while the used car operation can now display more than 130 vehicles.
The project is the first full refurbishment of the dealership in more than 20 years and brings the site in line with the latest manufacturer standards.
Workshop capacity expanded
Drive Motor Retail has also significantly increased the dealership’s aftersales capacity. The MOT bay has been relocated and additional ramps installed, allowing the workshop to handle a greater number of vehicles.
More than 10 jobs have been created through the redevelopment, while the dealer group is continuing to recruit skilled technicians.
Jeff Parkin, general manager at Drive Motor Retail Darlington, said: “This redevelopment marks an exciting new chapter for our Darlington dealership. After more than 20 years, the site has been completely transformed into a modern automotive centre that brings together an exceptional range of brands and services.
“By investing in the dealership, we’ve been able to create a much better experience for our customers, whether they’re visiting to explore new vehicles, browse our used car selection or have their car serviced.
“We’re particularly proud that this investment is also creating new job opportunities in the area and helping strengthen our presence in Darlington for many years to come. It’s fantastic to finally see the redevelopment complete, and we’re looking forward to welcoming customers to the new site.”
Seven brands under one roof
The expanded multi-brand operation gives customers the ability to compare vehicles from seven manufacturers during a single visit while also increasing Drive Motor Retail’s used car and aftersales capacity.
The privately owned dealer group has annual turnover of around £400 million and employs more than 800 people across 34 franchise dealerships.
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