Lithia UK has strengthened its retail network after confirming the acquisition of four dealerships from Read Motor Group.
The transaction sees the UK’s second-largest dealer group add three Hyundai dealerships in Derby, Doncaster and Grimsby to its portfolio, increasing its Hyundai representation from five to eight sites.
An additional site – MG Grimsby, which Read Motor Group acquired in 2020, will also join Lithia UK’s Evans Halshaw division, taking the group’s total MG dealership count to five.
The acquisition further expands Lithia UK’s presence across the East of England and marks the group’s second deal in less than a year, following its purchase of Hatfields Motor Group.
Operating as Lithia UK, the business has completed a series of acquisitions over the past three years, including Jardine Motor Group, Arden Motors, Pendragon, Hatfields Motor Group and now part of Read Motor Group.
Neil Williamson, operations president of Lithia UK, said: “We are delighted to add these four stores to our Lithia UK portfolio. This acquisition is a continuation of our strategy to expand our presence in specific regions and will deepen our representation with Hyundai and MG brands.
“We have grown our representation with Hyundai from two stores to eight in the last 18 months. Similarly, we opened our first MG store in 2024 and now we have a total of 5 stores.”
Lithia UK said all 75 colleagues currently employed by Read Motor Group will remain with the business. The group will also introduce an additional 38 roles across the sites as they transition into the Evans Halshaw network.
The deal takes Lithia UK’s Evans Halshaw retail estate to around 77 sites nationwide.
Alongside Hyundai and MG, the retailer represents more than 20 vehicle manufacturers including BYD, Citroen, Ford, Kia, Peugeot, Renault and Vauxhall.
Gary Armstrong, managing director of Evans Halshaw, said: “We’ve experienced an upward trend in volume brand sales over the past 18 months, so it’s fantastic to be able to add more Hyundai and MG stores to the business.
“This will enable us to grow our customer base and continue to meet demand. We look forward to welcoming existing and new customers through the doors in the coming weeks as we transition the stores over to Evans Halshaw.”
Lithia UK was formed in February 2024, bringing together the operations of Jardine Motors Group, Stratstone, Evans Halshaw, Hatfields Motors, QuickCo and Pendragon Vehicle Management.
The group now represents 36 brands across more than 150 UK retail sites and is owned by US automotive retail giant Lithia & Driveway.