Car dealership buys northern rival to create £700m turnover business

CREWE-based Swansway Motor Group has bought another North West-based car dealership for an undisclosed sum.

It has acquired Thompson Motor Company, which operates three Audi centres in Blackburn, Preston and Carlisle.

The acquisition means family owned and run Swansway, founded in 2003, now has over 1,100 employees and a turnover above £700m.

It has 22 dealerships, retailing fourteen brands from Birmingham in the South to Carlisle in the North.

Michael Smyth, Swansway group chairman,  said: “We have long admired Thompson Group, there’s a great synergy between our two businesses; both Northern based, both family owned and run and both believing that engaged and motivated staff produce happy and satisfied customers.

“Swansway already operates Audi centres in Crewe, Stafford and Stoke, along with TPS operations in South Manchester and Trafford, this acquisition brings that to six Audi centres and four TPS operations, really significant growth for the group.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close