Jobs saved following car supermarket sale

FORTY jobs have been saved in the Black Country following the sale of a former car supermarket in Oldbury.

Derby-based motor retailer Motorpoint yesterday announced it had acquired the former Car Select site in Churchbridge in an undisclosed deal.

The Car Select site closed last month following a decision by operator Lex Autolease – a division of Lloyds Bank – to pull the plug on the business.

A sister site in Coventry was also closed and it had been thought that up to 100 jobs would be lost as a result.

While not disclosed as part of the deal announcement, Lex Autolease has now confirmed that the sale of the Oldbury site included a provision for the transfer of 40 former Car Select staff to Motorpoint.

“Forty colleagues based at Oldbury who were previously at risk of redundancy transferred employment to Motorpoint on June 1, 2016 under TUPE legislation,” said a Lex Autolease spokesman.

However, Lex Autolease has also confirmed that the deal with Motorpoint – concluded in late April – was only for the Oldbury site.

“This does not have any impact on our Coventry site, which closed on May 20. The Motorpoint deal only affects the Oldbury site,” said the spokesman.

The Oldbury site, which covers approximately five acres and is located just off junction 2 of the M5, will stock 500 low mileage nearly new vehicles from 30 different manufacturers, and will have access to Motorpoint’s further 5,500 car stock.

It is expected to open next month.