New car dealership creates over 20 jobs in Birmingham
CAR dealership Bristol Street Motors – part of Vertu Motors plc – has opened a new outlet at Birmingham’s StarCity complex, creating more than 20 jobs.
The SEAT dealership extends Vertu’s representation of the Spanish brand westwards from its existing Derby site, bringing the group’s number of SEAT outlets to five.
Vertu Motors is now the sixth largest car retailer in the UK with a network of 97 sales and aftersales outlets across 79 locations. It was established in November 2006 and listed on AIM in December 2006, with the strategy to consolidate the UK motor retail sector.
Birmingham SEAT, which has become the Barcelona-based brand’s biggest sole franchise site in the UK, has a 16-space showroom and the capacity to accommodate a total of 100 new and used cars. It has also helped boost the local economy with the creation of 22 full-time and part-time jobs, including five sales executives.
The standalone dealership, in Watson Road, was bought by SEAT UK in 2006 after the closure of a Toyota franchise, with the intention of becoming a “flagship supersite” close to the centre of England’s ‘second city’.
Dealer Principal Stuart Smith said the showroom was well placed attract footfall from StarCity.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have opened this flagship dealership in Birmingham – the city where Bristol Street Motors was founded 93 years ago this year,” he said.
“The potential here is massive with constant passing trade from StarCity which is sure to have a positive impact on trade.”
The opening of the dealership, which is complete with MOT and servicing facilities, comes as SEAT is celebrating a very successful first six months, with half-year UK sales figures putting the company on course to smash its yearly sales record.
In total 22,752 SEAT cars were registered between January and June 2013, according to SMMT figures. The number eclipses SEAT’s previous half-year record, set in 2012, by 18.6%. In addition, the 4,428 SEAT cars registered in June is a 29% sales increase compared to the company’s previous record June, also in 2012.
