MG reveals major plans to expand dealer network

BIRMINGHAM-based motor company, MG has announced plans for a major expansion of its dealer network as it looks to build on strong growth.

The Chinese-owned company is planning to recruit 30 new dealerships to fill key gaps in its UK market.

Last year MG was the fastest growing motoring brand in Britain with the company’s sales rising by 361% – more than 38 times the industry average.

It said demand was now so high that it was out-stripping the number of dealers in the network.

To remedy the problem, the company’s franchise development team has created a list of key target cities or ‘hot spots’ where access to an MG dealer is difficult or non-existent.

The ‘hot spots’ include: Worcester, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Edinburgh.

Sam Burton, MG’s Head of Sales, said: “We urgently need good quality dealers to represent MG in a number of key open points where we know demand for our cars is amazingly high, and growing on a daily basis.

“We’ve established a Dealer Task Force here and their job is to find the right people to become MG dealers in these key towns and cities. It’s a high priority job for us now and will offer a great opportunity for the dealers we appoint.”

MG currently has a network of 57 full sales dealerships plus 10 after-sales outlets.  The target by the end of 2015 is to have more than 80 full dealerships.

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Marketing at MG, added: “The MG3 created a huge boost in interest in MG. Soon we will launch the New MG6, which is a leap forward from the outgoing car, and next year we will see an MG SUV added to the range.  

“So that’s going to create even more customer demand and we just have to have more dealers to meet this.”

Regular Dealer Prospect Days are being planned at the MG Longbridge site. Firms interested in taking up an MG franchise will be invited to see where modern MGs are designed, engineered and finally assembled.

David Jackson, Franchising and Dealer Development Manager, said: “We are really keen to fill these open points. Of course we do set certain criteria that would-be dealers have to meet and we have to carry out due diligence to make sure prospective dealers are financially sound. But it’s a great opportunity for both sides in what are very exciting times for MG.”  
   
The top 30 MG ‘hot spots’ in full are: