A POPULAR car dealership has permanently closed its doors as part of a major group’s decision to shut six locations across the UK.
Vauxhall Portsmouth has recently ceased operations, along with five other dealerships, as owner Evans Halshaw implements cost-cutting measures that have led to approximately 250 job losses.
Evans Halshaw have closed a string of dealerships across the country, including this Vauxhall dealer in Wolverhampton[/caption]
Another Vauxhall in Portsmouth shut its doors too, having been at its London Road site for decades[/caption]
According to Portsmouth News, Vauxhall Portsmouth was a staple of the city and had been at its London Road site in Hilsea for decades.
But its closure comes as the brand’s American owner, Lithia, continues to downsize its UK operations that have seen the end of other Vauxhall dealers in Wolverhampton.
Operations have also halted at St Albans, Hanworth, and Orpington, while a Renault and Dacia showroom in Doncaster will also close its doors.
Lithia, which completed its purchase of Pendragon, Evans Halshaw’s parent company, in February 2023, already cut around 250 jobs last April with the closure of the CarStore used car supermarket brand.
A spokesperson for Evans Halshaw said: “The closure of these stores aligns with our wider strategic network plans, in conjunction with our OEMs and network partners.”
It’s perhaps slightly better news for those who work for the Evans Halshaw-owned Vauxhall dealership in Edinburgh, who recently confirmed the sale of the business to rival group Arnold Clark.
The site has reportedly already begun trading under the Arnold Clark banner – going against rumours the deal might fall through.
As reported by Car Dealer Magazine, an Arnold Clark spokesperson said: “Arnold Clark can confirm the takeover of the Evans Halshaw Vauxhall dealership in Edinburgh and will begin trading this week.”
Mystery surrounded the sudden closure of another Evans Halshaw branch back in October, when a Ford dealership shut down.
The site in Northwich, situated on Chester Way, Cheshire, confirmed the shutters had come down on the site for the last time via its Facebook page, but no explanation was given.
Bizarrely, when Sun Motors called the Northwich branch’s telephone, the line was redirected to the Altrincham dealership.
This comes as BMW slammed the brakes on its multi-million-pound investment in the Mini plant in Oxfordshire – as demand for electric vehicles plummets.
The assembly plant in Cowley is one of the nation’s most vital and historic car factories, but it is facing turmoil after a £600 million investment has been halted.
BMW announced in 2023 that it would invest in the factory built in 1913 to improve its operations, allowing it to manufacture electric vehicles.
It was hoped that by next year, the plant would be pushing electric Mini Coopers and electric Mini Aceman SUVs off the production line.
And elsewhere, the DVSA has revealed the centres with the lowest driving test pass rate across the country – and it’s bad news for those learning in two major cities in the south west.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which conducts driving tests in the UK, including theory tests, recently shared their driving test and theory test data for September 2024.
It showed some centres have stark differences to others, with a clear sign that many learners are facing challenges in securing a pass.
In the list of the top 10 lowest pass rates, the Plymouth LGV test centre in Devon had the lowest pass rate, just 27.3% – meaning just over a quarter of the drivers who took their test were going home disappointed and out of pocket.
Of course, the LGV centre specialises in large goods vehicles – those who want to get behind the wheel of a lorry or bus.
Second on the list was the test centre in Watnall, Nottinghamshire, with a 29.4% pass rate.
