A MAJOR car dealer is shutting two more sites, leaving staff fearing for their jobs.
This announcement comes just days after the automotive company revealed it would also shut its Volkswagen dealerships in Horsham and Aylesbury, both expected to close at the end of March.
The Canterbury and Ashford dealership locations are set to close on March 31[/caption]
Marshall Motor Group has confirmed its Peugeot dealerships in Canterbury and Ashford will close at the end of the month.
Stellantis UK, Peugeot’s parent company, said the retailer contracts with Marshall were ending by mutual agreement and assured efforts were being made to minimise disruption.
But workers were blindsided when told last Friday, with many insisting the closures are not linked to performance.
One employee told KentOnline: “We were told it was due to downsizing by Marshall and that the industry as a whole is struggling.
“It’s left a lot of people shocked, and understandably quite scared.
“We felt we were performing well and we didn’t really have much of an idea that this was going to happen.”
A consultation is underway to find alternative roles, but no offers have been made yet, leaving many at risk of redundancy.
The Canterbury site is on Broad Oak Road, while Ashford’s dealership is off Crowbridge Road, South Willesborough, near Orbital Park.
A spokesperson said: “Stellantis UK confirms that, by mutual agreement, the retailer contracts with Marshall Vauxhall Peterborough, Peugeot Peterborough, Peugeot Ashford and Peugeot Canterbury have ended, and they will cease representing our brands at the end of March.
“We are working closely with each site to ensure that there is minimum disruption to customers’ new vehicle orders and after-sales support.”
This is due to Marshall Motor Group deciding that it would ‘downsize’ its relationship with the car company Stellantis.
These locations are set to close on March 31, marking a significant shift in the company’s operations as it restructures its dealership network.
