Latest news with #carDealership
The Herald
3 days ago
- The Herald
Eastern Cape woman dies in mysterious circumstances after hospitalisation in for GBV assault
A 51-year-old Eastern Cape woman died in a Mthatha hospital on Friday after an alleged gender-based violence incident at a car dealership two weeks ago. Provincial police spokesperson Capt Welile Matyolo said the woman's 57-year-old partner allegedly assaulted the woman when she visited him at the dealership where he works on May 31. He was arrested hours after her death on Friday. 'The suspect physically assaulted the victim at his workplace and took her to hospital on June 1. The suspect claimed his lover was assaulted by unknown thugs near the dealership,' Matyolo said. He visited her in hospital bringing her refreshments. 'The victim subsequently became sick and died at about 2pm that same day. Based on preliminary investigations using available electronic evidence, the suspect was arrested on Friday at about 7pm.' Matyolo said post-mortem results would determine the exact cause of the victim's death. Acting OR Tambo district commissioner Brig Vukile Ntuli commended the arrest and urged police to secure a conviction. 'We can no longer tolerate this brutal violence against women,' he said. TimesLIVE
The Sun
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Huge UK car dealership suddenly shuts down after 4 DECADES of selling 10,000s of motors as owner issues statement
A MAJOR car dealership has suddenly shut down after forty-five years of selling 10,000s of motors. Customers in Lowestoft, East Suffolk, were shocked by the owner's statement announcing their closure. 2 Stanley Street Motors, run by John Mitchell, has been serving a loyal client base since 1980. But the boss revealed he will be powering down operations due to health reasons. In a statement on Facebook, the firm said: "Stanley Street Motors has now ceased trading, due to ill-health and retirement. "This facebook page is in the process of being closed down, and the automatic updates will shortly cease. Our website will have further details in due course. "We at Stanley Street Motors want to thank you, our customers and friends, and all our suppliers, contractors and supporters, everyone who bought our cars, liked our posts and recommended us to others. "For over 40 years we have bought and sold cars from Stanley Street. Over the years we have had tens of thousands of lovely customers, many of whom became, not just repeat customers, but friends. "We will miss you all. Thank you and goodbye." The site will now be up for grabs at auction through Auction House East Anglia, as reported by the Eastern Daily Press. Bidders will have the opportunity to bag the property on June 18. A guide price has been listed for anywhere between £200,000 and £300,000. A spokesperson from the auctioneers said: "Former car sales showroom and forecourt with development potential. "This showroom with offices and workshop is to be sold vacant and ready for a new operator, or there is potential to change the current use subject to planning. "The premises has been used successfully for used cars sales and repairs by the current owners for over 40 years but is now being sold due to retirement. "The premises comprise of a generous showroom, workshop, two offices, presentation suite, kitchen and cloakroom. "There is a large forecourt for upwards of 30 cars and the premises has three phase electricity and security alarm system." This comes as motor dealerships across the UK have been waving goodbye amid a string of devastating closures. Last month a highly recommended company with excellent reviews shut down suddenly. The Evans Halshaw location ceased trading quietly with no warning given. Elsewhere, a pioneering car dealership with over 91,000 vehicles is currently on sale - putting over 100 jobs at risk. The German online used car marketplace has made heavy losses since opening in the UK in 2019 when it looked to rival Auto Trader and Motors. Heycar's majority shareholder, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), have pulled the plug leaving more than 126 employees across the UK, Germany, and France at risk of losing their jobs. Meanwhile a fellow dealership pulled the shutters down as part of a "brand shift" with staff being moved over to another company. The Sytner Group sold its former Manchester Carshop site to a used car company. Shaun Lane, the CEO of Motor Range, announced the move on LinkedIn. According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. 2
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major car dealership with over 120 locations to close branch ‘imminently' after more than 50 years
A POPULAR car dealership with over 120 locations has announced it is closing a branch after 50 years. Lookers is set to close its head office in Altrincham, after being based in Greater Manchester since 1973. 1 Rumours had been circulating that staff would be made redundant, but managing director James Brearley assured that this is not true. Instead, around 12 members of staff will be relocated to another Lookers site, in Stoke-on-Trent. Addressing the rumours, Mr Brearley told Car Dealer: "That is categorically not true and it's important we put the record straight," he said. "The Altrincham site will be closing imminently but that effects 12 staff all of whom will be moving to another of our site's in Stoke on Trent. "There will be no redundancies." Lookers was taken over by Canadian company Global Auto Holdings in October 2023, in a deal worth £504 million. Following the takeover, a number of redundancies were made by the new owners. Lookers was founded in 1908 as a bicycle seller and eventually switched to cars. By the 1960s, it was one of the leading chains, alongside Pendragon, Inchcape and Marshall. The dealership was hit hard by the pandemic, and axed 1500 jobs in 2020. Major UK car dealership closes down This comes after another car dealership, TC Harrison Ford in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, closed its doors for the last time earlier this month. The closure was confirmed after planners granted permission for a new retirement village to be built on the dealership's site last year. TC Harrison confirmed last month that the dealership would close on May 16, 2025. Happily, there will be no job losses following the closure, with all business activities and staff to relocate to the the firm's Huntingdon branch, just 11 miles away. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. And a huge car dealership with over 91,000 vehicles currently on sale will close within weeks putting over 100 jobs at risk. The German online used car marketplace has made heavy losses since opening in the UK in 2019 when it looked to rival Auto Trader and Motors. Heycar's majority shareholder, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), have pulled the plug leaving more than 126 employees across the UK, Germany, and France at risk of losing their jobs. A large proportion of Heycar's employees are based in the UK. They are expected to close in the UK shortly after their closure in Germany, in mid-May. And a Volkswagen dealership in Wirral has also recently closed, after it's owner US-based Group 1 decided it was restructuring, as part of a £346 million deal. A Volkswagen spokesperson told the Globe: 'We can confirm that Group 1 Volkswagen Wirral ceased trading at the end of March and is now closed. 'Our focus when any network changes take place remains on convenience and the highest levels of service. 'Customers have been contacted to advise them of alternative sales, service and parts facilities.' Hundreds of jobs are at risk due to the restructuring.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Car dealership still lying abandoned after its sudden closure two YEARS ago – as decision on new plans is delayed again
PLANS to turn a car dealership, left abandoned and empty for two years, into shops have been delayed once again. The local council has been dragging its feet over a change of use application that is now two-years-old. 2 A former Kia garage, the site on Stratford Road, Warwick, has been left abandoned since the dealerships sudden closure in 2023. A change of use planning application for both units on the site was made in October 2023. Planning documents said one unit would become a convenience shop and the other would be taken over by a small business. Parking spaces and electric vehicle charging spaces were also planned for the site. The plans for the site were due to go in front of Warwick District Council's planning committee in April but were withdrawn from the agenda. They were then slated to go before the committee again on May 20 but were once again knocked back. Plans were taken off the Tuesday meeting's agenda to "enable the applicant to clarify certain aspects of their proposal." Planning officers had recommended the pans for refusal previously, raising concerns about parking. The site has been left empty since April 2023 with a replacement Kia dealership opening up nearby in May 2023. Plans to repurpose the abandoned site have hit several roadblocks with objections raised by locals. The building has been floated on the market with property agent Bromwich Hardy. It was listed for £1.1 million and boasted 9,200 sq ft which included two showrooms, a workshop and a tyre fitting bay. As well as the publics objections to the recent plans for a change of use, Warwick Town Council submitted one. The council had raised concerns of the safety of pedestrians with vehicles coming in and out of the site. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. Residents concerns with the plans ranged from opening hours to access safety to parking. Issues were raised with what the second unit would become as well. Plans suggested a hairdresser or a funeral parlour but no business was confirmed to be taking on the second unit. Two councillors objected to the plans with one asking that the developer "considers installing bus shelters." There were a total of 32 objections, including one duplicate, to the plans. The majority raised similar issues with parking, safety and no need for more retail units being top concerns. By comparison only 13 support comments were received, on being a duplicate. Top factors sited by supporters were the support for the local economy and the provision of jobs. 2
The Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
‘Highly recommended' car dealership with nearly perfect review scores suddenly shuts
A HIGHLY recommended car dealership with excellent reviews has closed suddenly. The Evans Halshaw location ceased trading quietly earlier this month with no warning given. One of the firms 'direct hubs' the small location in Stoke on Trent ceased trading without a word. It boasted glowing reviews from happy customers and an impressive 4.7 stars on Google. The little site in the carpark of a Morrisons could be used by locals to sell or part exchange their motors. Evans Halshaw has wound down operations in the UK with several dealerships and locations closing across the country. The move comes after the firm's parent company, Pendragon, was taken over by US-based Lithia Motors last year. With the takeover restructuring was implemented and it was reported in February that several dealerships would close. The Evans Halshaw Renault and Dacia site in Doncaster and its Vauxhall sites in Portsmouth and Wolverhampton were earmarked for closure. The firms Edinburgh Vauxhall dealership was sold off to Arnold Clark as part of the restructuring. Several of its direct hub sites were also slated to cease trading with the Stoke location shutting up shop this month. Lithia reportedly cut 250 jobs last year when the US business killed off the 'CarShop' used car supermarket brand. The Stoke Evans Halshaw Direct Pod was closed without warning and still shows as open online. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. The only indication of the impending closure was a small line of text buried away on the Evans Halshaw site. It read: "The following dealerships ceased trading in May 2025: Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Stoke." The Sun contacted Evans Halshaw for comment, with the company saying: "The Direct pod at Stoke has now closed for business." The direct pod in Stoke boasted glowing online reviews with dozens of customers offering four or five stars. An employee, James, was frequently mentioned and applauded for his good communication. The site also offered a "very good price" to customers looking to sell their cars according to the reviews. Customer David Pratt said: "Many thanks to James at Car Store Direct who made the whole experience of selling my car as easy and trouble free as possible, even providing a better price for my car than a number of competitors. "A very fair and professional service I would have no hesitation in recommending my friend's and relatives to Car Store Direct and James in particular." Stephen Wood, another former customer added: "Highly recommend James and the service we received. "Quick efficient and easy, money arrived in our account earlier than expected, well done." Craig Kennedy said: "Sold my car today and I must say the overall experience via carstore has been fantastic. "James was a pleasure to deal with. I would definitely deal with James and the company again if needed." Jayne Taylor said: "James was very helpful we turned up with a flat battery he helped to restart the car he was very polite and any queries were dealt with really promptly a very easy selling of my car." All four customers offered five star reviews to the Evans Halshaw location. Evans Halshaw confirmed that eight dealerships ceased trading earlier this year. Dacia Doncaster, Dacia Sheffield, Renault Doncaster, Vauxhall Portsmouth, Vauxhall Wolverhampton, Evans Halshaw Direct Pod St Albans, Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Hanworth and Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Orpington all shut shop in January. 3
