Car dealership group selling huge Japanese brand completes deal for new site in major city – & now has 17 UK showrooms

A CAR dealership group selling a huge Japanese brand has agreed a deal for a new site in a major city.

The firm acquired the new forecourt for an "undisclosed sum" as it continues expanding into a new region.

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Vertu Motors is based in the North East but is now stretching down to the completely opposite end of the country after the landmark deal.

While the Vertu name is relatively rare in the South, many will still be familiar with its subsidiary brand Bristol Street Motors.

Now, Vertu is heading down to the South West after buying a showroom in Exeter from the Hendy Group.

The newly rebranded store will link up with an existing one in Plymouth and another in Truro as the company establishes a presence in Devon and Cornwall.

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This move cements Vertu's position as Europe's largest Honda dealer, with 17 of its showrooms dedicated to the Japanese giant.

Vertu Honda Exeter, as it will now be known, will remain on the same industrial estate as under the previous ownership.

All staff will also be retained in a relief for workers in the area.

With the expansion of its Honda operations, Vertu now runs over 30 sites in the South West and more than 190 nationwide.

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Chris Taylor, group operations director at Vertu, said: "We have a long and successful association with Honda in the UK and are very proud to welcome the valued experience of the colleagues, and loyal customers at Honda Exeter to Vertu Motors."

And CEO Robert Forrester added: "We are thrilled to add Honda Exeter to the Vertu portfolio.

This business is a great addition to the group and the acquisition is a testament to our commitment to growth in the South West of England."

It comes after a rival dealership was forced to shut two sites and cut 40 jobs after contract chaos and "roadworks" left them "unviable".

Meanwhile, a bizarre error saw unsuspecting parents feeling like they'd "been robbed" after being charged £100 to park at a popular theme park.