Motor retailer expands operations

Motor retailer Lookers is expanding its parts and distributions operations after opening a brand-new bespoke facility in Aston, Birmingham.

The new centre, which is headed up by the group’s Vauxhall division, is based at an existing unit at Holford Industrial Estate and, following the installation of a mezzanine floor, provides 35,000 sq ft of storage space and room for 27,000 part lines.

The facility represents a £3m investment and houses an accounts department, call centre and office space, with 32 new jobs already created and over 50 staff expected to be employed there by next year. The investment represents a shift in focus for Lookers Vauxhall in the Birmingham area, following its decision to close its dealership in Yardley last year.

In fact, the new site was able to attract back some of the talent that Lookers Vauxhall lost as a result of the Yardley closure. Lookers feels that Birmingham is perfectly placed to benefit from Vauxhall owner PSA’s new ‘hub-and-spoke’ distribution model due to its central location.

The centre stocks everything from spark plugs to car doors, with genuine parts from Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Saab and Vauxhall. It also stocks a broad range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) all-makes parts from brands such as Bosch, LUK and Delphi.

As well as benefitting the motor trade across the West Midlands region, the team at the new site now believe that its success could lead to more parts and distribution centres being set up in the North by PSA.

Steve Randle, parts manager at the site, said: “We are very excited to have opened this facility, which is already proving popular among the area’s motor trade community and far beyond. No one currently has the same offering that we have, with a huge range of parts for use in most models. I look forward to growing our distribution further over the coming years”.

Simon Watts, sales manager at the centre, said: “As well as providing a fantastic resource for the local economy, we are also pleased to be creating new jobs in the Birmingham area. It’s also great to see some familiar faces from Vauxhall Yardley who have brought us their wealth of experience and product knowledge.”