Ridgeway buys two Volkswagen dealerships

The group has acquired sites previously operated by Motorworld Volkswagen at Iffley Road and Kidlington, renaming the businesses Ridgeway Oxford.

Includes bodyshop

The takeover, which also includes Motorworld's preparation and bodyshop centre at Enstone just outside the city, increases Ridgeway's Volkswagen sites to five. It already had Volkswagen in Newbury, Reading and Wantage.

All staff formerly employed by Motorworld have transferred to Ridgeway - increasing the company's workforce from 650 to 740 employees.

Ridgeway is ranked number 25 in the Motor Trader Top 200 dealers with turnover of £282.6m and pre tax profits of £2.6m in the year to December 2008.

"The acquisition of the two Oxford sites is a perfect strategic fit for us in terms of their locations being contiguous to our existing businesses," said Ridgeway group chairman David Newman.

Expanded service

"We are delighted to enhance our Volkswagen portfolio, increase our representation to existing and prospective Volkswagen owners across the Thames Valley and expand our service and product offering, which includes our used car stock exceeding 1,000 vehicles for the first time."

Ridgeway chief executive John O' Hanlon said: "The Ridgeway Group was established in 1997 with two of our existing Volkswagen outlets at Newbury and Wantage, so these latest purchases maintain our association with the brand and strengthens our fantastic relationship with the Volkswagen Group.

"In terms of excellence and experience, we have inherited superb teams at both our new sites," he continued. "We welcome them all to the Ridgeway family and look forward to them providing customers with the outstanding levels of service that our Group is renowned for."

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