New dealership will incorporate 17 dedicated EV charging bays adjacent to the new building that will feature solar panels, air source heat pumps and LED lighting. Around 95 staff are already employed at the Portslade retailer, which is expected to increase to more than 115 once plans are approved for the new facility which will house a workshop, MOT bay and dedicated cosmetic repair facilities.
Deal will see the company open a brand new state-of-the-art Lotus showroom at its renowned Boucher Road site. Set to open its doors to customers in early 2023, the premier new showroom will be the only outlet in Northern Ireland for Lotus.
Site at Chester’s Sealand Road has now been completely redesigned, enlarged and enhanced after a 12-week refurbishment to accommodate a range of next-generation Nissan cars and vans, including an expanding range of all-electric and hybrid models, and used vehicles.
Lookers has already invested more than £11 million in its regional dealership network since early last year, including a £4.6 million investment at its Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Bishop’s Stortford, £3 million in its Volkswagen Teesside site and £2.1 million at Lookers Volkswagen Preston.
The exact warranty offered differs depending on the franchise and vehicle but includes a maintenance and repair plan alongside RAC breakdown cover including At Home, Roadside assistance and National Recovery. It can be applied to any car, van or motorbike for periods from 1-48 months.
Joining established specialist Audi centres in Edinburgh and Farnborough, Lookers’ Audi sites in Glasgow and Newcastle now join 27 Audi Approved Competency Centres in the UK which have been established to provide the skills and technical know-how in battery installation, maintenance and servicing to meet the needs of the growing number of Audi EV drivers.
With an investment of more than £500,000, the new Lookers Premium showroom at Portland Road is home to a wide variety of well-known used premium brands including Maserati, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Mercedes and Bentley which can be viewed both on site and online, with delivery available nationwide.
Features of the redeveloped dealership include a world class car showroom displaying 10 new vehicles, spacious consultation rooms and a relaxing hospitality area equipped with WiFi and Apple TVs for customer use, in addition to two dedicated handover bays.
The new, innovative six-month ‘Jump Start’ programme will include dedicated classroom and on-the-job training for every candidate keen to carve out a rewarding career in the thriving UK motor industry, appealing to individuals of all ages with previous experience in a customer-facing role.
The 2022 recruitment drive represents Lookers’ largest annual intake of apprentices to date and is designed to kick-start new and exciting careers for ambitious young people with one of the UK’s top motoring groups.
