Thirty new jobs have been created with the opening of a newly built Citroen car dealership in Poole, Dorset.
Directors of Penton Motor Group and management from Citroen UK were among the guests attending a VIP launch of Penton Poole in Sterte Avenue West.
Penton Motor Group is an established family owned group of companies already operating a Citroen dealership in Christchurch and a combined Citroen and Vauxhall dealership in Salisbury.
The companies are owned and managed by Robert Wilson and his two sons, Stephen and Charlie, together with a highly competent team.
Penton Poole, the third new Citroen DS main dealership, is built on two acres of land, just off Holes Bay Road.
It includes 12,000 sq ft of showroom, the latest technology workshop and parts centre with a forecourt for up to 200 used cars.
Penton bought the 3.25 acre freehold site in September 2013 and has now invested over £4.5m in the project which also includes an extra 5,500 sq ft showroom and workshops for further expansion or investment income.
A 1.25 acre section of the site has been retained, undeveloped so far, for future development by Penton or others.
Robert Wilson, Managing Director, said: “We have very high expectations for our new dealership which brings a Citroen sales service and parts facility back into the heart of Poole after a five-year gap.
“This is our third and largest new build dealership facility since 2012. Penton now has three large modern fully corporate freehold sites, a solid financial base and an excellent team in place. We face the future with great confidence.
“2015 sees Penton celebrate 25 years as a Citroen dealer in Salisbury and 20 years as a Citroen dealer in Christchurch. This new development creates a triangular market area from Salisbury to the coast, east and west of Bournemouth, for Citroen sales representation within a single group ownership. The economies of scale for our group will make our sales and service offering much more efficient and competitive for our customers.”
Penton Motor Group’s turnover is expected to increase by 50 per cent to between £45m and £50m when both Citroen Poole and Vauxhall Salisbury are fully on stream.
Penton manage their own developments hands-on without a main contractor and Mr Wilson paid tribute to newly promoted Finance Director, Jan Dibden, for project managing the Poole development. “It has come in on-time and within budget. Jan has done a fantastic job,” he said.
Among the first to view the new Poole site was Mark Johns, Managing Director of chartered accountants and business advisers Princecroft Willis which acts for Penton.
He said: “This is a very impressive development which displays the Citroen and DS range to maximum effect and in the best possible surroundings. We wish Penton every success with the new Poole dealership.”