Both Hyundai and Seat are looking to expand their UK dealer networks, the companies have said. The news will help offset the slow demise of Saab’s 58-strong dealer network and the decision by Renault to cut its network by around 55 to 135 by the end of this year.
Hyundai said that it wants to add 29 new dealerships to its current 152; Seat has announced that at least 10 new outlets have either opened in the past few weeks or are about to, taking its dealer network to over 125 (more than 130 if service-only sites are included).
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Tony Whitehorn, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor UK, said: “The UK is a rapidly growing market for Hyundai and having on board the right franchises is integral to the further development of our brand. We now have 152 dealers throughout the UK and the growth of the network will help us to deliver the best level of service to our customers.”
The company has recently invested in a dealer training facility, he added, “to ensure a consistent level of service across all the dealership disciplines”.
Seat said that it had a record UK market share of 1.8% in 2011 and its dealer partners have recently open seven new outlets in key locations including Swansea in South Wales with a new outlet planned for north west London in the first quarter.
