Harrogate dealership switches car brand after owners sign new contract

One of Harrogate’s most prominent car dealerships is rebranding and restocking after its owner changed supplier. 

The Citroën showroom on Wetherby Road is in the process of becoming an MG Motors dealership; the premises are being repainted, staff are being trained on new software and a fleet of brand new cars arrived this morning. Managers expect the change to be completed over the coming week. 

Just Motor Group, the Keighley-based firm which took over the dealership 10 years ago, has invested about £50,000 in revamping the premises. All employees have kept their jobs, and the business has taken on two more, bringing its headcount to 15. 

Kevin Tyrrell, sales director of Just Motor Group, told the Stray Ferret the move had come about because Stellantis – the automotive multinational that owns Citroën, as well as Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot, Vauxhall and others – had terminated all dealership contracts and then offered new ones on different terms. He said: 

“It just wasn’t going to be financially viable for us. Historically, we’ve sold about 300 new cars a year from that site, but that wasn’t going to be possible under the new contract they offered.

“Fortunately, it was then that MG Motors stepped in with a better offer – it was perfect timing for us. They offer a seven-year warranty, they’re affordable, and they’re up-and-coming. Citroën has a 1.6% market share in the UK, whereas MG Motors have a 4.6% share, and it’s growing – so we’re definitely going in the right direction.”

Photo of the Citroen garage on Wetherby Road in Harrogate, which is currently being transformed into an MG Motors dealership by owner The Just Motor Group.

The change from Citroën to MG Motors is expected to be completed over the coming week.

But he said the garage’s existing Citroën customers need not worry that they are being left in the lurch. He said: 

“We’re still a Citroën authorised repairer, so we can still do warranty work, servicing and MOTs. In fact, we can even supply new vehicles and will have some parked outside. So we’re not just closing the door and forcing Citroën customers to find somewhere else – from an after-sales point of view, we’re still a Citroën garage.”

MG Cars was founded in Oxford as Morris Garages Ltd in 1924, later becoming part of British Leyland and then the MG Rover Group. It is now owned by SAIC Motor Corp Ltd, China’s largest state-owned car manufacturer, and the cars are made in China. 

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Witness appeal after collision near Ripon leaves driver with serious injuries

A woman has been left with serious injuries after a collision between two vehicles in Studley Roger near Ripon.

A white Citroen car and a white Volkswagen Crafter van were travelling in opposite directions on Limekiln Bank when they collided at around 2.05pm on Monday.

The driver of the Citroen suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the collision itself, or either vehicle immediately prior to them colliding, along with any dashcam footage.”

Anyone with information should contact PC Michael Spittlehouse by emailing Michael.spittlehouse@northyorkshire.police.uk or calling 101 and asking for him, using incident number 12230092030.

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