The success of the car retail sector across the Tees Valley has been highlighted in a national survey.
Auto Express has ranked the top 1,000 car dealerships based on quality of advice and information, offer and overall satisfaction. The survey, carried out in partnership with Driver Power and leading data analyst Statista, polled customers and peer-to-peer recommendations from more than 20,000 dealers and industry experts.
A number of Tees Valley dealerships featured in the top 1,000 emphasising the positive contribution of car retailers to the region’s economy. Tees Valley’s cluster of car dealerships provide employment for a significant number of local people and new jobs are regularly being created thanks to significant investment being made.
A new Porsche franchise due to open in Stockton in the summer and a £200,000 refurbishment of Alfa Romeo and Jeep sites in Thornaby has been completed.
Major retailers including Bristol Street Motors, Evans Halshaw and Jennings are demonstrating confidence in the buoyancy of the local economy, creating jobs and investing in their premises.
Simon Bailes Peugeot, which was ranked in the top three dealerships in the Tees Valley by the survey, is also planning to invest in the upgrade of its three dealerships.
The league table of UK car dealer entitled ‘Best Dealers Rated’ was published in Auto Express Magazine 29 March 2017. Among dealerships in the Tees Valley, SG Petch and Mills Garages were the top two and Simon Bailes. RMB and Sytner were joint third.
Simon Bailes said: “Demand for new cars nationally hit a 12-year high in March, despite fears of a slowdown caused by economic uncertainty.
“Across our region it is obvious that sales are driving investment and dealers are confident enough to recruit and to carry out spending plans.
“The Auto Express survey reinforces all the things we are getting right and is a ringing endorsement for Tees Valley’s car retailers.”