Family-run car dealership group founded over 100 years ago set to be taken over by US giant in just weeks
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A CENTURY-old car dealership group could soon be taken over by a major US company, according to reports.
Family-run group Hatfields is rumoured to be on the cusp of being acquired by the American giant Lithia, Car Dealer Magazine has reported.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
1
Hatfields was founded by Ernest Hatfield in 1922
Credit: Google maps
Sources close to the group told the magazine that staff had been informed of the deal via email.
Insiders have told the outlet that the email tells employees that it will be made official on August 1.
Lithia did not respond to Car Dealer Magazine's requests for comment.
Hatfields boss Gareth Williams told Car Dealer: "We have no comment to make at this moment in time."
Another senior source told Car Dealer: "I have been told locally by many staff working at Hatfields branches that the business has been bought out by Lithia.
"All staff at Hatfields had an email On Wednesday 4 June at 7:30am.
"The takeover will be complete on August 1."
Hatfields was founded by Ernest Hatfield in 1922, and was named Jaguar's Partner of the Year in 2022.
It operates dealerships that represent Jaguar, Land Rover and others throughout the Midlands and North West.
Hatfields would join others like Evans Halshaw, Stratstone and Jardine Motors under Lithia's wings if the rumours prove to be true.
Chilling moment thieves steal car with wireless device in seconds as new doc reveals how Brit motors end up in Lithuania
The Sun has also approached Lithia for comment.
It comes after three major UK car dealerships are set to close in just days as a US giant makes "drastic cutbacks".
In March, The Sun reported that Group 1 Automotive would shut three Volkswagen Group sites.
The affected sites were Audi Approved Hyde, and Volkswagen Wirral and Cheltenham.
A spokesman for Group 1 Automotive told Car Dealer: "Due to the ongoing challenges presented by the current economic climate, we are unfortunately having to take some difficult decisions, which include the closure of our VW Wirral and Cheltenham stores, and Audi Approved Hyde."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
9 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Corporation for Public Broadcasting to shut down after budget cuts
Corporation for Public Broadcasting employees were told on Aug. 1 that most staff positions would be slashed as the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Some staff would remain through January 2026 to "ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations," according to the corporation's news release. "Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country," Corporation for Public Broadcasting President and CEO Patricia Harrison said. "We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people." The Corporation for Public Broadcasting was established by Congress in 1967. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. BrieAnna Frank is a First Amendment Reporting Fellow at USA TODAY. Reach her at bjfrank@ USA TODAY's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Lewis Hamilton criticised for 'inappropriate comments' as Ferrari 'tragedy' uncovered
A first Formula 1 season with Ferrari has not gone how Lewis Hamilton would have dreamed so far, his Sprint win in China the sole highlight of his maiden campaign in red so far Lewis Hamilton has been slammed for his "inappropriate comments" at times this season. That criticism has come from a prominent former Formula 1 driver who believes some of the Brit's outbursts are contributing to his dream Ferrari move turning into "a bit of a tragedy". Hamilton's switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, announced early in 2024, was one of the biggest driver changes in the sport's history. So hotly anticipated was the first sight of the seven-time F1 champion in his new surroundings that the first image of him standing in front of Enzo Ferrari's house at Maranello broke the internet when posted on social media in January this year. And there was early promise, despite a wretched debut for the Scuderia at the Australian Grand Prix. In just the second round of the season, 40-year-old Hamilton tasted victory with Ferrari for the first time when he won the Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. But he was disqualified from the main race a day later when his car failed post-race technical checks. And that set the tone for the next few months and, after the first six events of 24, his only Grand Prix result better than seventh place was the fifth he managed at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He has found his feet a little more since the start of the European season and has finished fourth in a Grand Prix on three occasions. But the podium still eludes him, while his ultimate ambition of winning an eighth F1 title in red will require a significant improvement in results next year. At times, the disappointment has got to Hamilton who has often pointed the finger at himself for a lack of performance. But he has also produced some punchy lines, particularly over the radio which has raised questions over the state of his relationship with new race engineer Riccardo Adami. Last time out at the Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari introduced an upgraded new rear suspension which helped team-mate Charles Leclerc to record a fifth podium of the year. In contrast, Hamilton finished seventh at Spa-Francorchamps and said after the race that his car felt "the same as before". In the eyes of Ralf Schumacher, it is a weakness of Hamilton that he struggles to adapt to change as well as some others on the grid. Speaking on a German-language podcast, the six-time F1 race winner also criticised the Brit for some of those comments he makes at times which he believes increases the pressure. Schumacher said of Hamilton: "Lewis just finds it harder to cope with changes – he's simply more sensitive in that regard. Perhaps this new rear axle at Ferrari also unintentionally suits Leclerc's driving style better. We'll have to wait and see in the next few races. "It's a bit of a tragedy and Hamilton sometimes makes inappropriate comments. Then to deliver a weekend like the one at Spa is, of course, unfortunate. But I would give him a little more time."
North Wales Chronicle
14 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Trump removes official overseeing jobs data after dismal employment report
Mr Trump, in a post on his social media platform, alleged that the figures were manipulated for political reasons and said that Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labour Statistics, who was appointed by former president Joe Biden, should be fired. He provided no evidence for the charge. 'I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,' Mr Trump said on Truth Social. 'She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.' Mr Trump later posted: 'In my opinion, today's Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.' The charge that the data was faked threatens to undercut the political legitimacy of the US government's economic data, which has long been seen as the 'gold standard' of economic measurement globally. Economists and Wall Street investors have long accepted the data as free from political bias. After Mr Trump's initial post, labour secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said on X that Ms McEntarfer was no longer leading the bureau and that William Wiatrowski, the deputy commissioner, would serve as the acting director. 'I support the President's decision to replace Biden's Commissioner and ensure the American People can trust the important and influential data coming from BLS,' Ms Chavez-DeRemer said. Friday's jobs report showed that just 73,000 jobs were added last month and that 258,000 fewer jobs were created in May and June than previously estimated. The report suggested that the economy has sharply weakened during Mr Trump's tenure, a pattern consistent with a slowdown in economic growth during the first half of the year and an increase in inflation during June that appeared to reflect the price pressures created by the president's tariffs. 'What does a bad leader do when they get bad news? Shoot the messenger,' Democratic senate leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a Friday speech. Ms McEntarfer was nominated by Mr Biden in 2023 and became the commissioner of the Bureau of Labour Statistics in January 2024. Commissioners typically serve four-year terms but since they are political appointees can be fired. The commissioner is the only political appointee of the agency, which has hundreds of career civil servants. The Senate confirmed Ms McEntarfer to her post 86-8, with now vice president JD Vance among the yea votes. Mr Trump focused much of his ire on the revisions the agency made to previous hiring data. Job gains in May were revised down to just 19,000 from a previously revised 125,000, and for June they were cut to 14,000 from 147,000. In July, only 73,000 positions were added. The unemployment rate ticked up to a still-low 4.2% from 4.1%. 'No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers,' Mr Trump wrote. 'She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can't be manipulated for political purposes.' Mr Trump has not always been so suspicious of the monthly jobs report and responded enthusiastically after the initial May figures came out on June 6 when it was initially reported that the economy added 139,000 jobs. 'GREAT JOB NUMBERS, STOCK MARKET UP BIG!' Mr Trump posted at the time. That estimate was later revised down to 125,000 jobs, prior to the most-recent revision down to just 19,000. The monthly employment report is one of the most closely-watched pieces of government economic data and can cause sharp swings in financial markets. The disappointing figure sent US market indexes about 1.5% lower Friday.
