Latest news with #SummerRaemason
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Another blow as drivers' go-to garage with over 200 branches suddenly shuts site for good after string of closures
A LONG-RUNNING garage in the heart of a busy city centre has shut its doors for good — marking another blow for drivers across the country. The National Tyres and Autocare site on St Cross Road in 3 The garage had served locals for years 3 It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK 3 Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce It follows a wave of closures for the firm, which runs more than 200 sites across the UK. The garage had served locals for years, but staff have now been moved to the Halfords Autocentre at Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane — about a seven-minute drive away. A Halfords spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that our National Tyres and Autocare garage on St Cross Road has closed following a review of our estate in the area. 'We are committed to supporting impacted colleagues and are offering alternative roles at nearby Halfords locations where possible. Read more on Motors 'We'd like to thank our customers for their support and hope to welcome them at our Halfords Autocentre garage which is about a seven-minute drive away in Martins Trading Park on Easton Lane. 'Customers can also access Halfords Mobile Expert – our mobile service that delivers tyre fittings, battery replacements, and other essential services directly to their doorstep.' Halfords did not reveal what will happen to the now-empty site — but it's thought developers could pounce. A nearby Peugeot dealership was transformed into swanky new homes around a decade ago, and the land could now attract similar interest. Most read in Motors The closure comes just months after National Tyres shut branches in Huddersfield, Earlier this year, drivers in Eastbourne were left stunned when their local Kwik Fit branch shut suddenly, with staff reportedly given just days' notice. Elsewhere, a historic MOT centre in Sheffield, open since the 1970s, closed for good in April after soaring rent and repair bills made it 'impossible to keep going'. And in January, motorists in Swansea were hit with a double whammy after both a Halfords garage and an independent tyre shop shut within weeks of each other. And over in Sheffield, a family-run garage that had served the community since the 1970s finally gave up in April after rent hikes and equipment costs became unmanageable. Owner Paul, 61, said: 'We did everything we could. But the bills just kept going up — and people don't come in like they used to.' Industry analysts warn the trend may continue, especially as EVs (electric vehicles) need less servicing, cutting demand for traditional repairs. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. /
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Struggling major car brand to axe hundreds of jobs at huge UK factory after £4billion losses
A STRUGGLING car brand has confirmed it will be axing hundreds of jobs at one of its UK factories. The move comes after the firm reported 4 Around 250 jobs are to be axed from the brand's Sunderland factory Credit: Getty 4 Nissan reported £4 billion losses last year Credit: AFP Nissan has now confirmed the axing of around 250 jobs from its Sunderland factory. The It comes just weeks after the The job losses will hit non-manufacturing positions with around 250 staff to be made redundant. Read more in Motors Nissan has announced the cuts amid a The attempts to save the brand were ramped up after Earlier this year the firm announced 20,000 job losses, seven factory closures and a pause on all post-2026 new car development. The closures of Most read in Motors The Japanese brand has been undergoing significant restructuring since the appointment of new New boss Espinosa hopes to put an end to the company's decline and has begun implementing massive cuts in an effort to turn things around. Nissan's gloomy future These plans reportedly include cutting 25% of Earlier this year, he made way for a £2.6 billion decrease in the value of production and forked out £316 million in restructuring costs. Despite the sweeping cuts there is no guarantee the firm will return to So far it has estimated a first-quarter loss of $1.36 billion. 4 Sweeping cuts are being made in an effort to save the floundering car maker Credit: Getty 4 The job losses will hit non-manufacturing positions Credit: Getty The brand is reportedly considering several drastic measures in a bid to save its profitability with A Nissan spokesperson told The Sun: 'Our Sunderland Plant remains at the forefront of our electrification strategy, with the new LEAF coming later this year, a new EV Juke arriving next year and our new e-POWER system coming to 'In order to support future competitiveness, this week we are beginning discussions with some of our team in Sunderland about the opportunity to voluntarily leave 'This will support the plant's efficiency as we aim to become a leaner, more resilient Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Car dealership still lying abandoned after its sudden closure two YEARS ago – as decision on new plans is delayed again
PLANS to turn a car dealership, left abandoned and empty for two years, into shops have been delayed once again. The local council has been dragging its feet over a change of use Advertisement 2 The showroom has stood empty for almost two years Credit: Google Maps A former Kia garage, the site on Stratford Road, Warwick, has been left abandoned since the dealerships sudden closure in 2023. A change of use Planning documents said one unit would become a convenience shop and the other would be taken over by a small business. Parking spaces and electric vehicle charging spaces were also planned for the site. Advertisement Read more in Motors The plans for the site were due to go in front of Warwick District They were then slated to go before the committee again on May 20 but were once again knocked back. Plans were taken off the Tuesday meeting's agenda to "enable the applicant to clarify certain aspects of their proposal." Planning officers had recommended the pans for refusal previously, raising concerns about Advertisement Most read in Motors Exclusive The site has been left empty since April 2023 with a replacement Kia dealership opening up nearby in May 2023. Plans to repurpose the abandoned site have hit several roadblocks with objections raised by locals. The building has been floated on the market with It was listed for £1.1 million and boasted 9,200 sq ft which included two showrooms, a workshop and a tyre fitting bay. Advertisement As well as the publics objections to the recent plans for a change of use, Warwick Town Council submitted one. The council had raised concerns of the Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. Residents concerns with the plans ranged from opening hours to access safety to parking. Issues were raised with what the second unit would become as well. Advertisement Plans suggested a hairdresser or a funeral parlour but no business was confirmed to be taking on the second unit. There were a total of 32 objections, including one duplicate, to the plans. The majority raised similar issues with parking, safety and no need for more retail units being top concerns. Advertisement By comparison only 13 support comments were received, on being a duplicate. Top factors sited by supporters were the support for the local economy and the provision of jobs. 2 Plans for a change of use keep getting knocked back Credit: Google Maps
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
‘Highly recommended' car dealership with nearly perfect review scores suddenly shuts
A HIGHLY recommended car dealership with excellent reviews has closed suddenly. The Evans Halshaw location ceased trading quietly earlier this month with no warning given. Advertisement 3 The tiny location bought second hand cars from locals Credit: Google One of the firms 'direct hubs' the small location in Stoke on Trent ceased trading without a word. It boasted glowing reviews from happy customers and an impressive 4.7 stars on Google. The little site in the carpark of a Morrisons could be used by locals to sell or part exchange their motors. Evans Halshaw has wound down operations in the UK with several dealerships and locations closing across the country. Advertisement Read more in Motors The move comes after the firm's parent company, Pendragon, was taken over by US-based Lithia Motors last year. With the takeover restructuring was implemented and it was reported in February that several dealerships would close. The Evans Halshaw Renault and Dacia site in Doncaster and its Vauxhall sites in Portsmouth and Wolverhampton were earmarked for closure. The firms Edinburgh Vauxhall dealership was sold off to Arnold Clark as part of the restructuring. Advertisement Most read in Motors Exclusive Several of its direct hub sites were also slated to cease trading with the Stoke location shutting up shop this month. Lithia reportedly cut 250 jobs last year when the US business killed off the 'CarShop' used car supermarket brand. The Stoke Evans Halshaw Direct Pod was closed without warning and still shows as open online. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. The only indication of the impending closure was a small line of text buried away on the Evans Halshaw site. Advertisement It read: "The following dealerships ceased trading in May 2025: Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Stoke." The Sun contacted Evans Halshaw for comment, with the company saying: "The Direct pod at Stoke has now closed for business." The direct pod in Stoke boasted glowing online reviews with dozens of customers offering four or five stars. An employee, James, was frequently mentioned and applauded for his good communication. Advertisement The site also offered a "very good price" to customers looking to sell their cars according to the reviews. Customer David Pratt said: "Many thanks to James at Car Store Direct who made the whole experience of selling my car as easy and trouble free as possible, even providing a better price for my car than a number of competitors. "A very fair and professional service I would have no hesitation in recommending my friend's and relatives to Car Store Direct and James in particular." 3 It ceased trading without a word Credit: Google Advertisement Stephen Wood, another former customer added: "Highly recommend James and the service we received. "Quick efficient and easy, money arrived in our account earlier than expected, well done." Craig Kennedy said: "Sold my car today and I must say the overall experience via carstore has been fantastic. "James was a pleasure to deal with. I would definitely deal with James and the company again if needed." Advertisement Jayne Taylor said: "James was very helpful we turned up with a flat battery he helped to restart the car he was very polite and any queries were dealt with really promptly a very easy selling of my car." All four customers offered five star reviews to the Evans Halshaw location. Evans Halshaw confirmed that eight dealerships ceased trading earlier this year. Dacia Doncaster, Dacia Sheffield, Renault Doncaster, Vauxhall Portsmouth, Vauxhall Wolverhampton, Evans Halshaw Direct Pod St Albans, Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Hanworth and Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Orpington all shut shop in January. Advertisement 3 The site had sparkling reviews from customers Credit: Google
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
‘Highly recommended' car dealership with nearly perfect review scores suddenly shuts
The closure is part of a large restructuring project CLOSING UP 'Highly recommended' car dealership with nearly perfect review scores suddenly shuts Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A HIGHLY recommended car dealership with excellent reviews has closed suddenly. The Evans Halshaw location ceased trading quietly earlier this month with no warning given. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The tiny location bought second hand cars from locals Credit: Google One of the firms 'direct hubs' the small location in Stoke on Trent ceased trading without a word. It boasted glowing reviews from happy customers and an impressive 4.7 stars on Google. The little site in the carpark of a Morrisons could be used by locals to sell or part exchange their motors. Evans Halshaw has wound down operations in the UK with several dealerships and locations closing across the country. The move comes after the firm's parent company, Pendragon, was taken over by US-based Lithia Motors last year. With the takeover restructuring was implemented and it was reported in February that several dealerships would close. The Evans Halshaw Renault and Dacia site in Doncaster and its Vauxhall sites in Portsmouth and Wolverhampton were earmarked for closure. The firms Edinburgh Vauxhall dealership was sold off to Arnold Clark as part of the restructuring. Several of its direct hub sites were also slated to cease trading with the Stoke location shutting up shop this month. Lithia reportedly cut 250 jobs last year when the US business killed off the 'CarShop' used car supermarket brand. The Stoke Evans Halshaw Direct Pod was closed without warning and still shows as open online. Why are so many car dealerships closing down? By Summer Raemason According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK. The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships. With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore. Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared. Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket. Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors. The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry. A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars. They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050. The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals. This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures. The only indication of the impending closure was a small line of text buried away on the Evans Halshaw site. It read: "The following dealerships ceased trading in May 2025: Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Stoke." The Sun contacted Evans Halshaw for comment, with the company saying: "The Direct pod at Stoke has now closed for business." The direct pod in Stoke boasted glowing online reviews with dozens of customers offering four or five stars. An employee, James, was frequently mentioned and applauded for his good communication. The site also offered a "very good price" to customers looking to sell their cars according to the reviews. Customer David Pratt said: "Many thanks to James at Car Store Direct who made the whole experience of selling my car as easy and trouble free as possible, even providing a better price for my car than a number of competitors. "A very fair and professional service I would have no hesitation in recommending my friend's and relatives to Car Store Direct and James in particular." 3 It ceased trading without a word Credit: Google Stephen Wood, another former customer added: "Highly recommend James and the service we received. "Quick efficient and easy, money arrived in our account earlier than expected, well done." Craig Kennedy said: "Sold my car today and I must say the overall experience via carstore has been fantastic. "James was a pleasure to deal with. I would definitely deal with James and the company again if needed." Jayne Taylor said: "James was very helpful we turned up with a flat battery he helped to restart the car he was very polite and any queries were dealt with really promptly a very easy selling of my car." All four customers offered five star reviews to the Evans Halshaw location. Evans Halshaw confirmed that eight dealerships ceased trading earlier this year. Dacia Doncaster, Dacia Sheffield, Renault Doncaster, Vauxhall Portsmouth, Vauxhall Wolverhampton, Evans Halshaw Direct Pod St Albans, Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Hanworth and Evans Halshaw Direct Pod Orpington all shut shop in January.
