Popular car showroom suddenly closes with no warning leaving customers gutted as works to remove cars gets underway
CUSTOMERS have been left gutted after a popular car showroom suddenly closed without warning.
Hendy Land Rover in Salisbury, Wiltshire, will no longer sell new cars as part of a shift in its offerings.
The busy garage had sold both Range Rovers and Land Rovers on site until the recent decision to close its sales section.
However, the rest of the business will remain open, offering aftersales support, among other services.
These also include the introduction of a personalised vehicle collection and delivery service next month.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said this new service will make MOT tests, repair works, and servicing “as convenient as possible” for customers, reports the Salisbury Journal.
A spokesperson for the manufacturer said: “While Hendy Land Rover Salisbury no longer operates a new car sales function, it remains fully committed to providing aftersales support for existing clients, and will introduce a personalised vehicle collection and delivery service from next month making servicing, MOT tests and repair works as convenient as possible for clients.
“Hendy Land Rover Salisbury remains dedicated to providing the highest standards of aftersales care.”
Work to remove the cars kept at the site is now underway, while pictures have also revealed the dealership has had its signs removed.
The business’ typical showroom facilities, including a barista bar and Wi-Fi, will continue to be available at nearby branches.
For those who had used the Salisbury site, their nearest showroom is now 20 miles away in Southampton, Hampshire.
Another alternative is the branch in Christchurch, Dorset, which is around 25 miles away as the crow flies.
This comes as last year, Jaguar, owned by the same parent company as Land Rover, announced it was planning to shrink its UK network of dealerships down to around just 20 outlets.
The iconic British car maker is in the midst of a transition – switching its focus from being a luxury mass producer of cars to an EV-only specialist.
It has already unveiled its new-look logo, which has seen the much-loved “roaring jaguar” symbol used on its cars for decades replaced with a fresh, bold design.
At the launch of Jaguar’s new direction, the firm’s managing director Rawdon Glover also revealed that their dealer network would shrink dramatically.
According to Car Dealer Magazine, Glover said: “We will have a significantly reduced footprint in the UK.”
Glover then answered rumours that the brand will reduce its number of dealerships down to 20, having previously had around 80 across the UK, according to a report in 2023.
He said: “It will not be far off that number, which is a lot [fewer] than when I was running the national sales company.
“We have chosen to have these points on the basis of geographically, those were the most – if we looked at the customer base that we were going after – where the most wealth was.
“If you look at that from a demographic point of view, it takes you to a fairly logical sort of map in terms of the number of locations that you need.”
Popular car garage closes after 40 years as owners blame ‘red tape’ for shutting doors for good
A RENOWNED car garage has shut its doors for good after four decades, with owners highlighting red tape as one of the key reasons behind the closure.
Elvins, located in Poringland, Norfolk, has closed its workshop and MOT station as its long-serving owners, David Larnder, 63, and David Clark, 65, step into retirement.
In a heartfelt farewell statement, the pair expressed their disappointment that the garage will not longer continue as it was.
They said: “We are sad that the garage will not continue as is, but it is time for us to retire.
“Unfortunately, red tape has meant that the site is likely to need major updating.”
They also took the opportunity to thank their loyal customer, adding: “We have loved seeing you and want to thank everyone for their support over the last four decades.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure, but we’re looking forward to having clean hands once again.”
The owners reassured that their staff had been taken care of, stating: “The staff has been looked after and will continue on their new paths with fond memories of the place.”
The closure of Elvins is not an isolated case, as car garages and dealerships across the UK are facing increasing challenges.
Rising operational costs, regulatory demands, and shifts in consumer habits have put pressure on many independent businesses.