Wessex Garages completes Nissan and Kia Gloucester dealership upgrades

Wessex Garages has completed the redevelopment of its Nissan and Kia dealerships in Gloucester.

Chris Wiseman, managing director of the Bristol-based AM100 car retail group, said that he was “delighted to see the completion of the project to transform the two showrooms on the city’s busy Mercia Road.

“I’m equally delighted to have created an amazing facility for our brands, colleagues and customers to enjoy,” he added.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in the refurbishment and we look forward to welcoming our customers back after almost six months of building work.”

Nissan has been engaged in the roll-out of its new corporate identity (CI) since 2021, when Hawkins Motor Group and Griffin Mill Garages became its first franchisees to adopt the new look.

Kia, meanwhile, embarked on its new CI makeover last year.

Speaking to AM shortly after the new look was first unveiled, Kia UK president and chief executive Paul Philpott told AM that its retail partners were “absolutely behind” the changes.

Both Nissan and Kia enjoyed registrations as the CI projects gathered momentum in 2022.

Nissan launched new e-Power versions of its Juke crossover and Qashqai SUV alongside its new seven-seat X-Trail and long-awaited Ariya electric vehicle (EV) in a year that saw registrations rise 12% to 76,711 units.

Kia, meanwhile, launched the latest Sportage – the AM Awards’ New Car of the Year 2022 – as well as the new Niro alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) range and new versions of the Soul EV in the year that saw it breach a 100,000 unit target with registrations up 10.3% at 100,191.

Commenting on Wessex Garages’ Gloucester investment in its future retail relationship with the two brands, Wiseman added: “These new showrooms perfectly complement our recently completed aftersales facility in Gloucester, and are part of a series of facility upgrades and exciting plans across our sites during 2023.”