PLATTS GARAGE GROUP JOINS THE GROUPE RENAULT UK DEALER NETWORK

October 12, 2016 by Renault

◾Brand new Renault and Dacia dealership opens in Stafford

◾First Groupe Renault dealership opened by Platts Garage Group

◾Vital development in Platts' expansion into the West Midlands

◾Opening strengthens Groupe Renault UK's GO5+ plan for sustainable growth

Platts Garage Group has added further momentum to the rapid growth of the Groupe Renault UK dealer network with the opening of its brand new franchise in Stafford.

The new dealership is Platts' first Renault and Dacia franchise, the development playing a major role in continuing the family-owned automotive group's successful expansion into Staffordshire and the West Midlands.

Established in 1938 and solely operating in Stoke-on-Trent until 2012, Platts Garage Group was quick to identify Groupe Renault as the ideal franchise with which to optimise the potential of its new Astonfields Road site in Staffordshire's county town. Coupled with seeing the results that other automotive groups new to the Groupe Renault franchise were enjoying, the brands' increasing popularity and continual evolvement of its strong model ranges were key factors in Platts' decision to invest in the Groupe Renault UK dealer network.

The new dealership represents a significant financial investment by Platts and its opening has created a number of jobs across all areas of the business. Although the extensive redevelopment work entailed the extension of the workshop and major internal changes to the main building, the dealership was also completed in a very short timeframe.

Central to the dealership is a spacious six-car showroom, which has been transformed with the distinctive Renault Store showroom concept. With innovative and engaging features, such as the interactive car configurator, the showroom offers customers a refreshing and cutting-edge car buying experience.

Spread across nearly two acres, the dealership also includes a five-bay workshop equipped with the very latest diagnostic equipment, a used car area capable of displaying 120 vehicles and EV charging points.

The appointment of Platts and other automotive groups to the Groupe Renault UK dealer network are core to the carmaker's GO5+ strategy for sustainable growth. This programme aims to significantly enhance Group market share to over five per cent and firmly establish the brand as a leader in terms of customer satisfaction and brand perception by 2017.

Alex Platt, Director of Platts Garage Group, said: 'Renault and Dacia were the perfect fit for our portfolio and our own plans for expansion – what Groupe Renault has achieved in the last two years is very impressive, the model ranges evolving superbly and the market share being phenomenal.

'We fully expect to over deliver with our targets and the addition of Dacia now provides extra scope for us to serve those customers who believe that their budget can only stretch to a pre-owned vehicle. Based on what we believe is possible with the brands, there's certainly room to grow our number of franchises throughout the West Midlands.'

Platt continued: 'Working with Groupe Renault UK has been an excellent experience. Establishing the franchise has been straightforward and we've enjoyed a very personal and attentive service from the manufacturer throughout the process, something which is especially important with the new processes that have to be employed when starting any new franchise.'

Mark Potter, Director, Northern Region, Groupe Renault UK,said: 'Platts Garage Group is another fantastic addition to the Groupe Renault UK dealer network, the group being renowned for its first-class level of customer service and a sales performance that is akin to a much larger dealer group.

'Stafford is an area that we have long wished to have an increased representation in and, having seen how Platts has firmly established itself in the region in only a couple of years, we are certain that anyone in the area who has an interest in Renault and Dacia will be exceptionally well served.'

Groupe Renault, which comprises Renault cars, vans and Dacia, has experienced unprecedented growth over the last three years, consistently outpacing the UK market. The growth has continued into 2016 with 71,492 Group vehicles being sold in the first six months of the year – up 14.4 per cent on the same period in 2015 – with a market share of 4.4 per cent compared to the total market growth rate of 3.1 per cent.

For more information about the Renault or Dacia ranges or to book a test drive or service, visit Platts Garage Stafford at Astonfields Road, Stafford, ST16 3UF, call 01785 782701 or view http://dealer.renault.co.uk/platts-45100

Photo credit: Renault
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