Marshall Motor Group has added the Volkswagen brand for the first time through its acquisition of F Cross & Sons in Lincolnshire.

The deal adds a VW car dealership in Grimsby, VW car and commercial vehicles dealership in Scunthorpe. It also includes a Kia dealership in Scunthorpe, which becomes Marshall’s third with the Korean brand.

In addition, Marshall gains authorised repairer businesses for VW commercial vehicles in Grimsby and Renault in Scunthorpe.

The deal is viewed as a good fit, as both businesses are family owned and Marshall already has dealerships in Lincoln and Yorkshire.

While this is its first Volkswagen business, the group already represents its sister brand Seat in Leicester and Cambridge.

Marshall chief executive Daksh Gupta said: “Since we started out with our new strategy in 2008 we have been very keen to partner with both brands and build on our existing relationship with the wider Volkswagen Group.

“Volkswagen is one of the most highly respected automotive brands globally and we are looking forward to building a strong relationship with it in the coming years.

“This acquisition is consistent with our strategy to grow nationally to minimise our over-exposure to East Anglia and grow with scalable businesses as well as to build depth to our relationships with key brand partners like the Volkswagen Group.”

Around 120 staff have transferred from F Cross & Sons, a family business which has traded since 1958, to Marshall.

Spencer Clayton-Jones, national franchise manager at Volkswagen UK, thanked the Cross family for more than two decades of partnership with the brand, and said Volkswagen looks forward to working with Marshall and enjoying the next phase of development and growth.

> Marshall's network (Source: AMi)