Car dealer Lookers has opened its new Ford Transit Centre in Sheffield, with a newly refurbished showroom, elevated aftersales standards and extended opening hours.

The new centre, in Savile Street, is the first of three Ford Transit Centres to be opened by Lookers in 2015.

The Transit Centre has been designed in line with Ford’s global brand strategy and will be one of the first Ford Transit outlets in the UK to provide an "enhanced retail experience" with industry-leading facilities and the latest technology.

Lookers' chief executive Andy Bruce said: “We are passionate about delivering a quality service experience to our commercial vehicle customers and this latest investment in a brand new Ford Transit Centre reflects our commitment to ensuring that we do this well.

“Ford is also one of the UK’s most trusted, reliable and sought-after brands in the commercial vehicle market and this exciting new Lookers' Ford Transit Centre provides our expertise and dedicated commercial vehicle team to support its award-winning fleet of vans. We look forward to welcoming Ford customers – old and new – in the months ahead.”

Lookers has confirmed that in addition to Sheffield, it will also open new Ford Transit Centres in Colchester and Chelmsford later this year.

Terry Rayner, director, commercial vehicles at Ford UK, said: “The new Transit Centre network takes Ford Commercial Vehicles to a new level, delivering a proposition that is designed to provide first class sales and service support to keep our customers on the road.  I am delighted with the investment that Lookers has made in Sheffield, particularly as this year marks the 50th anniversary of Ford Transit in the UK."  

Lookers Ford franchise director Bob Grant said: “This is an exciting time for Sheffield, for Ford and for Lookers.

"As the economy continues to recover, businesses are seeking to invest in their commercial vehicle fleet – fundamental to the success of the local economy – and I’m confident that our new Transit Centre will be more than capable of servicing all of their requirements.”

Last month, Lookers opened a new £4 million Ford superstore in Chelmsford, and it is expected that Lookers will announce details soon of a new car 'FordStore' opening in Sheffield later this year.