9

North and Midlands focussed Vantage Motor Group has invested £900,000 in building a brand new Kia showroom in Bradford.

The showroom, which opens this month in Canal Road, is Vantage’s second Kia dealership.

It incorporates Kia’s new ‘Red Cube’ design identity, and an eight-car showroom and 50 display spaces.

Managing director Mark Robinson said: “We are excited about the opening of Vantage Kia Bradford, which is our second dealership to open in the city and which further underlines our ambition of being recognised as a Yorkshire-based national force in the motor industry.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to further our relationship with the Kia brand in a superb growing market and we look forward to offering an excellent customer experience, as well as creating jobs for local people.”

The Vantage Kia site will create up to 10 new jobs and is expected to sell 750 new and used cars per annum.

It is Vantage’s fifth West Yorkshire dealership to open in 18 months as the company looks to increase its market penetration in the area.

The acquisition reflects a period of growth for Vantage Motor Group, which has seen turnover to the end of 2015 increase to over £200 million from £174m in the previous year.

Vantage Motor Group was founded in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in 2003.

The group now has 26 dealerships across Northern England and the West Midlands representing Mazda, Toyota, Kia, Citroen, Honda, Hyundai, Skoda and Lexus.