Volvo Car UK has teamed up with Esplanade to return the brand to the Isle of Wight after a ten-year absence from the island.

Esplanade, part of the Jacksons Group, has opened the doors of its new purpose-built franchised facility in Airfield Way, Cowes – a town which has a long association with the Volvo brand through its sailing connection.

Commenting on the new venture general manager Paul Styles said that retailer, which also represents other franchises on the island, has been undergoing a recruitment campaign over the past year, appointing 18 new members of staff.

Styles added: “With more than 70 years’ experience retailing vehicles on the island, we believe the quality of the Volvo brand and the product range is perfect for the people here.

“We are confident the brand will be a success with motorists looking to buy a new or used car, while current Volvo drivers will also appreciate the convenience of having their car serviced on the island by an authorised retailer.”

Work began on the new Volvo dealership in June 2017 and has been completed according to Volvo’s latest Volvo Retail Experience standards.

Up to six Volvo models will be on display in the new showroom, along with a multi-franchise used car forecourt containing around 80 cars at any one time.

A Scandinavian minimalist design creates a comfortable lounge-style waiting area where customers can continue to work uninterrupted while their car is being serviced.

The new approach includes while-you-wait servicing and MOT tests, while customers can even see their car being serviced via a large TV screen, which shows live images from the workshop.

With nine service bays and an MOT test ramp, the team will incorporate Volvo’s Personal Service Technicians approach, which sees technicians working in pairs to almost halve customer wait times.

Customers also benefit from being able to speak directly to one of these technicians if required, while also having a direct line to a named service advisor who handles the service booking from start to finish.