International Motors has completed the acquisition of the Mitsubishi Motors in the UK aftersales franchise operation from the Japanese brand’s long-term importer The Colt Car Company.

The business, part of Subaru UK and Isuzu UK importer the IM Group, will operate the business under a new I.M. MAPS (UK) Ltd subsidiary but will continue to trade under the Mitsubishi Motors in the UK banner.

The purchase - the result of talks announced back in May - will take place on October 1 and the Mitsubishi Motors in the UK aftersales business will operate independently within IM Group from its current base in Cirencester.

It will be staffed by the existing and experienced Mitsubishi aftersales team members, headed up by Toby Marshall who has been a director at Mitsubishi Motors in the UK for over 12 years.

The deal comes nine months after reports that Ssangyong UK importer Bassadone Automotive had made a bid for the former Mitsubishi car retail business which is now transitioning to an aftersales-only operation.