Friday 31 October 2008, 07:00

"By 2011, he hopes to be selling around 400 new cars and 300 used."

Skoda has opened a 10-car showroom in Reading as part of its sponsored retailer programme.

Parkview Skoda, run by Philip Hutchby, hopes to sell 500 cars in its first 12 months, split 50/50 between used and new.

Fleet is initially exp-ected to account for 20% of sales, compared to Skoda’s national average of 43%.

By 2011, he hopes to be selling around 400 new cars and 300 used.

Hutchby wants to grow the business to other sites, but will see the Reading site establish itself for two or three years first.

He was previously dealer principal on the same site until 2006, working for a Marshall Motor Group Honda franchise.
More recently, he has worked at a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Watford.

There are currently 12 staff. This will grow to 18 as the site gets busier.

Skoda, which has not been represented in Reading for four years, said the area had “huge potential” for the brand.

The Czech carmaker already supports Reading Football Club.
A Skoda spokesperson said Hutchby was an obvious choice for managing director.

“He is ambitious and is somebody who is going to achieve our vision of growth,” he said.

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