Currie starts unofficial sales

Currie Motors has started to sell unofficial imports from a dealership in Surbiton, Surrey. The London-based group, which handles four Japanese and four European manufacturers from 15 outlets, obtains vehicles from a Ford dealer in France and intermediaries in Holland.

The Import Centre only stocks vehicles that are not sold through Currie's other showrooms, to avoid upsetting its concessionaires.

James O'Neill, Currie Motors general manager, said: “We have been losing business to importers for months. The opportunity was too big to ignore.”

The level of enquiries has been “colossal”, though the conversion rate is lower because of the price sensitivity of import buyers, said Mr O'Neill. The biggest discount to date was £9,000 on a Range Rover.