Luffield Cars has been awarded the MG Rover franchise for Derby - on the first anniversary of taking the franchise for Loughborough.

The new premises, located in Mansfield Road, Derby are due to open in January 2002.

The company has also appointed Paul McNeil, previously sales manager, as sales director with responsibility to develop both the Loughborough and Derby dealerships.

Luffield Cars' managing director David Wood said: “We are all delighted that MG Rover have the faith that we can replicate the tremendous achievements we have made at the Loughborough site during the first year.

"The expansion into this area will give Luffield Cars a very large official territory stretching from the west of centre of Leicester through Loughborough and surrounding villages, will include South Nottingham, Coalville, Ibstock, Ashby and Donington and now the whole of the West, South and East of Derby up to the north of the city. This represents a huge opportunity, which we intend to dominate with the MG Rover franchise."