The future is with Mazda, according to the Milcars Group, which is about to begin construction of its second outlet for the Japanese brand in a prime location in Hertfordshire.

Minutes from the M1 in Watford, Otterspool Way has already seen the opening of used car supermarket Karma Cars (see p12), and plans approved for a Lancaster Group BMW dealership. These will be joined by Milcars Mazda next spring, bringing the brand back to Watford for the first time in three years.

“Mazda identified the site as an open point, and its close proximity to a lot of affluent areas meant we saw it as a good opportunity to develop our relationship with Mazda,” explains Tony Thomas, group general manager.

He wouldn’t be drawn on sales volumes, although Milcars already operates a Mazda dealership in St Albans, which is the manufacturer’s eighth best-selling outlet this year, with 325 units sold.

The Watford site represents a multi-million pound investment by the family-owned Milcars Group and is being handled by automotive trade architect SDA in Leeds. It will comprise a large showroom housing a display of 12 new and 25 used Mazdas and a forecourt display of a further 25 used models.

Initially, the service area will only have five bays, although this may be expanded to ten bays once the business is established. Thomas says the total workforce will be around 35 staff, with the aim of increasing that to 50 within two years. Recruitment will begin after Christmas.