Virgin Cars has now merged with Motor Solutions Ltd., Derek Cook's vehicle for new car sales to Makro cash and carry cardholders.

Management of Virgin Cars' online, telephone and Manchester car supermarket sales has now passed to the Barnsley-based Motor Solutions – which is now to become known as Virgin Cars (UK) Ltd.

Details of the transaction have yet to be confirmed by the Virgin Group, but reports of the negotiations have mentioned that Virgin will take a 25% stake in the business that former dealer group owner Derek Cook is taking over. Paula Cook is the business's operations director.

The news of Virgin Cars' disposal has spurred Carshock supermarket MD Mike Porritt into “a nationwide search for other under-performers,” he says in a bullish news release highly critical of Virgin's operation. "We don't need expensive prime trading sites, we don't need potted palms and flashy showrooms." To maintain its position as one of Britain's fastest growing companies, Carshock says it wants to increase turnover up by between £10-£20m this year, and double that again next year. Porritt was featured in Channel 4's Boss Swap programme two weeks ago.