The AM100 topping dealer group Pendragon will soon be appointed the UK agent for Cadillac, the American car brand trying to expand overseas.

Trevor Finn, chief executive, said talks with the European distributor of Cadillac were in the final stages and dealerships in London, Birmingham and Manchester should open next year.

The appointment will strengthen Pendragon's presence in the luxury car market, where it already sells marques such as Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari and BMW.

It is the first indication of how soon General Motors, which owns Cadillac, will begin manufacturing right-hand drive models.

At present it makes only the CTS saloon in right-hand drive, for Japan, but the full range is expected to be sold in other right-hand drive markets, such as South Africa and Australia.

General Motors last summer appointed Kroymans, the Dutch dealership chain, as Cadillac's European importer.

The company hopes to sell 10,000 units a year by 2010, up from 791 last year.