Hardie Motor Group, which has three Peugeot sites in Scotland, has opened a specialist used car centre that opens late and makes online sales a priority.

After many delays over the lease, Hardie Cars opened on December 22 and sold 30 cars by mid January, says Rachel Hardie, marketing manager.

“The sales team were desperate to open,” says Hardie. “We have already taken on an extra person because of our early success.”

The outlet is on a site previously occupied by Pinnacle, also a used car outlet. Some of the Pinnacle staff now work for Hardie, which is making its website and email enquiries a priority.

“We opened our first dealership at Larbert in 1958, and represent Peugeot there as well as in Stirling and Dunfermline.

“We have built a good reputation by being flexible and providing a high level of service to customers,” says Hardie, who is the daughter of group senior partner Gordon Hardie.

“We have 60 cars on the site and will build this to 100. Stock comes from trade-ins at our franchised dealerships and from other sources.

“Hardie Cars sells everything from BMWs to Fiestas, and we stay open until 8pm four days per week, an hour later than at our franchised sites.”

Gordon Hardie says: “I come from Falkirk, and have always wanted to open a dealership in the town.”