Two 34-year-old former motor industry managers, both with Toyota connections, have teamed up to buy a Ford dealership in South Wales and plan to build a regional group.

Paul Rogers and Nick Wenger acquired Arrow Ford at Blackwood, Gwent, which is a few miles north of Newport in South Wales, when the owner, Robin Harries, sold for an undisclosed sum to pursue property interests.

The partners will not comment on how their business venture is financed, or whether Ford is backing them.

Rogers, primarily responsible for new car sales, and Wenger, who takes the lead on aftersales, say their roles are not fixed.

They are already talking to other manufacturers about acquiring other sites.

They have adopted Ford’s Look & Style showroom programme and hope to sell 250 new and 300 used vehicles this year, which would be double last year’s totals.

“Purchasing a business has been our desire for some time, and we are keen to implement the skills and knowledge we have gained,” says Rogers.

He has 12 years experience, all with Toyota, and most recently was dealer principal at Toyota World Cardiff.

“It took us six months to buy Arrow Ford, which has been a Ford dealership since 1923, and early signs indicate we made the right choice,” says Wenger.

He was a Toyota area operations manager, and earlier an aftersales manager with Toyota and Volkswagen dealer groups.

Rogers says the first priority is to build on Arrow Ford’s reputation, build new and used car sales, F&I, rental and rapid-fit operations.

“We’ve already created a new customer waiting area, with wireless computer connection and a children’s play area,” says Rogers.

“There will soon be an indoor area for used cars.”