Available Car has bought the former Motorhouse 2000 site at Calladine Business Park, Sutton in Ashfield, which it hopes will complement its existing car supermarket in Donington.

The three-time winner of AM’s Used Car Retailer award opened its second site on Good Friday after a week of extensive refitting and rebranding. The existing team of 50 staff have been retained, with recruitment planned through the coming months as the facility expands.

The site was empty for six years after construction before being taken on by Motorhouse 2000 three years ago. Available Car claims a 750 vehicle capacity for the site, of which 400 are currently in stock. Planned expansion into the on-site preparation centre will boost its capacity to 900. Its inclined showroom space gives approaching customers a clear view of the 200 cars inside.

Operations director Paul Arscott says: “We need to achieve 5,000 sales per year, and once we acquire the second part of the site we expect sales of 7,500. Turnover should be £30-35m in the first year, and an expected £45m in our second year. Donington has around a £70m turnover and the sites complement each other very well.”

Available Car attributes much of its success to its strong presence on the internet. The company claims around 80% of its customers browse the website before visiting its showrooms.