Independent Porsche repairer JZ Machtech has now secured funding for a £1.5 million showroom which will allow it to move into used car sales for the first time.The new 10,000 sq ft will be built in the repairer’s existing industrial site on Langley Wharf in Kings Langley, near Hemel Hempstead.

Jonas Zambakides, JZ Machtech director and chair of the IGA, first unveiled his plans to move into used car retailing to AM in April.

He said: “We’re meeting with architects to finalise plans and we hope to be up and running by March 2009.”

The new used car centre will have a centralised sales and service reception and house all the offices in one place. 

Two extra staff have already joined the JZ Machtech team to train with the servicing department before becoming used car executives when the site launches next year.

Zambakides said: “We have up to 50 customers per week coming in for service work so they’ll be finding out about the plans for the used car business.

“We’ve also got a database of approximately 4,000 customers that we can target via email when we’re ready to launch.”

Zambakides said JZ Machtech was in a good position to source quality used cars with his existing Porsche contacts.

He said: “We’re looking at developing our own warranty system as well as service packages. We want to create a one-stop shop experience for our customers.

“We’ll be offering a lot of what a franchised dealer would offer, but hopefully they’ll have an easier and much friendlier experience.”