A buyer could be announced for part or all of Yorkshire dealer group Richard Alexander at the end of November.

Sources suggest that Sytner Group and JCT600 are front runners in any acquisition, already with the support of Volkswagen Group UK.

Richard Alexander, headed by Richard Smith, operates four VW, one Audi and one Seat franchises in Yorkshire.

A VW dealership in Otley closed on November 14, when its lease expired. It was due to move to a new site in Menston by now but the project has not been completed and has been "put on hold".

Audi UK declined to comment when asked whether it expected Richard Alexander to continue retailing new Audis from its Harrogate site.

Accounts late

Richard Alexander Group said the company is "going through some changes" but blamed an inability to deliver and tax new cars on system errors at Volkswagen's head office.

Its latest accounts were due to be filed at Companies House on October 31, but have not yet been received.

Last week, the company told the local press: “We would like to reassure customers that we are operating business as usual from Leeds, Harrogate and Huddersfield and these sites are currently absorbing servicing and repair work from Menston."

However, sources have told AM that Volkswagen Group has replacement retailers ready to take over the business, rumoured to be Sytner or JCT600.