Cambria Automobiles has continued on its acquisition trail, taking over two Honda and two Mazda franchises from Drake and Fletcher in Kent.

 

The £32 million turnover, family run businesses are in Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone. The deal sees around 85 staff join Cambria.

The two dual franchise sites’ names will be changed to Invicta. Cambria already has Invicta Ford outlets in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet.

The acquisition means Cambria now operates seven franchises from five locations in Kent and takes the group to 37 franchised outlets and its total turnover to more than £400 million.

It also sees Cambria take on its first Honda franchise.

Mark Lavery, Cambria’s chief executive, said: “Drake and Fletcher is a long-established, family-owned business with a good reputation.

“We believe there is a significant opportunity to improve business performance and are delight to expand our Mazda representation and take our first step into Honda which means we offer 13 new vehicle brands.”

Sales at the Tunbridge Wells site are approxiamately 500 new and used Hondas and 550 Mazdas annually and at Maidstone 500 Hondas and 520 Mazdas.

Lavery signalled his intention to continue to expand Cambria. With the purchase of the Lythgoe Motor Group in Bolton in November and Autohaus, the AM100 group has added 10 sites in the last four months.

“We are being reasonably aggressive in a difficult market. A number of businesses are finding trading difficult because of the impact of the end of scrappage and the imminent introduction of the showroom tax.”

Drake and Fletcher was established in 1898.