Stoneacre Motor Group has created a dual-brand Aston Martin and Lexus dealership in Newcastle after forging its first partnership with the Japanese premium brand via an acquisition from Jardine Motors Group.

The Thorne-based AM100 car retailer completed the acquisition of the former Jardine operation on Benton Road, Newcastle, as the property’s lease came up for renewal in December.

Stoneacre said that it had retained all 25 of the Lexus dealership's staff – with many having almost two decades of Lexus experience – after its operations were officially moved into its existing Aston Martin site in Cobalt Way, The Silverlink, Wallsend, on Friday (November 20).

The Aston Martin dealership, opened in March 2016, now occupies the upper floor of the building, with the ground floor the new home for Lexus Newcastle.

Plans have been agreed to provide the very latest Lexus corporate identity (CI) and work will commence in January.

Stoneacre managing director, Shaun Foweather, said:  “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aston Martin for their continued support and welcome both the Lexus team to the Stoneacre family and Lexus as a new franchise partner.

“We retain all of the existing team and intend to provide them with full head office support, training through the Stoneacre Training Academy (post lockdown) and full integration into the Stoneacre Culture to ensure that customer satisfaction is further enhanced under the Stoneacre brand and we very much look forward to working with them to achieve the full franchise potential.”

Stoneacre Motor Group, ranked 15th in the AM100 2020, employs a team of circa 2,800, has said that its revenues to April 2021 are expected to be well in excess of £1bn, with and pre-tax profits in excess of £20m, following up the growth delivered in 2018/19.

The group represents 28 manufacturer partners in 57 locations with 122 franchised outlets and once again asserted that it is positioned well to continue to grow further through a process of “controlled acquisition”.

Foweather said: “We will continue to recruit staff in 2021 and provide training through The Stoneacre Training Academy.

“Our Vision ‘Driving Excellence’, our Customer Retention Programme ‘Motoring for Life’ and our Team Retention Programme ‘Careers for Life’ continue to drive service excellence throughout the business.

“It is the loyalty and strength of our team delivering great results everyday which has seen us post record sales and profits during the pandemic by providing a consistent, transparent and fair deal to our ever-growing customer data base.”

Stoneacre said that it would discuss any franchise opportunity with either dealer groups, owner drivers, stakeholders, existing or potential franchise partners.