SLM Group has acquired a Suzuki dealership and Bosch Service Centre in Braintree as part of its acquisition of Quest Motor Group for an undisclosed sum.

Family-owned Quest Motor Group was founded in 1924. The business has operated as a Suzuki dealership for four years and in 2022, also became a Bosch Service Centre.

The purchase welcomes 45 new employees to SLM and the site will continue to operate as Quest Motor Group as a subsidiary of SLM.

Mark Phillips, SLM Group managing director, said: “SLM Group shares Quest’s commitment to providing excellent customer service and building strong relationships with the local community, with family values at its core.

“We believe that this acquisition will be a great benefit to the existing Quest customers and valued employees.”

Robin Gozzett, former owner of Quest Motor Group, said: “After almost 100 years in the Gozzett family, myself and Martin Gozzett are delighted to have sold Quest Motor Group to St Leonards Motors Ltd, another long-established family

business with whom we have been associated with for many years.

"We wish Mark Phillips and his team the very best and we are pleased that SLM will continue to uphold all the family dealership values that we have worked to for all those years.

“We are confident that all our customers will continue to receive the wonderful service that they have always experienced from all the familiar faces.”

The addition of Quest Motor Group increases SLM’s representation points to 15, with sites in East Sussex, Kent, East Anglia, Surrey, Hampshire and now Essex.

SLM Group also has an existing Suzuki dealership in Kent and a Bosch Service Centre in East Sussex.

This latest acquisition follows on from SLM's deal to buy SMC Motor Group in October, gaining dealerships in Surrey and Hampshire with Seat, Cupra, Renault and Dacia joining SLM’s portfolio of brand partners.