Sturgess Motor Group has reached the milestone of 120 years in business with 70 years as a Jaguar partner.

The company has recently opened a new Group Bodyshop, preparation and logistics centre and the next 12 to 24 months will see new sites being built and current sites being refreshed as part of a major investment programme.

Chris Sturgess, chairman of the group, said: “I am enormously proud of the business and the achievement of this milestone, particularly in view of the amount of consolidation that has happened in our industry over the years.

“We have a tremendous, professional workforce who have a laser-like focus on delivering quality products and services and we will be continuing our strategy of responsible and considered growth.”

Established in Leicester in 1897 by Walter E Sturgess, the business started by selling bicycles then motorbikes and eventually migrated to cars with the appointment of the Rover franchise in 1904.

The company started from a modest shop in Leicester’s West End and gradually expanded throughout the City with a number of purpose built premises.

Over the years’ the Company has held authorization from a number of vehicle manufacturers including Maudslay Trucks, post WW2 Chevrolet, Rootes Group, Panther Westwinds and Noble to name a few.

Today Sturgess represent Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Hyundai, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Abarth and Suzuki.

The appointment of Jaguar and Land Rover in 1947 and 1948 respectively make Sturgess one of the world’s oldest retailers of those brands.