JT Hughes has added the Kia Motors UK car franchise to its portfolio with the opening of a new dealership with the Korean car brand in Newtown.

The Shrewsbury-based car retailer added the franchise to a portfolio which already features Kia sister brand Hyundai, Honda and Mitsubishi Motors in the UK at locations in Shrewsbury, Newtown and Telford.

Kia joins the Honda and Mitsubishi franchises at a reconfigured showroom facility on Pool Road, Newtown.

JT Hughes’ new dealership is one of a handful who have started 2021 with a ‘Lockdown 3’ opening.

AM reported this morning on Sytner Group’s opening of its new £12.3m Guy Salmon Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) site outside Bristol, while Lind Group has opened its new Porsche Centre in Norwich and Cameron Motors its Volvo dealership in Perth in recent weeks.

A quote issued by the JT Hughes management team said that it was “thrilled” for business to begin at its new Kia business, despite an inability to host car buyers inside the new showroom facility due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

It said: “We are thrilled to join forces with such a successful and forward-thinking manufacturer and to be bringing the Kia brand, which offers high quality and extremely competitively priced products, to the people of Newtown and Mid-Wales.”

Welcoming the new brand in a statement to customers on its website, it added: “The addition of Kia adds to what is already an impressive selection within our portfolio of car brands, as we strive to continue to offer you, and all our Mid-Wales customers, as much choice as possible, representing Honda, Mitsubishi and now Kia for sales and service.

“A selection of quality Kia Approved used vehicles will also be available at the Newtown car dealership.”

Kia Motors UK recently named Lookers’ Kia Stockport as Dealer of the Year at the annual Kia Dealer Excellence Awards 2020 and praised franchisees for adapting to last year's challenging trading conditions.

JT Hughes worked hard to adapt to the trading conditions presented during a COVID-impacted 2020.

In September AM reported that the business had appointed digital agency Built For Now Limited to create its own “bespoke” end-to-end online retail platform for new and used cars.

JT Hughes managing director, John Hughes, told Shropshire Live: “Ultimately, our objective is to give customers the flexibility and control to buy their vehicle however they prefer, be it online, or from one of our dealerships, or a hybrid of both.”