Northern Ireland car retail group Mervyn Stewart has opened its first Suzuki GB franchise with the acquisition of the existing Phillip Petersen operation in Bangor.

Located on the County Down town’s South Circular Industrial Estate the facility will retail the full range of new and used Suzuki cars as well as offering on-site electric vehicle (EV) charging, specialist advice to Motability customers, vehicle servicing and full aftersales support.

It adds to a Mervyn Stewart portfolio which also includes Skoda and MG Motor UK franchises and the group’s recently-launched Select Used Cars business.

Group managing director, Stephen Stewart, said: “We are delighted to add the Suzuki franchise to the group following the acquisition of Philip Petersen earlier this year.

“The purchase of such an established business has meant that we have an experienced team with knowledge expertise and a total commitment to customer care.

“Suzuki have an ambitious plan that is clearly communicated. We have an outstanding product range that embraces Hybrid models across the range. We look forward to growing the business together and delivering excellence for our customers.”

Suzuki’s range of models is currently comprised of 12V, 48V, higher voltage Hybrid and PHEV models, with 4x4 Allgrip technology also available across its Ignis, Swift, Vitara, S-Cross, Jimny LCV and Across models.

Dale Wyatt, director automobile at Suzuki GB PLC, said: “We welcome the Mervyn Stewart group to the Suzuki family and look forward to working with them in the important Northern Irish market, particularly with a long established and successful multi-marque group.

“It’s a very exciting time to be with Suzuki with our 100% hybrid range of passenger cars and some important new models to announce in the future.”

Year-to-date to the end of October, Suzuki’s UK sales were 8.1% up at 19,189 (2020: 17,755).

Back in August AM reported that Mervyn Stewart had launched a new Select Used Cars business after new funding allowed it to invest £2m in the acquisition and redevelopment of its former Infiniti dealership in Belfast.

The car retailer, Northern Ireland’s largest Skoda franchisee, was able to expand into the Boucher Crescent site with its new venture after securing funding from Danske Bank.