Stoneacre has completed the refurbishment of its Volvo Sunderland dealership, following a £5 million investment in the site.

The new-look showroom, on Riverbank Road, features Volvo’s signature lounge area, complete with Scandinavian furniture, free Wi-Fi and Swedish cakes and coffee. An interior viewing window allows customers to see all activity in the new workshops.

The refurbishment also extends to the retailer’s cosmetic repair facility and storage centre.

David Nicholson, from Stoneacre Volvo Sunderland, said: “This refurbishment is about more than a change of furniture – it’s designed to create a space where our customers can feel relaxed and at ease in an environment that provides flexible waiting, working and assessment areas.

“With the phasing-out of petrol and diesel cars in the coming years, our new state-of-the-art facility will be ready for the future, with a range of plug-in hybrid models to choose from – plus the pure electric C40 – alongside a selection of used cars from our Volvo Selekt range.”

Helping combat the climate emergency and ahead of Volvo’s commitment to become a fully electric car maker by 2030, the retailer has also pledged that no refreshments will be served using single-use plastics – in fact, these will be removed from the new showroom completely.

The retailer is also continuing to offer its streamlined service to car owners which halves waiting times. The Volvo Personal Service sees the same technician liaising with the customer from the point of booking, right through to explaining the services – which they themselves have carried out. Two technicians work together on each car, reducing the time it takes for the service to be fulfilled.

Following the opening of its new Sunderland dealership, Stoneacre Motor Group is set to make its Lincoln Volvo dealership “ready for the future” as it becomes the Swedish brand’s latest franchised site to undergo a major redevelopment.

The South Yorkshire-based AM100 car retail group will invest £2 million to transform the facility on Cheshire Road, Lincolnfields, to conform with the premium car brand’s Volvo Retail Experience (VRE) corporate identity.

Two years ago, Stoneacre upgraded its Volvo dealership in Sheffield with a £2m investment, later reopening the facility with the help of British triathletes Lucy Hall and Mark Buckingham.

The changes come as the brand heads towards its goal of becoming a fully electric car maker by 2030, with sales completed entirely online in partnership with its retail network.