Bell’s Motor Group has emerged from the annual Volvo Car UK franchised dealers awards with the National Volvo Retailer Group of the Year title.

The Swedish premium carmaker shared its full list of awards winners with AM this week and Bell’s Bedford and Northampton dealerships emerged victorious from an event which included 13 specialist category winners and seven regional retailer of the year winners.

Ray Chapman Motors Malton was awarded the prestigious National Retailer of the Year award by Volvo Car UK for a third consecutive year, meanwhile.

The team at Bells - also a Kia franchisee - wasted little time in sharing their victory on social media, where a post from the group said: “Saturday Night was the date for the 2022 Volvo Champions Awards. Bells Knew we had won an award but not aware what Award we would take home.

“This is a Group Award and is a combination of Scores of all departments for both sites and we could not have hoped for a better prize following the challenges over the last three years.”

Commenting on its triple success, Duncan Chapman, retailer principal at Ray Chapman Motors Malton, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded Volvo’s National Retailer of the Year accolade for the third year in a row.

“Every single person has played a part in earning us these awards and I couldn’t be prouder of the team."

Volvo’s regional retailer of the year winners on the night were: Lookers Stockport; Ray Chapman Motors Malton; Riverside Hull; TMS Coventry; Waylands Oxford; Vertu Truro; and Snows Winchester.

The category awards were won by:

• New Car Sales Team of the Year – FRF Motors
• Business Sales Business Sales team of the Year – Lloyd Motors Carlisle
• Care by Volvo Sales Team of the Year – Volvo Cars West London
• Volvo Selekt Overall Volume Team of the Year – Ray Chapman Malton
• Volvo Selekt Most Improved (based on growth YOY) – Squire Furneaux Leatherhead
•  Used Car Team of the Year – Arnold Clark Stirling
• Aftersales Team of the Year – TMS Coventry
• Accessory Sales Team of the Year – Tyn Lon Garage
• Most Improved Retailer of the Year – Waylands Reading
• Consumer Experience Sales Team of the Year – Vertu Taunton
• The Sustainability Initiative Award – Ray Chapman Motors Malton
• The Innovation Award – Lookers Volvo Stockport
• National Volvo Retailer Group of the Year – Bells Motor Group

• National Retailer of the Year - Ray Chapman Motors Malton

Waylands Automotive chief executive John O’Hanlon hailed a “fantastic night for Waylands” following the Volvo Car UK Retailer of the Year celebration.

Waylands Oxford took home the prize for the regional retailer for the second consecutive year as Waylands Reading emerged as the Most Improved Team.

O’Hanlon said: “A huge congratulations to all the winners on the evening - the Volvo network remains a wonderful family to be part of.”

Len Hallows, managing director of TMS Motor Group, was also among the Volvo retailers celebrating their awards success with the OEM. He said: “I am incredibly proud of our team at TMS Volvo Coventry for winning both the Volvo Regional Retailer of the Year Award and the Volvo National Aftersales Team of the Year Award.

“This is a tremendous achievement and a clear reflection of the hard work, dedication, and commitment that both our sales and aftersales teams have put in day in and day out.

“These awards are a testament to the culture of excellence that we have fostered at TMS Volvo Coventry and are a recognition of the outstanding quality of products and services that we provide to our customers.”

AM reported in January that Volvo had postponed its plans to roll-out agency model car retail by three months.

In the latest edition of AM Magazine retailers reflect on what the shift means for retail partners of the Swedish brand and OEM rivals that have set out on the same course.