Snows Motor Group has expanded with Toyota adding its ninth location with the Japanese brand with a new showroom in Hampshire.

The site in Bridge Road in the village of Sarisbury Green, near Southampton has been refurbished inside and out following a "significant investment" and the dealership is the first Snows Toyota site to showcase the Japanese manufacturer’s latest corporate identity.

The five-car showroom features customer pods with touchscreen technology positioned around the dealership.

A new workshop facility has also been created for servicing and MOT work.

Cameras are trained on the MOT test area so customers can watch their car being worked on, with an iPad taking the place of the old-style ‘customer viewing area’.

The new Sarisbury Green site joins sister Snows Toyota dealerships in Chichester and Hedge End, and further west in Exeter and Plymouth.

Dale Vaughan, Toyota franchise sales manager at the dealer group, said: ‘‘The latest Toyota corporate identity looks great – it’s smart, informal and inviting, and we’re looking forward to introducing it at Snows’ other Toyota dealerships too. 

‘‘As a manufacturer, Toyota is going from strength to strength – the models in its range are hugely impressive.

“We’ve got a great brand, a great site and we are looking to the future with optimism.’’

Heading up the new dealership’s management team are Bruce Simpson, general manager; Jason Warwick, sales manager; and Ian Walmsley, service manager.

In total, around 15 jobs are being created, with customer care consultants and handover specialists among those being recruited.

It is anticipated that more staff will be needed as the dealership gets busier and becomes a familiar and well-established feature of the local community.

An official opening celebration will be held later in the summer.