The dealership, owned by BMW Australia, is operating out of premises in Alexandria until its showcase building – with a budget of more than $53 million – in Rushcutters Bay is ready for completion in 2019.

Alpina, distributed through Autosports Group Ltd based in Doncaster, Victoria, said BMW Sydney is an award-winning dealership holding the national BMW dealer trophy in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

The car-maker, which has a long-standing agreement with BMW to produce personalised models under its own name, markets five variants in Australia.

LONDON: Texas-based Group 1 Automotive has bought Beadles Group Ltd of England, adding 12 dealerships expected to generate $A435 million in annual revenue.

The acquisition expands Group 1’s presence in the UK to 43 dealerships that are estimated to generate more than $A2.6 billion in annual revenue. Beadles Group dealerships, which sell seven brands in south-east Greater London, will continue to operate under the Beadles name.

The additions will expand Group 1’s Jaguar and Land Rover operations, and will add the company’s first Volkswagen, Skoda, Toyota, Vauxhall and Kia dealerships in the UK.

Group 1 owns and operates 171 dealerships, 224 franchises and 47 collision centres in the US, the UK and Brazil.

It ranks No. 3 on Automotive News’ list of the top 150 dealership groups based in the US, with retail sales of 172,053 new light vehicles in 2016.

NOTTINGHAM: Aston Martin franchisee Sytner Group has opened a state-of-the-art showroom, Aston Martin Nottingham.

It is the first Aston franchise for Sytner, which has 140 specialist dealerships around the UK. The complex has a 23-car showroom and a dedicated area for the Aston Martin “Timeless” pre-owned models.    

JOHANNESBURG: Giant supply-chain management conglomerate Super Group of South Africa has bought the Slough Motor Company in the UK. It follows Super Group’s purchase earlier this year of the Essex Auto Group.

The Slough business has six Ford sites and three Suzuki locations. It lifts the Johannesburg company’s UK assets to 24 Ford sites, three Suzuki, two Kia and two Fiat. It will take Super Group’s annual revenue to about $A1.1 billion.

More acquisitions are planned as the South African rand remains very strong against the British currency.

By Neil Dowling

Aston Martin Nottingham