The sites, in Manchester and Birmingham, are owned by LSH Auto, the world’s biggest retailer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles with more than 240 dealerships in seven countries. It owns four in Australia.
LSH already operates nine Mercedes-Benz and Smart dealerships in the Manchester and Birmingham areas after buying them from Mercedes-Benz Retail Group in May 2016.
Mercedes-Benz of Stockport, to open mid-year and catering for the Greater Manchester area, is a purpose-built three-storey complex built on a 4.25-hectare greenfield site.
The $112 million complex will have a showroom for 140 vehicles, have a dedicated AMG “suite” and display 100 used Mercedes-Benz vehicles in a dedicated showroom.
LSH Auto UK managing director Martyn Webb said: “Due to its sheer scale, and customer offering – in terms of vehicles and world-class facilities – we have chosen to create our hub for the Manchester area in Stockport.
“The location also complements our international business structure, and its proximity to the airport and excellent transport links are ideal.”
It will also have 30 workshop bays and display and workshop areas for the Mercedes-Benz range of new electric vehicles.
The building also houses a bistro and dedicated event facility. This hospitality concept, the first for the UK, has a dedicated hospitality manager who welcomes customers for breakfast and lunch and offers events space for private events and meetings.
“The Stockport development is very exciting for us – not only does it provide a landmark destination and offer our customers and general public an opportunity to experience Mercedes-Benz and LSH under one unique roof, it puts us as the frontrunner for Europe’s largest Mercedes-Benz showroom,” Mr Webb said.
The second building is Mercedes-Benz of Erdington’s 5000-square-metre development on a 2.4ha site which will be an approved used-car “centre of excellence”.
To open next month, the building will have a purpose-built aftersales facility, space to display 200 vehicles with 50 within the showroom, and a workshop with 12 bays.
Mr Webb said Erdington will be a “unique offering to our customers with cars of all ages available, and a state-of-the-art aftersales department for continued customer service”.
The two dealerships will boost employment by 87 people to more than 850 staff.
By Neil Dowling
