Family-owned SMC Motor Group has been acquired by SLM Group for an undisclosed sum. SCM operated for over 39 years, running four dealerships in Surrey and Hampshire with the SEAT, Renault, Dacia and CUPRA franchises. The sale sees shareholders, James Kimber and Anne Knight, retire from the automotive industry.
SLM Group operates in East Sussex, Kent and East Anglia, comprising five Toyota dealerships, one Vauxhall dealership, one Suzuki dealership, one GMW ORA dealership, two used car sites, SLM Select, and two Body Repair Centres. The acquisition of SCM Motor Group takes SLM up to 16 representation points, as well as their first foray into the SEAT/Cupra and Renault/Dacia franchises.
Mark Phillips, CEO of SLM Group, said: “We have been keen to expand for some time now, and the addition of SMC Motor Group allows us to grow our AOI. We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the business and are excited to work with some new brand partners moving forward.”
James Kimber, Managing Director of SMC Motor Group, said: “I am pleased to have concluded a deal with SLM Group who have very similar family values to ourselves and have no doubt they will continue the success we have managed to achieve at SMC over the past 39 years.
“We would like to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of our employees and for the contribution to the outstanding success SMC Motor Group has been able to achieve.”
SMC were represented in the sale by David Kendrick and his automotive team. David said:
“SMC has been a successful regional family-run business for as long as I can remember. With the continued consolidation going on and lack of succession within the business, selling to SLM Group makes complete sense and I am sure Mark and his director team will make a huge success of the businesses moving forward.”
