Overview
Tates Cars has opened a new multi-million-pound Vauxhall retail and service site in Brighton & Hove, restoring the brand’s presence locally and acting as a hub for customers across Sussex.
Key features
- 31 charging points to support growing electrified vehicle needs.
- Six-bay workshop engineered to handle the largest light commercial vehicles (LCVs).
- On-site MOT bay for streamlined testing.
- Among the first in the UK to open with Vauxhall’s new corporate identity, described as “progressive, detoxed, and British.”
Strategy and positioning
The opening formally brings Vauxhall back to Brighton & Hove after a prolonged absence, adding local aftersales capacity and addressing previously unmet demand. Leadership framed the move as part of a broader network refresh to reassert the brand in Sussex and introduce a “reimagined showroom” that changes how customers experience the marque “from the outside in.”
Customer experience and identity
The site launches with Vauxhall’s refreshed retail identity, aiming for a consistent, modern presentation across sales and service. While specific in-store technologies were not detailed, the focus suggests an elevated physical experience alongside online journeys.
Aftersales capability
- LCV-ready workshop: Taller, more spacious bays support routine and complex work on large vans, reducing diversion to third-party facilities.
- Charging infrastructure: The 31 connectors bolster preparation for test drives, retail display, and customer servicing; charger types and power ratings were not disclosed.
- On-site MOT: Keeps testing and repair under one roof to cut wait times and simplify visits.
Tates Group context
Tates Vauxhall expands the family-run Tates Group’s portfolio, a business with over 90 years of trading. The wider Tates Motor Group ranks No. 152 in the Motor Trader Top 200 Dealer Groups with annual turnover of £77.3 million.
What wasn’t disclosed
- Exact investment amount beyond “multi-million-pound.”
- Staffing levels and sales targets.
- Plans for additional Sussex locations.
Why it matters
- Restored local presence: Returns the Vauxhall badge to a key coastal market.
- Broader support: Increases regional capacity for EVs and LCVs as technology and customer needs evolve.
- Brand consistency: Early adoption of the new corporate identity signals updated standards in presentation and service.
