Inchcape to shut eight Bravoauto used car supermarkets

Inchcape is to shut eight of its 17 Bravoauto used car supermarkets at the end of the month which are failing to make sufficient returns.

Motor Trader understands that 100 staff have been issued with redundancy notices as the company takes steps to ‘optimise’ the network.

In a statement issued to Motor Trader, Inchcape said: “We continuously develop and optimise our go-to-market approach for bravoauto and have made good progress since launching in 2021.

“Having analysed the returns in each site, we are taking steps to optimise our existing network, which will result in the closure of eight sites in November.

“We remain fully committed to our other nine Bravoauto sites and the Bravoauto model and are confident in their potential to deliver value.”

Inchcape currently has close to 1,300 vehicles listed on the Bravoauto website.

Like other dealer groups, it is finding it more difficult to get the right stock in a shrunken used car parc resulting from low new car sales in recent years.

It is not alone in cutting its exposure to used cars. Earlier this year Peter Vardy moved fast to lose two supermarkets, citing stock shortages.

Motorpoint also paused its expansion programme earlier this year due to stock sourcing challenges.