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Chathams, the Scottish family group, is set to be one of the first dealers to represent Great Wall when it launches in the UK in spring 2011.
The group will represent the Chinese brand in Edinburgh after agreeing on the deal at last month’s Motor Trader Open Points Roadshow (pictured).
Speaking to Motor Trader Campbell Chatham, managing director, said the group was in advanced negotiations with Great Wall.
“We’re the preferred supplier for Edinburgh. We came to the Open Points Roadshow, saw the cars and shook hands,” he said.
Chatham said the group was ideally positioned to launch the brand in Scotland having previously introduced two brands with image problems.
“We started with Honda in the 1960s when there was a reluctance to buy Japanese. We then started to sell Skodas. With Great Wall we’ll do it again only this time there’s no negative image,” he said.
The group which represents Skoda in Edinburgh and Dunfermline has also announced Honda’s termination of its new car sales contract after representing the brand for 40 years. Honda has built a new site in the city which will be operated by Eastern Western Motor Group from 1 December.
Chathams will continue to operate as a Honda nearly-new and used car specialist and authorised repairer at its Abbeyhill site.