Cooke Howlison managing director John Marsh (left) and Mike’s Cars owner Mike Wellington shake hands. Photo: Gregor Richardson
Isuzu utes and Renault cars will from October no longer be found in what has been their familiar home dealership in Dunedin.
Hillside Rd dealership Mike’s Cars has sold its Isuzu ute and Renault franchise businesses to Cooke Howlison.
The transfer will happen on October 1.
Mike’s Cars owner Mike Wellington said the time was right to return to specialising in late-model used cars.
He said he enjoyed growing the market presence for Isuzu utes and Renault in Dunedin to a point where they had "outgrown our facilities".
The Cooke Howlison proposal would "take these great brands to the next level that they deserve".
The company was in a good position to take on new brands after the Holden sales franchises was discontinued.
Cooke Howlison managing director John Marsh said the D-Max ute had been a popular model at Mike’s Cars and a new model, about to be launched, would make an ideal replacement for the Holden Colorado.
Cooke Howlison would operate separate showrooms for Isuzu utes and Renault and offer full service and parts support.
Cooke Howlison would also continue servicing Holden vehicles from its workshop for another 10 years.
