Why CarShop in Swindon is no more after big change at dealership

The CarShop in Swindon is no more, with all branding removed new signage put up recently.

Staff at the used car chain were told a month ago that The CarShop branding would be removed at the business in Penny Lane, off Drakes Way.

In its place is Sytner Select Approved Used Cars, which is the dealer that owns The CarShop after buying for more than £70m back in 2017.

As part of the rebrand, the company has decided to shut down one location and is in the process of selling some other sites as part of a major strategic review.

But the Swindon dealership appears to feature heavily in the company's future as it is in the process of being fully rebranded with the Sytner Select branding.

The physical rebrand began this week and is still underway with scaffolding visible at the site.

Blue flags have been installed throughout the car park, all of the building's big signage has been replaced, a banner can be seen from Drakes Way and even the digital screen now displays Sytner rather than The CarShop.

(Image: Newsquest)

After buying The CarShop, Sytner expanded with new locations in Bristol in 2019 and then Nottingham in 2020.

There are currently 11 The CarShop locations across the UK, including the Bristol and Nottingham sites, as well as Cardiff, Doncaster, Manchester, Northampton, Norwich, Sheffield, Swindon, Warrington and Wolverhampton.

But this is on the verge of changing, as per a Sytner spokesperson speaking to Motor Trader a month ago when the plans were announced.

"We can confirm that after conducting a strategic review, including a successful pilot at one former CarShop location, the Group is consulting with our CarShop team regarding the potential rebranding of the majority of our CarShop locations, to become Sytner Select Approved Used Cars.

“In addition, we can confirm that we are also in advanced negotiations with an interested party to sell a minority of the CarShop locations as a going concern, as well as potentially closing one location.

“Our priority as always, will be to protect as many jobs as possible whilst ensuring that the long-term future success of the business is secured.”

According to the Doncaster Free Press, the Doncaster showroom is the one that Sytner have earmarked for closure with 100 jobs set to go when it closes for its last day on June 30.

It is not yet clear what impact, if any, this rebrand will have on existing CarShop customers.