South Island dealership Oakwood Motor Group has purchased the Isuzu Truck sales division of Smallbone Mid and South Canterbury.
The deal will also continue a partnership with ACL Smallbone for service and parts in both regions.
Oakwood is a South Island wide group, owning the long-established Blackwells and Cooke Howlison dealerships.
Group managing director John Marsh says the decision to purchase the Isuzu Master Truck franchise was part of the company’s strategic plan for developing the truck business.
“We are very pleased with the acquisition of the Timaru and Ashburton dealerships, which complement our existing Isuzu Master Dealerships in Christchurch and Dunedin.
“The purchase is also a show of confidence in the Mid and South Canterbury economies and the exciting future for Isuzu Trucks, which has been New Zealand’s number one selling truck for 20 consecutive years,” Marsh says.
The acquisition will take the Oakwood Group to 13 car and truck dealerships and 340 staff across the South Island, with the intention of continuing to operate from the existing sites in Ashburton and Timaru.
Scania parts and service will continue to be supplied by ACL Smallbone and Cooke Howlison in their respective regions.
Oakwood Group and Smallbone say they are committed to ensuring a smooth transition of customers and minimising any disruption to the business, with ownership commencing on August 10, 2020.
