Canterbury Holden and Isuzu trucks dealer Smallbone Limited is closing its Timaru dealership.
Smallbone chairman Craig Carr says the closure follows the company’s review of its dealerships in Ashburton and Timaru in the wake of General Motors’ announcement that it was retiring the Holden brand.
Factors that drove the decision to close the Timaru branch included the need to find new premises, install new plant, the recent hailstorm that hit Timaru, and the need to find a franchise to replace Holden.
It’s unclear how many staff will be affected by the closure, but Carr told The Timaru Herald newspaper that some roles would be made redundant.
The company is looking at working with those staff “to find them alternative employment with a third party service provider.” Some people might be redeployed elsewhere in the Smallbone group.
He says Smallbone is working to find service providers in South Canterbury to look after Holden cars and Isuzu trucks.
Carr ruled out elevating Honda – which Smallbone already represents – to be the dealership’s flagship brand, citing small monthly sales.
The Timaru closure won’t affect Smallbone’s Ashburton branch. Carr says the company is talking with several motor vehicle companies who are interested in working with Smallbone in mid-Canterbury.
Smallbone secured the Ashburton agency for Chevrolet and General Motors in 1930 and is one of the oldest New Zealand GM dealers. It took over the Timaru Holden agency from Drummond and Etheridge in 2016.
