Vertu Motors
Vertu Motors is a United Kingdom automotive retail group operating franchised car dealerships, vehicle-related businesses and mobility services under the Vertu name.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Vertu Motors is a United Kingdom automotive retail group whose principal business is the operation of franchised car dealerships. Established in 2006, the company began trading in 2007 after acquiring Bristol Street Motors, a Birmingham-based dealership business with roots extending back to 1924. That transaction provided the foundation for a nationwide automotive retail network and gave the group its first major operating identity. The company expanded through a combination of acquisitions, dealership development and relationships with vehicle manufacturers. A significant early step was the 2013 purchase of the Yorkshire-based Farnell Land Rover business, which was later rebranded as Vertu Land Rover in 2021. In 2018, Vertu acquired Hughes Group Holdings and its subsidiary Hughes of Beaconsfield. Further expansion followed in several regions, including the South West, where Vertu bought Helston Garages in 2022 and Rowes Garage Ltd in 2023. The acquisition of Burrows Motors Company increased the group’s presence in Yorkshire and contributed to a portfolio of more than 200 individual sites across England and Scotland. Vertu’s dealerships represent a broad selection of vehicle manufacturers. The network has included brands such as Audi, BMW, BYD, Citroën, CUPRA, Dacia, Ford, Geely, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, MINI, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Škoda, smart, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo. Dealership operations generally combine new-vehicle sales with used-car sales, servicing, parts, repair, finance-related offerings and manufacturer-specific customer support. The group also owns or operates ancillary businesses, including Vansdirect and Wiperblades.co.uk. For much of its history, the group used several retail identities. Bristol Street Motors was its best-known operating brand, while Macklin Motors served customers in Scotland and Vertu branding was used in selected specialist or acquired operations. The company began consolidating these identities after celebrating the centenary of Bristol Street Motors in 2024. Macklin Motors locations were rebranded as Vertu in February 2025, followed by the disappearance of the Bristol Street Motors name from dealerships in April 2025. This created a single principal retail network under the Vertu name, while the group retained a Vertu-owned Carrs Ferrari site in Exeter as an exception to the broader dealership consolidation. The brand also has a substantial external profile through sports, entertainment and community partnerships. Vertu and its former retail brands have supported British Touring Car Championship activities, football competitions and clubs, basketball, cricket, rugby, music and theatre venues. The company became the Official Car Dealer of the English Football League in 2023, and the EFL Trophy naming arrangement moved from Bristol Street Motors Trophy to Vertu Trophy during the subsequent brand transition. Vertu has also supported the EXCELR8 touring-car team, Newcastle Eagles basketball and a range of regional sports organisations. Vertu Motors remains an active, publicly traded automotive retailer focused primarily on the United Kingdom. Its current strategic identity is based on scale, manufacturer representation, regional dealership coverage and the use of one national Vertu retail brand.
History
Vertu Motors plc was established in the United Kingdom in 2006 and began trading in 2007. Its starting point was the acquisition of Bristol Street Motors, a Birmingham dealership business whose history dated to 1924. The acquisition gave the newly formed group an established retail platform and a name with a long regional and national presence. During the following years, Vertu Motors developed through acquisitions and the expansion of manufacturer franchise relationships. The group entered Yorkshire more substantially with the purchase of Farnell Land Rover in 2013. That operation was subsequently brought into the Vertu identity as Vertu Land Rover in 2021. In 2018, the group acquired Hughes Group Holdings, including Hughes of Beaconsfield, adding further dealership operations and manufacturer representation. Growth continued through both regional acquisitions and the extension of the group’s geographic footprint. The purchase of Helston Garages in 2022 was a major step in the South West, followed by the acquisition of Rowes Garage Ltd in 2023. The later addition of Burrows Motors Company strengthened the company’s position in Yorkshire. Together with other acquisitions and dealership operations, these transactions helped take the group’s portfolio beyond 200 individual sites across England and Scotland. Vertu Motors historically operated a portfolio of retail identities rather than presenting every location under one name. Bristol Street Motors was the most established of these identities. Macklin Motors, launched in 2010, operated across Scotland between Ayr and Edinburgh. Vertu branding was also used for selected dealerships and acquired operations, including the former Farnell Land Rover business. This multi-brand approach allowed the group to preserve local recognition while operating a large national network. The company began a major brand-consolidation programme after the centenary of Bristol Street Motors in 2024. Macklin Motors locations were converted to Vertu in February 2025. Bristol Street Motors dealerships followed in April 2025, ending the use of that name across the group’s ordinary dealership network. The move established Vertu as the principal retail identity across the company’s operations, although the Vertu-owned Carrs Ferrari operation in Exeter remained a distinct exception associated with the Ferrari marque. The modern group combines dealership retailing with ancillary businesses. Its activities include new-car sales, used-car sales, servicing, repairs, parts, vehicle-related finance and commercial-vehicle retailing. Vansdirect and Wiperblades.co.uk broaden the business beyond conventional dealership operations. The group represents a wide range of manufacturers, spanning mainstream, premium, electric and specialist marques. Its manufacturer relationships have included Audi, BMW, BYD, Citroën, CUPRA, Dacia, Ford, Geely, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, MINI, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, SEAT, Škoda, smart, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo. Marketing and partnership activity has been another important part of the company’s development. Vertu and its predecessor retail brands have sponsored touring-car racing, Formula One broadcasting, football, basketball, cricket, rugby, music and theatre. The group supported the EXCELR8 team in the British Touring Car Championship from 2021 and became title sponsor for the 2022 campaign. It also held naming and sponsorship rights connected with the MINI CHALLENGE and supported the EFL Trophy. As the retail brands were consolidated, several sponsorship identities moved from Bristol Street Motors to Vertu. Vertu Motors is listed on the Alternative Investment Market and continues to operate as an active UK automotive retail group. Its current identity combines the scale accumulated through acquisitions with a simplified customer-facing brand and a broad portfolio of manufacturer franchises.
- 2025
National Vertu brand consolidation
[1]Macklin Motors sites were rebranded in February and Bristol Street Motors dealerships followed in April, creating a unified Vertu dealership network.
- 2024
Bristol Street Motors centenary
[1]The group marked the centenary of the Bristol Street Motors business before consolidating its dealership identities.
- 2023
Rowes Garage Ltd acquired
[1]Vertu Motors continued its South West expansion through the purchase of Rowes Garage Ltd.
- 2022
Helston Garages acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Vertu Motors’ presence across South West England.
- 2021
Farnell Land Rover rebranded
[1]The former Farnell Land Rover operation adopted the Vertu Land Rover name.
- 2018
Hughes Group Holdings acquired
[1]The group acquired Hughes Group Holdings and its Hughes of Beaconsfield subsidiary.
- 2013
Farnell Land Rover acquired
[1]Vertu Motors purchased the Yorkshire-based Farnell Land Rover dealership business.
- 2010
Macklin Motors launched
[1]The Macklin Motors retail identity was launched for the group’s Scottish dealership operations.
- 2007
Trading begins after Bristol Street Motors acquisition
[1]The company began trading after acquiring Bristol Street Motors and its established dealership operations.
- 2006
Vertu Motors established
[1]Vertu Motors was established as a United Kingdom automotive dealership group.
Products and positioning
A large, multi-brand UK automotive retailer positioned around nationwide dealership coverage, manufacturer franchises, customer service, used-car retailing and integrated after-sales support. Since 2025, the group has increasingly presented its retail operations under the single Vertu name.
Automotive retail
New vehicles
Vertu Motors sells new vehicles through manufacturer-franchised dealerships across England and Scotland. Its franchise portfolio spans mainstream, premium, luxury, electric and specialist brands, including Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Volvo, BYD and Geely. The precise manufacturer mix varies by location and franchise agreement.
Automotive retail
Used vehicles
Used-car retailing is a core part of the dealership group’s offer. Vehicles are sold through the network alongside new-car franchises, with local dealerships providing purchase support and associated retail services. The used-vehicle operation enables the group to serve customers outside the individual brands represented in new-car sales.
After-sales services
Vehicle servicing and parts
The dealership network provides manufacturer-authorised servicing, maintenance, repairs and parts support. These after-sales activities extend the relationship beyond the initial vehicle sale and cover vehicles sold by the represented manufacturers. Individual facilities and capabilities vary according to their franchise and local operating structure.
Commercial vehicle retail
Commercial vehicles and vans
Vertu Motors represents selected commercial-vehicle and van manufacturers through its franchised dealerships. The group also operates Vansdirect, an ancillary business associated with van leasing and commercial-vehicle retailing.
Van leasing
Vansdirect
Vansdirect is an ancillary Vertu Motors business focused on van-related retail and leasing services. It complements the group’s physical commercial-vehicle dealerships and gives customers an additional route to obtain vans.
Automotive parts
Wiperblades.co.uk
Wiperblades.co.uk is an online vehicle-consumables business within the Vertu Motors portfolio. It extends the group into direct online sales of replacement wiper blades and related automotive products.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Team VERTU BTCC identity
United Kingdom
The former Bristol Street Motors-backed touring-car operation adopted the Team VERTU identity for the 2025 BTCC season.
Outcome. Tom Ingram was again crowned champion.
- 2024Birmingham City strategic partnership
United Kingdom
Vertu Motors signed a multi-year strategic partnership agreement with Birmingham City Football Club.
- 2023MINI CHALLENGE title sponsorship
United Kingdom
Vertu Motors became title sponsor of the MINI CHALLENGE, a support series associated with the British Touring Car Championship.
Outcome. The sponsorship continued through the conclusion of the 2025 season.
- 2023English Football League partnership
England · Wales
Vertu Motors became the Official Car Dealer of the English Football League.
Outcome. The EFL Trophy was named the Bristol Street Motors Trophy for 2023–24 and later transitioned to the Vertu Trophy during the group’s brand consolidation.
- 2022Vertu-sponsored BTCC campaign
United Kingdom
Vertu Motors became title sponsor of the EXCELR8 BTCC effort for the 2022 season.
Outcome. Driver Tom Ingram secured the BTCC title during the campaign.
- 2022Click2Drive Bristol Street Motors Racing in W Series
International
The Click2Drive Bristol Street Motors Racing team competed in the 2022 W Series season with Alice Powell and Jessica Hawkins.
- 2021EXCELR8 BTCC partnership
United Kingdom
Vertu Motors began supporting the EXCELR8 team in the British Touring Car Championship, initially using the group’s Bristol Street Motors identity in the partnership.
Outcome. The partnership continued into title sponsorship for the 2022 campaign and later operated under the Vertu identity.
- 2020Channel 4 Formula One sponsorship
United Kingdom
The group sponsored Channel 4 Formula One coverage through the Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors brands.
Outcome. The sponsorship ran from 2020 through 2022.
- Vertu sports and entertainment partnerships
England · Scotland
Vertu Motors has maintained partnerships involving Burnley FC, Plymouth Argyle, Newcastle Eagles, Caledonia Gladiators, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, Somerset County Cricket Club, Exeter Chiefs, Co-op Live and Newcastle Theatre Royal. The Newcastle Eagles relationship includes naming rights for the Vertu Motors Arena, while the Co-op Live partnership includes the Vertu Place atrium.
Brand decisions
2025
Consolidation of retail brands under VertuStrategyBackground
Vertu Motors had historically operated dealerships under several identities, particularly Bristol Street Motors, Macklin Motors and Vertu. Following the Bristol Street Motors centenary in 2024, the group pursued a single-brand retail strategy.
Action taken
Macklin Motors dealerships were rebranded as Vertu in February 2025, and Bristol Street Motors dealerships followed in April 2025.
Aftermath
The change created a unified Vertu dealership network across England and Scotland, while the Vertu-owned Carrs Ferrari site in Exeter remained a distinct exception.
2023
Acquisition of Rowes Garage LtdM&ABackground
The company continued expanding its South West operations after the Helston Garages transaction.
Action taken
Vertu Motors acquired Rowes Garage Ltd.
Aftermath
The acquisition added further dealership operations to the group’s South West network.
2022
Acquisition of Helston GaragesM&ABackground
Vertu Motors sought to expand its dealership presence in South West England.
Action taken
The group acquired Helston Garages.
Aftermath
The transaction materially increased Vertu’s regional footprint in the South West.
Sources1 sources
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