Changing market conditions have led to Leslies Motors taking the decision to close its Hyundai dealership in Sandown – but another local firm is set to take over the College Close site.
The Isle of Wight group has confirmed that its Hyundai dealership will close at the end of November 2025 as part of the group’s ongoing commitment to adapt and respond to changing market conditions.
Despite this change, Leslies Motors will remain an authorised repairer for Hyundai based at their Northwood site, ensuring customers can continue to access servicing and MOT testing, warranty repairs and genuine parts and aftersales support.
The news means that Islanders will no longer be able to buy brand new Hyundais here on the Isle of Wight – with marques such as BMW, Mini, Nissan, Vauxhall and Fiat also disappearing in recent months.
Louis Vanassche, Director at Leslies Motors, says:
“We remain fully committed to looking after our Hyundai customers.
“Our authorised repair status means that customers will continue to be able to gain access to servicing, repair and warranty work from a main dealer on the Island. This will be run from our Northwood branch.”
While the restructuring will unfortunately result in some redundancies, the company is working hard to keep job losses to a minimum by redeploying staff to other Leslies Motors sites wherever possible.
Looking ahead, Louis adds:
“Although we are sad to make these changes, we have an exciting announcement coming soon that we can’t wait to share with our customers and the Island community.”
Island Echo understands that D H Price Motors, based at Spithead Business Centre in Lake, will be expanding operations to College Close.
I see what’s going on here
Under this current Government no one is buying new cars.
I read a few days ago UK car production is at it’s lowest
level for over 70 years.
So DH Price is a better option than a car dealership,
more people are maintaining their existing vehicles.
Absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with rules of origin, supply chains or the skills shortages caused by Brexit though? Course not. Must be solely due to current gov’t. Yep. And 50p toilets. You forgot to mention the toilets.
Its true that more owners are keeping and maintaining their existing vehicles with the average age of a car on uk roads now around 9 years old. The ‘EV revolution’ rollout uncertainty has decimated motor manufacturing companies, which in turn, causing a headache for dealers and consumers alike. These overpriced cars, with poor resale value on the used market, will be victims of poor infrastructure to support buyers. The choice of petrol cars with a manual gearbox seem very limited or near impossible to find, so at present, I have no interest in swapping my petrol car for an electric alternative.
If it wasn’t for the motability scheme many more dealerships
would close down.
I have never seen the country in such a bad state.
I thought the 1970s 3 day a week was bad, under this
Government it will get much worse.