A MAJOR car dealership is shutting down for good, leaving staff in “tears”; and customers gutted.
The iconic Abbey Garage in Street, Somerset, announced it will stop trading at the end of the month.
“As you can imagine this is a very sad time for us and the decision was not made lightly,”; the team told devastated customers in a Facebook message, just days before closing.
“We would like to thank you all for your custom over the many many years and wish you happy motoring!”;
Abbey Garage didn’t say why they are pulling the shutters down, but the move comes amid ongoing struggles in the auto industry and mounting global economic challenges.
A disappointed local said: “Really very sorry to hear this. I've been bringing my Fords here for over 15 years (and have been around long enough to have filled up when it was still the petrol station) and the staff have always been brilliant.
“Yet another significant loss not just to the High Street but to the community. Wishing you all the best for the future!”;
Another Abbey Garage fan gifted the team a car-themed cake for the last week of trading, which they said was “very clever and very kind”;.
The landmark High Street dealership’s decision to call it quits marks the latest store closure in just a few months.
Earlier this week, the Volkswagen in Horsham, West Sussex, said it is closing for good at the end of the month.
Staff were left in “total shock”when they found out they may lose their jobs.
And, the Volkswagen's branch in Aylesbury is also expected to close at the end of the month.
Signature Car Sales in Douglas, Isle of Man, will also be shuttered for good on March 31, “after 6 incredible years of serving our community”;.
“Ah what a shame. Very best of luck,” a local customer commented in a post on social media.
It comes as Donald Trump revealed his plan to introduce a 25 per cent tariff on cars and other good from the EU.
European autoshares fell after the move and EU boss Ursula von der Leyen described a “deep and disruptive transition ahead”.
International car sales faced a steep decline last year, with French and German manufacturers affected the worse.
According to an Allianz Trade report, European manufacturers had been edged out by US and Chinese rivals including Tesla.
Why are so many car dealerships closing down?
By Summer Raemason
According to Business Rescue Expert there are multiple reasons why car dealerships are folding across the UK.
The first major factor is rising online car sales which are beating in-person sales at dealerships.
With an extensive range of comparison and second-hand sites to chose from, may car buyers don't even step foot into a dealership anymore.
Secondly, the actual cost to physically run the sites has soared.
Rent, wages and energy bills have all been increasing for roughly the past five years, putting many out of pocket.
Car manufacturing across the globe was also hit by a semiconductor chip shortage in 2022 which made it difficult to produce new motors.
The high demand with limited supply created a backlog, which although has eased, is still having an impact on the industry.
A third reason for recent closures is the shift to electric cars.
They are becoming more popular, given the Government initiative to be Net Zero in 2050.
The industry is also affected when companies merge or are bought by rivals.
This may lead to some independent names falling victim to the ongoing spate of closures.
