The Connolly Motor Group has confirmed that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of J.J. Reid Motors in Donegal. The move is the latest in a series of expansions by the Group in the west of Ireland.
Earlier this year it took over Hyundai Galway and confirmed the opening of a new SEAT dealership in Sligo. J.J. Reid has been a Volkswagen main dealer since 1964 and is well-known in the Donegal area.
Speaking at the announcement, Neil Connolly, Connolly Motor Group Director, said: "With existing Volkswagen dealerships in Mayo and Sligo, Connolly Motor Group has a great relationship with VW and our significant knowledge of the brand ensures our customers benefit from the very best offers and services.
"The acquisition of J.J. Reid Volkswagen would be a strategic acquisition for our business, further strengthening our offering to our customers in the region and creating economies of scale in a highly-competitive market. Being part of a group provides us with the additional benefit and financial stability that comes with having multiple dealerships. We are proud to be a family-owned group, and the foundations of our success are the people who work with us, the manufacturers we represent and, of course, our valued customers who are at the heart of everything we do," he added.
Volkswagen Ireland Brand Director Gerrit Heimberg said: "The North West is a very important region for Volkswagen. And we would like to thank the staff of JJ Reid's for serving this area so well in the past number of years. But the Volkswagen brand remains in safe hands thanks to the appointment of Connolly Motor Group. Volkswagen has a long-standing relationship with this motor group, and we know they will ensure a smooth transition for existing JJ Reid's customers to the new Connolly's Letterkenny business. They will, no doubt, continue the success and professionalism they bring to their Ballina and Sligo businesses."
The acquisition remains subject to the approval of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Once the deal is completed, it will bring the number of people employed by the Connolly Motor Group to almost 300, making it one of the largest motor groups in the country.