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Perrys[1] is a long established franchised automobile dealer in the United Kingdom, with its Head Office in Northampton, England. It represents many leading motor brands including Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Alf Romeo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Seat, Renault, Mazda, Kia, Chevrolet, and Ford.
The business was founded by Harold Perry in 1908, selling motor accessories – so it celebrates its 100th birthday this year, (2008). Harold Perry formerly worked for the UK distributor for Ford, and the company’s association with the Ford marque continues to this day. In 1912 Harold Perry was appointed Ford dealer for London. A year earlier Harold’s brother, Percival, had persuaded Henry Ford to launch the Ford Motor Company in England[2]. Percival later became chairman of Ford’s UK company. Later still, in 1922, Sir Percival Perry helped André Citroën to establish commercial and manufacturing subsidiaries for the early Citroen automobile business in England.
Perrys continued to acquire dealerships until the outbreak of World War Two, in 1939. As part of the war effort, sections of its North London dealership were converted to a meat distribution centre and workshops for overhauling military vehicles and making wings for gliders.
By the 1980s Perrys were acquiring non-Ford dealerships: firstly Vauxhall, then Rover, Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships were brought into the company. The 90’s saw a further programme of dealership acquisitions including Peugeot, Toyota, Renault, Iveco Ford, Nissan and Lexus franchises.
In 2001 the Perry Group Plc sold its Motor Division to the Management Team, setting the stage for Perrys Motor Sales rapid recent expansion – including taking on further dealerships and marques. The group now employs 1,400 people across thirty-nine UK locations with an annual turnover of £400 million and boasts its own “state of the art” training centre.
Motability[3] is an independent not-for-profit organisation begun in 1978 to give disabled people access to safe, reliable and affordable cars in the United Kingdom. Perrys is a Premier Partner of Motability and first recipient of the Motability Award for Best Dealer Group[4]. Perrys dealerships have a Motability advisor on staff to help with vehicle adaptation and Motability financing.
Perrys Motor Sales supports dealerships local efforts: