A HAMPSHIRE company has become one of the UK’s top auto retailers after acquiring another large motor group in the south.

The Hendy Group, which has its head office in Chandler’s Ford, has bought the Lifestyle Dealer Group which has dealerships in Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

The deal will mean Hendy now operates 12 motor franchises at 25 locations across the south from Kent to Devon with annual turnover set to reach £600 million.

The group, founded in 1910, now employs around 1,000 staff and is set to sell in excess of 40,000 cars, vans and trucks each year.

Hendy Group managing director Paul Hendy said the purchase of Lifestyle would provide the company a great platform for growth.

“This acquisition extends our territory into the south east and adds a number of new franchises to our existing portfolio of Ford, MG, Iveco, Honda, Mazda and Kia.’’ Lifestyle, which has its head office in Tunbridge Wells, also has Ford, Mazda and Kia dealerships together with Renault, Dacia, SEAT, Isuzu, Subaru and Suzuki outlets.

Marc Matthew, Lifestyle chairman said the Hendy Group provides an exciting future for the south east-based group which was formed in 2001. “We have built up a strong, profitable and successful business in Kent, Sussex and Surrey and believe this growth will continue with Hendy Group,’’ he said.

The new car dealerships will continue to operate under the Lifestyle name for the immediate future as the business is integrated into the Hendy Group.

The Lifestyle Motor Group was formed following a management buy-out of part of the Ford division of HMG Holdings Limited, a previously large national motor dealer group.

l NEW car sales grew by 2.5 per cent in May compared with the same month last year, according to industry figures.

A total of 203,585 cars were registered last month, which is the most in May since 2002, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.

Demand for diesel cars grew five per cent, while petrol models saw a small decline of 0.6 per cent.

Uptake of alternatively fuelled vehicles increased by 12.1 per cent Some 1,164,870 cars have been registered in 2016 so far, up 4.1 per cent on the same period last year.

But May was the second consecutive month of sub-three per cent growth, demonstrating that the market is stabilising following a record 2015.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The new car market in May remained high with compelling offers available on the latest vehicles, but the low growth is further evidence of the market cooling in the face of concerns around economic and political stability.

“Whether this is the result of some buyers holding off until the current uncertainty is resolved or a sign of a more stable market for new cars remains to be seen.”