Moyes yard closes as Holden pulls the plug
THE FIRM’S 70 STAFF WERE TOLD ABOUT THE CLOSURE ON TUESDAY
Moyes Panmure, one of Auckland’s iconic car dealerships, is to close after 30 years of selling new and used cars at the Mt Wellington “Car Supermarket”.
The decision comes after Holden, Moyes Motor Group’s biggest supplier, announced changes to its long-term business strategy that included reducing the number of its franchises.
Holden told Moyes Motor Group it would no longer require its franchise agreement from 2018. About 70 staff are employed by the company. They were told about the closure on Tuesday.
Managing director John Moyes, whose father and brother founded the business 30 years ago, said it was not feasible for Moyes Panmure to continue without Holden or securing a deal with another major brand, which had not been achieved.
“Holden’s a big part of us here; not just the sales but the service and parts and the whole thing. We couldn’t have survived without it, really,” he said.
Holden, which last month ceased manufacturing in Australia, has also dropped 30 of its 230 dealers in Australia.
Moyes Motor Group is one of 42 Holden franchises in New Zealand and it remains unclear whether Holden plans to cut more dealerships on this side of the ditch.
Moyes said other major
MOSTLY I JUST FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT GET ANOTHER JOB STRAIGHT AWAY; BUT I THINK IN THIS MARKET THEY PROBABLY WILL. John Moyes
automotive brands were moving towards more boutique-style and online selling.
“We are extremely proud our company has performed strongly throughout its 30-year history,” Moyes said.
“We are constantly evaluating our core business and our directors have decided to explore other business interests and opportunities going forward.”
He would not be drawn on what those interests and opportunities were, nor what would happen to the 2.3ha site.
The business will close by Christmas and Moyes hoped to have “cleared the decks” and sold off the remaining 250-plus cars by then.
“We couldn’t find another option. Suzuki [which Moyes Panmure also has a deal with] is a good brand but we would have needed another big one to go along with it, and used cars are too difficult to do on their own on a big site like this.”
He said it was unlikely another Moyes dealership would spring up in the future.
“It’s a little bit sad. “Mostly I just feel sorry for the people who might not get another job straight away; but I think in this market they probably will.”