Norwich JLR Dealership Sold: Duckworth Acquires Group 1 Site as Franchise Exit Continues

Major Norfolk Dealership Changes as Group 1 Exits JLR Franchises

Significant changes are underway in Norfolk's automotive retail landscape as Group 1 Automotive UK continues its strategic withdrawal from Jaguar Land Rover franchises across the country.

Duckworth Motor Group has confirmed an agreement to purchase Group 1's Norwich Jaguar Land Rover dealership, which was originally an Inchcape site acquired by Group 1 just two years ago.

Staff Notified of Impending Changes

Employees at both affected locations were informed about the changes last week. While the Norwich site will transition to new ownership, staff at the King's Lynn dealership received notification that their site will cease operations at the end of the month.

Redundancy consultations have already commenced according to staff members who contacted industry sources. This development follows Group 1's announcement last year outlining plans to gradually phase out all its Jaguar Land Rover dealership operations.

Strategic Realignment of Group 1's Portfolio

A spokesperson for Group 1 Automotive UK explained: "As part of our plans to ensure our portfolio and operations are aligned with the long-term growth ambitions of our business, in October last year we announced we had informed our OEM partner, JLR, of our intention to sell or relinquish our JLR franchise operations in the UK over the next two years."

The company confirmed the specific timeline for both locations: "We can confirm we have entered into an agreement to sell our JLR franchise store in Norwich to Duckworth Motor Group, which is expected to complete at the end of May 2026, and the JLR Kings Lynn store will close on 29 April 2026."

Customer and Colleague Support During Transition

Group 1 emphasised its commitment to supporting affected staff during this period of change: "We have spoken directly to all the teams impacted and our immediate focus is on supporting our colleagues and working closely with them during this transition."

The company also reassured customers that business will continue as usual until the sale completes: "Until completion, the Norwich store remains part of Group 1 Automotive UK, and it remains business as usual for customers until the sale is complete."

This acquisition represents another chapter in the ongoing consolidation within the UK automotive retail sector, particularly affecting premium brand representation in the East of England region.