Why is Hendy Group’s Skoda Dealership in Salisbury Closing?

Skoda ends its partnership with the Hendy Group

The Czech‑made brand has officially decided to part ways with the South‑Coast dealer consortium, prompting the immediate winding‑down of the Skoda showroom and service centre located at Old Sarum Retail Park in Salisbury.

What this means for the Salisbury site

According to the Salisbury Journal, the vacant premises will be rebranded for Renault and Dacia, with the transition expected to take place shortly after Skoda’s exit.

The location already hosts Hendy’s Nissan franchise and sits opposite the group’s Hyundai operation, meaning the site will continue to serve customers, albeit under different badge names.

Impact on Skoda owners in the area

With the closure, existing Skoda customers in Salisbury will need to travel to the nearest franchised dealerships in Southampton or Winchester. Both alternatives lie roughly 25 miles away, adding extra time and cost for routine servicing, warranty work or new‑car purchases.

Hendy Group’s broader brand portfolio

Even after losing Skoda, Hendy Group retains an extensive roster of manufacturer partnerships. The current lineup includes Abarth, BYD, Chery, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Geely, Honda and Hyundai, as well as Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Dacia, Lotus, Alpine, Vauxhall and the emerging brands Jaecoo, Omoda and others.

Financial backdrop to the split

The most recent set of accounts for Hendy Group disclosed an "extremely disappointing" pre‑tax loss of £18.1 million. While the figures do not isolate the Skoda operation, the loss highlights the financial pressures facing many multi‑brand dealer groups in the current market environment.

Employment considerations

Hendy has not yet confirmed whether any staff will be made redundant as a result of the brand change‑over, nor whether employees will be retained to support the incoming Renault and Dacia franchises. Car Dealer has reached out for comment but is awaiting a response.

What to watch next for local car buyers

Potential customers should monitor the rollout of the Renault and Dacia showrooms to understand appointment availability and service schedules. Existing Skoda owners may also wish to arrange final servicing before the closure and consider whether to transfer their vehicle warranty to a neighbouring franchise.

For ongoing updates on this story and other developments within the UK automotive sector, keep an eye on DealerPricing.co.uk.