Kia starts work on a major new North London dealership – in a car park!

Kia Motors (UK) Limited is continuing its dramatic dealer network development with a £1-million re-development of a multi-storey car park site on the Edgware Road in North London.

The new Colindale showroom will be operated by the brand’s existing
North London representatives – Humming Bird Kia – and is due to open in early July. The 15-car showroom will also feature a seven-bay workshop, a dedicated MOT facility, a major trade parts operation and a dedicated customer handover area.

Reflecting Kia’s latest global brand identity, the landmark dealership is bringing a semi-derelict multi-storey car park back into life on the edge of a major retail park in Colindale. Kia has undertaken to restore the existing building at the same time as developing the showroom to help improve the appearance of the area for local people. Humming Bird Kia will also use the top three levels of the car park for vehicle storage.

Although the site was previously used for motor retailing the new development represents a significant expansion of the facility. The new showroom will not feature Kia’s recently announced 'Red Cube' architecture, due to the nature of the site, but the interior will feature the latest brand standards and the exterior will feature strong red cladding in line with Kia’s corporate image.

“This remarkable new dealership will reflect our strategy of expanding and improving our dealer network in the same way as Kia has built its brand and its product range in recent years," said Simon Hetherington, Dealer Development Director at Kia Motors (UK) Ltd.

“The design and appearance of the facility clearly reflects our design-led development and this will be a real showcase dealership in an area where we have not been as strong as we should like.  In conjunction with Humming Bird – who have been long-time partners of ours in North London – we are taking an interesting route to bring a much improved service to local car buyers in a metropolitan area where property availability and costs can handicap new motor trade developments,” he added.

Larry Wood, Dealer Principal at Humming Bird Kia said, “We are extremely happy to be part of this remarkable development on the Edgware Road.  In 2011 from our existing operation, which is perhaps a little off the beaten track, we delivered almost 350 new Kias to smart and savvy North Londoners. Once this new site is up and running I am confident we will have the capacity to boost that performance to more than 700 new cars a year."

“We are proud to be part of such a strong development for Kia and I am very pleased that we shall be able to offer a fantastic experience to our existing and potential customers in North London in the future.  It has been an exciting journey with Kia over the last few years but on the Edgware Road I am sure it is going to be even more sensational for us and for our valued customers. We are proud to be in the vanguard of Kia’s latest leap forward in new car retailing,” he added.

The lead contractors in the project are mcs group of Claverdon, Warwickshire and the design work was undertaken by Meda Experience Design and Architecture of Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

Posted in: Buckinghamshire,Claverdon,Colindale,Dealership,Edgware Road,Humming Bird,Kia,Kia Motors (UK) Limited,Larry Wood,London,New Store/Showroom,Red Cube,Simon Hetherrington,Warwickshire