A HUDDERSFIELD motor dealership has helped its parent firm boost sales.
The family-run Yorkshire-based Harratts motor group has been confirmed as the UK’s second largest seller of new Volvo cars after increasing sales by 12% during 2009.
Despite tough trading in a car industry which contracted by 6%, Harratts more than doubled the Volvo national average sales increase of 5%.
Harratts, which has 11 dealerships in Yorkshire, consolidated its position as second biggest Volvo seller by volume – increasing its 2008 figure of 1,871 car sales to an impressive 2,123.
Its four Volvo dealerships in Huddersfield, Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield all operated well above the industry average.
Harratts began selling Volvo from just one dealership in Wakefield in 1985.
Managing director Shaun Harratt said: “We are thrilled by these latest results in a very difficult UK marketplace and especially pleased that we have maintained our position as the second biggest Volvo vendor in the UK by volume.
“In spite of a very difficult year for the car industry, we have not only defied the gloom but surpassed Volvo’s average sales increase for the UK by a considerable margin.
“This is testament to the fantastic team we have at Harratts and I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication over the past year.”
Nick Connor, sales director at Volvo Car UK, said: “We are thrilled that Harratts sales figures for the past year have been so positive.
“With an increase of 12%, they have bucked the industry average and more than consolidated their position as the second biggest Volvo vendor in the UK.
“Our overall UK figures have been very pleasing this past year and we are delighted that we have seen a 5% increase in sales when so many car manufacturers are struggling.”
