Colin Appleyard Ltd. is marking the 40th anniversary of the unveiling of its first Suzuki car dealership in the UK.
The business was established in 1970 by the 34-year-old apprentice mechanic and entrepreneur, Colin Appleyard MBE, who sold motorcycles as a one-man band from premises in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
He then opened Cornmill Garage in 1979, the same year that Suzuki began to export its small SC100 “Whizzkid” coupé to the UK.
Colin Appleyard has evolved as an organisation, thanks to a significant level of investment, and today its growing portfolio counts Suzuki car dealerships in Keighley, Huddersfield, and Ashton-under-Lyne, as well as its newest showroom in Bradford.
This makes it one of the vehicle manufacturer’s largest retail groups in the UK. It is responsible for generating around 5% of all nationwide Suzuki sales, and to date, has sold and delivered over 35,000 new Suzuki cars and 4x4s in the UK.
Dale Wyatt, director of automobile at Suzuki GB PLC, said: “We would like to congratulate Colin Appleyard on this significant milestone, and thank them for 40 years of commitment to our brand.
“As the biggest Suzuki retailer in the UK, they have been an integral part of our success since our arrival in this country, and we have been very encouraged to witness the growth of their Suzuki business through the decades.
“Without the hard work of dealers within our network like Colin Appleyard, we wouldn’t have achieved such a strong foothold in the market.”
Robin Appleyard, managing director at Colin Appleyard Ltd, added: “Our core philosophy of always putting the customer first, and maintaining an inviting family atmosphere, has consistently resonated with existing and prospective Suzuki car buyers.
“Combining values that my father instilled across our organisation, with a brand that provides vehicle owners with great value and low running costs, this has allowed us to excel during the last 40 years and reach this important chapter in our history.
“We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”