Bowker to expand Preston operation

Bowker Motor Group has revealed more expansion plans with the purchase of land adjacent to its docklands BMW and MINI centres in Preston.

The Preston docklands gateway location is over 9,000 square feet and currently occupied by event management company Glasgows, which is moving to new premises. One of its previous roles was a customs office.

The site will become the home of the recently-acquired BMW Motorrad operation currently trading as Southport Superbikes.

And this latest six-figure investment will establish Bowker as the biggest motor dealer in the Preston area.

Bowker Motor Group chief executive Paul Bowker said: “Combining the two sites was an irresistible opportunity. Thousands of people pass the entrance to Preston Docks every day. We are planning to build a new motorcycle dealership that will be worthy of such a prestigious location.

“Bowker Motor Group has gone through an exciting period of expansion over the last two years. And this latest deal continues our ongoing commitment to the Lancashire motoring sector.”

In October 2012, Bowker Motor Group opened its first non-franchise Bowker dealership in Osbaldeston near Blackburn on the A59 with an investment of over £750,000. The new dealership on the site formerly occupied by Bay Horse Saab is called ‘Bowker Ribble Valley’ and created 10 new jobs.

Also last year, Bowker unveiled a new £600,000 extension to the MINI showroom on the same site. The extension increased the showroom capacity from three to eight cars creating three new jobs.

In August 2013 Bowker announced a new two-phased development of its Preston centre. The first phase of the refurbished BMW showroom was completed in November in time for the launch of the all-electric BMW i3 in November 2013. Bowker is one of only 46 sales Agents that supply and support BMW i - BMW’s revolutionary new sub-brand featuring electric drive systems and premium mobility services.

In March this year Bowker opened Lancashire’s first Maserati dealership in Osbaldeston on the same site as Bowker Ribble Valley.

In June, Bowker BMW opened its new expanded and refurbished centre in Preston after an investment of over £1.5 million delivered additional showroom capacity to accommodate 16 more cars and 34 in total. Bowker BMW in Preston is now one of the most advanced BMW centres in the country. And the investment also created a further five new jobs.

And finally, in August, Bowker Motor Group acquired Southport Superbikes on Eastbank Street in Southport marking an exciting new chapter for 34-year old Merseyside BMW Motorcycle dealership - and safeguarding numerous local jobs. Bowker Motor Group already owned nine dealerships including BMW, MINI and Maserati franchises in Blackburn, Preston and Osbaldeston. Southport Superbikes became the tenth, joining Harley-Davidson Preston as the second prestige motorcycle dealership in the group.