
HTC Group has expanded its dealer network throughout the south with its acquisition of Barnes DAF.
The deal includes the company’s two locations in Guildford and Shoreham which takes the group up to 10 dealer locations. Its other existing sites are located in Heathrow, Dunstable, Park Royal, Reading, Oxford, Croydon, Belvedere and Hemel Hempstead. All staff employed with Barnes DAF have been transferred to HTC to provide continuity for customers and the team.
Peter Gibbons, managing director at HTC Group, said: “I’m thrilled to witness the growth of our business and extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues. The addition of the two dealerships enhances our DAF representation, reinforcing our commitment to providing top-tier service to our customers.”
John McMenamin, dealer development director at DAF Trucks, added: “Barnes DAF has established an excellent reputation for the DAF marque locally, and, with all staff transferring across, the team’s dedication to customer support will move forward under a different banner. It’s crucial that our customers are unaffected by this move and I know that service levels will remain at a very high level under the guidance of HTC.”
The new Guildford site offers servicing, maintenance, MoTs, tachograph and speed limiter recalibrations. HTC’s history dates back to 1970 when the company began under the banner of the Vales Group, based in Watford. At the time, it was one of the first DAF franchises in the UK and it has grown into one of the largest dealer groups in the DAF network. In 2007, the company was acquired by Ballyvesey Holdings.
Barnes DAF will continue its 26-year history under new management. The company was previously owned by the FG Barnes Group which runs dealerships for Vauxhall, Nissan and GWM ORA brands. The company was founded in 1899 specialising in tar spraying machines and has diversified over the years to sell new and used cars as well as commercial vehicles.
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