Chester T. Dean 
TrustFord has taken a further step towards establishing its car retailing operations in Scotland with the submission of a planning application for a dealership in Aberdeen.
Ford-owned car retail group AM100 is set to take over the city’s Ford franchise after Arnold Clark walked away from the brand – and Japanese automaker Toyota – earlier this year.
TrustFord has already moved north of the border with its Parts Plus operations, but its Aberdeen site will be its first car retail franchise in Scotland.
Intended for land on Hillview Road in the industrial area of West Tullos to the south of the town, the new showroom planned by TrustFord will include after-sales service, parts sales and a smart repair bay, as well as the sale of new and used vehicles.
The land was bought by Knight Frank Property Group last February and was previously Tyseal’s base, Scottish Construction Now reported this week.
He said Knight Frank Property Group demolished 20 multi-tenancy units to make way for the new development, saying the properties were “rundown, outdated and unsuitable”.
Arnold Clark chief executive Eddie Hawthorne told AM in February he expected to sever ties with other new car franchises following its exit from Ford and Toyota.
But while Hawthorne said the retailer’s “two or three” other established brand partnerships may be coming to an end, he said the moves were part of a refranchising operation as the group looks to the future with confidence.
Hawthorne said, “As far as manufacturers we have a problem with, it was just a case of us going in different directions.
“We have worked with Ford and Toyota for many years, and I have huge respect for both brands, but it was just time to leave.”
