EVANS Halshaw has become the latest dealer group to announce swingeing cuts in its retail network following a management shake-up.

The Birmingham-based company is selling or closing 19 dealerships as part of a £19.8 million restructuring programme. Chief executive Alan Smith says he wants to concentrate on large conurbations such as Birmingham, Leicester and Sheffield in the future as the car manufacturers move towards granting larger franchise territories. The changes are expected to result in the loss of more than 200 jobs, and leaves 69 sites.

The move towards fewer, larger dealerships throughout most of the UK will increasingly result in special fleet dealers, especially in urban locations. Most of the major manufacturers are developing specialist fleet sales staff in key locations to support the corporate market.