VAUXHALL is restructuring its dealer network to include fewer major dealerships and more satellite operations. The move, next spring, will result in about 600 sites - compared to a dealer network of around 500 dealerships - but the number of main dealership operations will be reduced.

Reports suggest that about 400 of the current dealer sites will be retained. A Vauxhall spokesman was unable to confirm figures, but said the number of fleet specialists would remain unchanged and the number of business centres, which deal with small volume business users, would grow.

Vauxhall has about 300 business centres, of which around 120 are fleet specialists catering for larger volume customers. The move is part of Vauxhall's Managed Area Approach (MAA) and looks set to significantly cut the number of different businesses running dealerships.