THE new owner of dealer group Appleyard has sold the firm's Peugeot and Mercedes dealerships in Peterborough, Cambs. Harrogate-based Appleyard and its contract hire business was bought by Jardine International Motors at the end of last year.

Lancaster, the dealer group already owned by Jardine International Motors, is now running Appleyard and says it has a national game plan for the newly-acquired company. It will not reveal whether the Peterborough sales are isolated deals.

Appleyard Peugeot in Peterborough has been bought by Marshall Motor Group, which owns several dealerships in the city including Fiat, Honda, Jaguar, Toyota and Land Rover. Appleyard Mercedes-Benz in Peterborough has been sold to upmarket car dealership Lind, which already operates BMW, Porsche and Audi dealerships.