Cox Automotive to expand wholelife vehicle services with C Walton acquisition

Cox Automotive UK has acquired vehicle services provider C Walton Ltd (CWL), expanding its scope of wholelife vehicle services.

As part of the deal, Cox Automotive has acquired CWL’s vehicle services business which operates from three locations in Bruntingthorpe (Leicestershire), Wyton (Cambridgeshire) and Long Bennington (Lincolnshire). The deal also includes CWL’s proving ground and events businesses.

CWL offers an extensive range of fleet management and vehicle services on a mass scale including new and used car vehicle preparation and reconditioning; defleet services including inspections and MOT; logistics and storage; as well as a range of in-life services for cars, vans and trucks plus full support for Electric vehicle handling.

Martin Forbes, CEO at Cox Automotive UK, said: “Although we provide some vehicle services to support existing customers with their remarketing and defleet strategies, we have wanted to significantly increase the range and scope of wholelife vehicle services available to new clients for some time.

“We have long-admired how CWL operates in this market, growing its business through delivering high quality wholelife vehicle services. With the addition of CWL, Cox Automotive UK will now be able offer all aspects of a used car remarketing programme, including vehicle services on a much larger scale, to support both existing and potential new customers.”

Up to 200,000 vehicles a year are processed by CWL at its Bruntingthorpe site and it also provides secure storage for more than 25,000 vehicles. CWL invested in a new purpose-built vehicle services facility at the Wyton site in 2019 in response to increased customer demand.

Forbes added: “The used vehicle market in the UK is rapidly-changing. We are responding by transforming our business to meet the needs of a changing wholesale and retail marketplace.”