Sergio Buccilli, Managing Director Motors Group Tasmania
In a show of confidence in the Tasmanian economy and the Motors and Webster Truck retail businesses, AP Eagers Limited (ASX:APE) has agreed to acquire the Motors Group car and truck retail businesses located in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie from entities principally controlled by Marcus Birrell.
Additionally, AP Eagers Limited (ASX:APE) will acquire the Victorian businesses of Birrell Motors Group, namely Silver Star Motors (Mercedes- Benz) in Doncaster and Burwood, Mercedes-Benz Ringwood and Waverley Toyota in Glen Waverley.
The business represents 12 car and truck brands across a number of locations in Tasmania and the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Notably it encompasses the State wide representation for Holden, HSV, Hyundai, Citroen, Isuzu Trucks, Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks and UD Trucks in Tasmania, as well as Nissan and Honda in the North of the State. The Victorian business has Mercedes Benz representation in the Doncaster – Burwood – Ringwood corridor in Melbourne and Toyota in Glen Waverley.
The current owners and operators Marcus Birrell and Sergio Buccilli will continue to operate the business under AP Eagers Limited ownership and their expertise will support a platform for further growth.
Motors Group Tasmania proudly employs 420 people and is Tasmania’s largest automotive dealer, annually retailing in excess of 6,000 new and used cars and trucks.
The iconic Motors business commenced operations in 1910 under the ownership of Robert Nettlefold, a pioneer in the Australian automotive industry. The Nettlefold family’s involvement continued until the early 1980’s. The Webster Trucks business, previously a division of Webster Limited (ASX: WBA), was purchased by Motors in 2007 and traces its history back to the early 1900’s when it commenced importing and assembling Lorries. Motors, previously a public listed company for a number of years, was purchased by Birrell Motors Group in 2001.
Managing Director, Sergio Buccilli commented, “this is an exciting opportunity for our employees to become part of one of the largest automotive retailers in Australia and is an exceptional opportunity for a Tasmanian business to go from strength to strength”.
Managing Director, Sergio Buccilli
