Motorpoint, a car supermarket group, has closed its used car dealership in Ipswich, Suffolk. The site, located on West End Road, opened in 2023 and permanently closed on Sunday, October 18.
A notice on the group’s website confirms the closure and directs customers to the nearest Motorpoint locations in Norwich and Peterborough. It also states that all customers have been contacted to arrange collections of any outstanding orders.
The notice on the website reads: “After three years of bringing a large choice of used and nearly-new cars to the Suffolk area, Motorpoint Ipswich store is now permanently closed. Thank you for your support and custom.”
At the time of the Ipswich site opening, Motorpoint described it as a 120-car facility and said that 30 jobs would be created. The site had previously been home to an EMG van centre and, before that, a Mini dealership run by Inchcape.
The closure of the Ipswich car supermarket comes despite Motorpoint issuing a stock market trading update last month announcing increased profits on its used car sales. The company expects its pre-tax profit for this financial year to be “materially ahead of market consensus”, and likely in the range of £9.8 million to £10.8 million.
Motorpoint’s sales increase has been supported by strategic initiatives such as investment in technology, artificial intelligence, and data, leading to higher profitability per unit. The company’s trading volumes have been stronger than anticipated.
The closure of the Ipswich site may be seen as a strategic move to optimize the company’s operations and focus on more profitable locations. With the company’s expected pre-tax profit likely to be in the range of £9.8 million to £10.8 million, it is possible that Motorpoint is re-evaluating its portfolio to ensure maximum returns on investment.
Motorpoint’s decision to close the Ipswich site will likely have an impact on the local community, particularly in terms of job losses.
The company’s website provides information on the alternative locations and how customers can contact them.