ROUND-UP WSM takes
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Hewitt area
The John Hewitt MercedesBenz territory in Devon and Cornwall has been taken over by Bristol-based WSM Motors as part of Mercedes' dealer network reorganisation. WSM covers Bristol and Somerset, WSM has also changed its name—to Lancaster Truck & Van. 'We've been port of the Lancaster group for some time now, and it was felt our name should reflect this," says sales manager Richard Hale.
Aside from its Bristol HQ, Lancaster has sites in Yeovil, Chilcompton near Bath, and Weston-super-Mare. Hewitt's former territory adds depots in Exeter, St Austell, and Callington, near Liskeard. The Chilcompton outlet is in warehousing and distribution specialist Massey Wilcox's workshop. Lancaster took on staffing and running it earlier this year, and uses it for thirdparty work as well as to service and repair Massey Wilcox's own vehicles.
The move has boosted sales of Mercedes-Benz trucks in and around Bath, says Hale.
"The business climate is
tough overall though," says. "It's more noticeable the lighter end than the he end. We're still selling se, or eight Sprinters a week, serious inquiries have faller two or three.
"However, people are after Ategos—they wont to the first in their area to hi one—and a lot of operat wont to try an Actros now been around for 18 mond Hole says. "Some custom don't want to be first witl new product, they wait to how it performs." The used market rema tough going. "We're all suf ing from the number of v( cles coming on to the mai as a result of buy-back deal