Subaru Opens New Sheerness Vehicle Distribution Centre

Rising sales of Subaru cars have encouraged the importer to relocate its distribution centre near the Port of Sheerness.

This new facility at Neats Court, immediately off the A249 link road will create eight new jobs including a Site Manager, administration and general yard staff.

Official importer - Subaru (UK) Limited - took over the 28.3 acre site earlier this month and plans to be fully occupied by mid-June.

The new site provides direct access via a new bridge over the River Swale to the main trunk road network and can accommodate up to 6,000 vehicles.

Subaru’s previous facility in Quedgeley, Gloucestershire was limited to 2,500 cars. More efficient dealer deliveries are one of several anticipated benefits.

Bob Browning, Director of Administration for Subaru (UK) Limited’s parent company, I.M. Group Limited, said: "We are very much looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the Port of Sheerness and Medway Port Limited.

"We have found their management to be extremely professional and co-operative and the Company’s support facilities are of the highest calibre."

Subaru’s move is especially good news for the Sheerness area and is welcomed by Medway Port. Des Crampton of Medway Ports said: "International Motors are most welcome at Sheerness and we wish them every success in their new home."

Meanwhile, Subaru is enjoying a registration boom, with sales up 14.01 per cent so far this year.

The latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures show 3,369 Subarus were sold from January until the end of April compared to 2,955 cars for the same period last year. This is despite a total car market down by 6.6 per cent.