National company Autopact takes over Rockhampton car dealership

One of Australia’s largest automotive dealerships has added to its portfolio of 90 franchises and 26 dealerships across the country by snapping up another Rockhampton business.

One of Australia’s largest automotive dealerships, Autopact, has taken over Rockhampton Auto Group with plans for a huge expansion and new jobs.

The North Rockhampton business with sites on Musgrave Street and Queen Elizabeth Drive changed hands last month, adding to Autopact’s footprint in the city.

Autopact acquired DC Motors four years ago and now sells 11 new car brands (Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Renault, Ram, Chrysler, Jeep, LDV, MG, Volkswagen), along with two pre-owned car sites, employing 112 team members in Rockhampton.

Autopact has 90 franchises and 26 dealerships across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and the new partnership has resulted in Autopact adding MG and LDV to its portfolio for the first time.

“Autopact wants to double in size over the next six years and they are focusing on growth areas and Rockhampton is a big growth area,” dealer principal Sheamus O’Reilly said.

“They currently have one business in Rocky, DC Motors, which is performing really, really well so they wanted to expand on that.

“For me personally it means a bit more work, which I love and we have added 26 employees to the current 88 we already had.

“The business will grow over the next 12 months by 35 per cent which is huge.

“I have been a partner with DC Motors and Autopact, I think customers agreed they have seen dramatic changes in that business over the last four years and I hope to replicate that here, just giving the customers an experience they walk away and go that was pretty good.”

The company has big plans to grow Rockhampton Auto Group and to bring it up to its full potential.

“We are currently looking for some more people to help us grow this new business, we have some jobs advertised in after sales and sales department,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“It has been underperforming for the last couple of years with the brands that it had, Volkswagen, MG and LDV.

“We are working closely with those three manufacturers to grow it and get more stock.”

The workshop at the Musgrave Street site will be doubled in size with more hoists added.

They hope to employ six new team members with an immediate start and more to be added in the next 12 months.

“The current size workshop can’t cope with the demand it has currently,” Mr O’Reilly said.

New cars and vehicles are in high demand at the moment with some customers having to wait months.

“We do have people ordering new cars for January or February next year,” Mr O’Reilly said.

Mr O’Reilly recommends those who are looking to get a new car to get in and do it now.

“It means you need to be giving it some serious thought and doing your homework,” he said.

“It has been affecting us and every automotive dealer in Australia all of this year, it is to do with worldwide demand.

“Demand in America and Europe has increased greatly and unfortunately Australia is a small piece of the pie when it comes to the automotive world, our fair share of production has been smaller.

“We see that improving in the next three to six months, so towards the end of the year supply should increase.”