Bradford's long-standing motorcycle dealership Allan Jefferies has been bought out, it has been revealed.
Listed car seller Vertu Motors has bought two outlets run by the well-known 120-year-old family run business.
Allan Jefferies’ BMW Motorrad firm had worked with the German brand since 1971 – making it older than the BMW UK brand itself.
Louise Jefferies, who marked the fourth generation to take over the business, said it was “the right deal at the right time”.
Tony Jefferies handed the business over to his daughter in 2000.
Vertu has bought the Shipley and Rotherham BMW dealerships.
All jobs have been retained, apart from Ms Jefferies’ role as director.
They will soon rebrand and trade under the Vertu brand, joining the company’s four other motorcycle outlets.
Vertu chief executive Robert Forrester said: “Our business is performing strongly and the addition of two further BMW Motorrad outlets will be accretive both financially and strategically to the group. Vertu becomes the largest partner in the UK for BMW Motorrad.”
Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus, Ms Jefferies said: “My father passed away at Christmas, having been ill for a couple of years. We’ve had quite a lot to deal with there.
“I had a couple of offers but Vertu were very much focused on looking after the staff and making sure they were retained and looked after properly.
“It was really the right deal at the right time.
“I’m the last member of my family surviving and whilst I have two kids they’re still very young.”
The family-run motorbike dealer business was established by Joseph Jefferies in 1917.
It started out as a garage business in Saltaire.
Reflecting on Allan Jefferies’ business legacy, Ms Jefferies said: “My granddad would have been extremely shocked to see the building we were operating from. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve had a lot of fun out of the motorcycle industry. No regrets whatsoever. I just know it’s time for a different challenge.
“We’ve been a BMW dealer for longer than BMW UK’s been established. We’re the longest established BMW dealer. It’s a bit of a change of the guard.
“There’s no plans to change it from being a BMW dealer. It just won’t be a Jefferies business.
“The only job loss is mine and that’s my choice. All staff are retained and I’m lead to believe they’re also looking to recruit additional sales staff and technical staff.”
As well as leading the business dynasty, Tony Jefferies won multiple accolades at the Isle of Man TT.
At the beginning of 2003, his daughter developed the existing BMW site through expansion and embracing the new BMW corporate identity.
It was a £300,000 project which doubled the size of the showroom and service department facility.
Millions of pounds more was invested over the years and this saw the dealership relocate to Otley Road, Baildon, in 2009.
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