Major business shake-up sees closure of Pulborough Harwoods site and changes in Chichester and Crawley

The company also plans to stop selling new and approved Jaguar cars from its Chichester site from December 30, although it will remain open.

And, in another move, the company has opened a new electric vehicle dealership in Crawley and will open another in Coulsdon from November 11. They will be the company’s first dedicated electric and hybrid vehicle dealerships in partnership with global EV manufacturer BYD.

In a statement today (October 9), Harwoods said: “The announcement of Harwood’s new dealerships forms part of a companywide strategy and portfolio re-structuring to maintain and improve its position as the South of England’s leading automotive retailer.

“As part of these reforms, the company has announced a strategic decision to close its Land Rover site in Pulborough after nearly 60 years of dedicated service to the Pulborough community.

"The dealership will close from November 10 2024 and staff have already been informed with customer communications to follow. It is the group’s intention to offer continued employment at surrounding sites to the majority of the existing base of some 42 colleagues.

“In addition, Harwoods Group is re-configuring its Chichester site in West Sussex which will remain open, but from December 30 2024 it will no longer sell new and approved used Jaguar cars, and instead will sell used cars through the group’s recently launched Harwoods Assured platform as well as operating as an authorised repairer for Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

“These strategic decisions form part of a companywide strategy to consolidate and improve its operations in response to the evolving automotive retail landscape as well as moving towards a more sustainable future.

“The decision has also been prompted in response to wider changes within the automotive industry and from manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover’s

ongoing reconfiguration of its retail network and business model across the UK.”

Chief executive Archie Harwood added: “Harwoods has always been proud of our long-standing presence in Pulborough and Chichester and our contributions to the local communities.

“As our manufacturer partners implement changes to streamline its dealer structure these closures reflect the necessity of adapting to the evolving market and retail.

"These decisions were not taken lightly, but they are essential for the future success of the business.”

The changes mean that Chichester will continue as an Aston Martin full franchise, but will no longer offer new and approved used Jaguar car sales. The site will undergo a full refurbishment and will also serve as an authorised repairer for Jaguar and Land Rover as well as selling used vehicles through Harwoods Assured.

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Sites in Basingstoke, Brighton and Crawley will become full new car sale points for Land Rover, including Jaguar and Land Rover approved used and authorised

repair operations.

The new Crawley sales hub opened this week in Manor Royal offering customers BYD’s latest electric and hybrid models, reinforcing, say Harwood’s, its ‘dedication to sustainable automotive solutions.’