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The Peter Cooper Motor Group is celebrating 45 years of serving motorists and communities across the region, marking a remarkable journey from a single Volkswagen retailer in Hedge End to one of the South’s leading automotive groups.
Founded in 1981, the Group has grown significantly over the past four and a half decades, but its commitment to customers, its staff and the communities it serves has remained at the heart of the business.
A major part of that story has been the Group’s long-standing relationship with Volkswagen. What began with a single location in Hedge End has grown into a network of four Volkswagen retailers, providing sales, servicing and parts support to customers across the region.
Over the years, generations of customers have returned to The Peter Cooper Motor Group time and again, building relationships that have lasted throughout their motoring journeys. From a customer buying their first Volkswagen to returning years later to upgrade their family car, that loyalty and trust have played a central role in the Group’s success.
Today, the Group represents an increasingly diverse portfolio of world-class automotive brands. This includes Volkswagen, Kia, Kia PBV, Jeep, Jaecoo, Omoda and XPeng, alongside its Prestige Cars showrooms in West End, Southampton and Horsham, as well as its all makes and models service centres and leasing company.
Its Prestige Cars dealerships have become renowned for their “First Car to Dream Car” approach, offering motorists an extensive choice of vehicles to suit every stage of life and budget. From affordable first cars to luxury prestige models, the business has built a reputation for quality, service and customer satisfaction across a wide range of makes and models.
As the automotive industry undergoes one of its biggest periods of change, The Peter Cooper Motor Group has continued to evolve.
The Group has embraced electric mobility and next-generation vehicle technology, most recently launching Kia’s new commercial PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) range at its Hedge End dealership, offering flexible electric mobility solutions designed around the changing needs of modern businesses, families and drivers.
While the brands and vehicles have changed dramatically since 1981, the Group’s commitment to its people has remained constant. Long-serving employees are an important part of its 45-year story, with a large number of the team having dedicated 25 years or more to the business.
Giving back to the communities in which it operates is also an important part of The Peter Cooper Motor Group’s identity. Through its Peter Cooper Motor Group Foundation, the business supports charities, community organisations and grassroots initiatives, helping organisations make a difference where it matters.
The Foundation reflects the Group’s belief that its role within the community goes beyond automotive retail, with donations provided to a wide range of good causes, charities, hospitals and sports organisations at grassroots level.
The Group has also expanded beyond automotive retail through complementary businesses, including My Trusted Electrical, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. My Trusted Electrical has spent the past five years providing electrical services to homes, businesses and organisations across Hampshire and neighbouring counties, specialising in EV installations and also electrical contracting.
Darren Cooper, Managing Director of The Peter Cooper Motor Group, said: “Reaching 45 years is a big milestone for everyone connected with the company, and it is a moment for us to reflect on how far we have come.
“When my father started the business in Hedge End, we could never have imagined that 45 years later we would represent so many leading automotive brands and operate across multiple locations.
“Volkswagen has been a hugely important part of our story. The relationship we have built over decades has been founded on trust, and that same trust has been shared by generations of customers who have chosen to come back to us throughout their motoring lives.
“That loyalty means an enormous amount to us. We know customers have a choice, so when someone buys their first car from us and then returns years later with their family to buy their next one, that is something we never take for granted.”
Darren added: “Our staff are equally important. We have colleagues who have been with us for more than 40 years, along with numerous colleagues with 25 years of service and their knowledge, experience and commitment have helped shape the business we are today.
“While 45 years gives us an opportunity to look back, we are also very much looking forward. The automotive industry is changing rapidly, and we are excited about the opportunities that electric vehicles, new technology and new brands will bring.
“Most importantly, we want to continue doing what we have always done – providing a wide range vehicles, great service and building relationships with our customers and communities that last for generations.”
From its beginnings as a single Volkswagen retailer to its current portfolio of automotive and complementary businesses, The Peter Cooper Motor Group’s 45-year journey is a story of growth, evolution and, above all, trust.
As it looks towards the next chapter, the Group remains committed to its customers, its employees and the communities that have supported it throughout four and a half decades.
