MV Agusta Scotland has closed its discrete showroom in Perth and relocated to the parent company’s Cupar operation, 25 miles to the south in Fife. Cupar is described as Scotland’s flagship Suzuki franchise and the same company runs a solus Kawasaki store in nearby Kirkcaldy.
The decision to close the MV showroom in Perth’s Rannoch Road was communicated to customers in an MCN e-letter in which they were assured they would be fully supported from either Cupar or Kirkcaldy. A twice-weekly subsidised van collection service has been extended.
The e-letter stated: “[MV] production for the whole of 2016 had been very problematic, resulting in big shortages and long waiting times. With the manufacturer’s re-capitalisation on track, the factory in Varese has recently upped the production with the UK supplies now coming through. The MV range will be displayed at Cupar.”
Approached by BDN, Paul Weinberger, director of Cupar Motorcycles, said Perth had been closed “because of a lack of business”. “It’s part of the MV story in a way. We are keeping the MV franchise but moving to Cupar, where we hope to have a nice little room for them in due course.”
Weinberger said staff overheads could not be sustained and he had been forced to make five of the nine empolyees redundant, the other four transferring to Fife.
“It is what it is. The [MV] bikes are so good and there’s a demand for them. For that reason we are keeping them on.”
Although sales could not sustain a standalone dealership, MV would make “a nice little add on” to the company’s presence in Cupar.
MV Agusta’s website lists 12 dealers in the UK.