General Motors has appointed Clive Sutton to lead the retail expansion of GM Specialty Vehicles in the UK.
It is the first time these vehicles have had an official UK distributor. Clive Sutton is to recruit up to five dealers to sell the cars, ranging in price from £70,000 to £200,000 in the coming months.
Dealers can be from independent or franchised background, large or small, but in it for the long term. Dealers approved by Clive Sutton will also be signed off by GM.
The vehicles available for sale include high‑demand premium SUVs and pick-up trucks. On sale will be the Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade-V.
Also, available is the GMC Yukon Denali, Sierra 1500 Denali and Sierra 1500 AT4. And the Chevrolet range includes Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado.
Clive Sutton, chairman of the eponymous group, told Motor Trader the specifications for cars will be higher than entry levels in the US with few options on offer.
Clive Sutton is forecasting UK sales of 100 to 150 in a full year. Dealers will take part in promotional activity including pop-ups and exhibiting at shows and events to promote the brand and the vehicles.
The investment for dealers is about £20,000 for signage and workshop tools and Clive Sutton is flexible on sharing showrooms with other brands.
Buyers, he said, fall into two camps, those who perhaps rented or were driven in the cars when in the US and liked what they experienced and American car enthusiasts owning multiple vehicles.
Clive Sutton is investing £1m on a flagship GM Specialty Vehicles showroom in Staples Corner in North West London with workshop facilities and five tonne lifts. The workshop also has lifts adapted for EVs which will come to the UK at an unspecified date.
The new premises will provide a reference site for retailers and a central hub for training, logistics, and network support.
Clive Sutton said it wants retailers to focus on sales and the customer experience rather than import logistics and compliance.
So, all vehicles will be fully homologated and ready‑to‑sell for dealers supported by warranty, finance, and aftersales programmes.
Retailers will also offer accessory packages and revenue generators like paint protection film, specialist finishes, paint treatments, tracker and security installations and part‑exchange services.
UK customers can place orders immediately via the GM Specialty Vehicles website – GMSV.uk – or through retailers as they come online.
Sutton said: “We are delighted to work hand-in-hand with GME as its flagship dealer and to recruit a high‑quality, nationwide retail network.
“With almost 40 years of expertise with premium American imports, our stewardship of the programme will ensure UK dealers receive retail ready vehicles and comprehensive GM-support.”
Occupying a pivotal operational role in the management line-up is US brand specialist, Paul Collins, who has been recruited to create the UK dealer network.
In his role as head of network and business development, Collins will lead recruitment of retailers collaborating with them to ensure display, branding, and customer service standards alongside offering ongoing sales and aftersales support to each retail partner.
Collins said: “General Motors has been shaking up specialist vehicle distribution in markets around the world and now the UK is in the spotlight for something truly exciting.
“We’re building a bold, high-energy dealer network that will put Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet centre stage and give customers access to some of the most luxurious and thrilling vehicles on the road.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for ambitious, forward-thinking dealers to represent a special selection of globally recognised brands. We’re looking for partners who share our drive, our appetite for growth, and our passion for delivering an unforgettable customer experience,” he said.
Jean-Pierre Diernaz, managing director GM Europe: “We’re excited to be working with Clive Sutton to bring to UK customers our iconic North America vehicles. We’ve selected incredible vehicles from our global brands – Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet – through a dedicated GM facility in North West London and the nationwide network of retailers that is set to follow.”
