Thames Valley: Jemca Car Group - Driving Business
Thames Valley welcomed a new name for Toyota and Lexus when automotive retailers Jemca Car Group acquired Octagon Motor Company, growing its company by a third in the process.
The former Octagon’s Toyota dealerships in Rose Kiln Lane, Reading and John Nike Way, Bracknell and its Lexus centre, also in Rose Kiln Lane, Reading have been trading as Jemca Toyota and Lexus Reading since the takeover late last summer.
In so doing, Jemca, the trading brand of Toyota Tsusho Automobile London Holdings, became the largest Toyota group in the UK with seven businesses representing the brand as well as four Lexus centres, increasing its annual turnover above £150 million.
The group continues to further develop its presence in the Thames Valley with its Jemca Business Centre, created to deliver a specialist company car service to businesses throughout the region and London whether requirements are for one or two company cars or a large 100+ vehicle fleet.
Business specialists can advise on all aspects of company car driving from the advantages of various funding options, benefit in kind (BIK) implications for employees and capital allowances – the amount a company can write down against tax.
The dedicated business centre will also work in partnership with companies embracing salary sacrifice schemes, whereby employees give up part of their salary in return for their employer providing a non- cash benefit such as a car. In most cases, Jemca Car Group will be able to provide similar discounts to those associated with fleet buyers.
Jemca Car Group’s vice-president and managing executive officer David Collis said: “The amalgamation of the three businesses has been extremely smooth and we are now in a position to expand our representation in the region.
“With its high concentration and wide variety of companies as well as the fact that around half of all new car registrations are for business users, we are confident we will be helping to provide a much-needed service to the region’s business community. With hybrid drive being the hallmark of several Lexus and Toyota models which deliver lower CO2 compared to their conventionally-powered rivals, they are very much aimed at the business market. We are very much looking forward to developing even stronger relationships with neighbouring businesses in the weeks to come and beyond.”
Jemca Business Centre is looking to recruit a B2B ‘guru’; not necessarily with automotive experience as full training will be given but with excellent account management experience in a business environment and ideally with a jam-packed contacts book. For more details of the role and how to apply, see Jemca’s recruitment advertisement on page 11 of this month's edition of The Business Magazine.
Lexus and Toyota between them offer an extensive choice of company car vehicles such as the luxurious executive saloon, the Lexus LS600h, or the eagerly awaited arrival of the new IS 300h, set to become a company car favourite; whilst Toyota sports the new SUV with reduced emissions, the RAV 4, and business user winner with its low CO2, the well-established hybrid drive Prius.
Take an at-a-glance peek at two company car options:
With CO2 below 95g/km, both vehicles qualify for 100% write down allowance.
Toyota Auris Touring Sports
The British-built Auris Touring Sports, the estate/wagon model joins the range in July:
Class-leading CO2 emissions of 85g/km for hybrid
Significantly lower NOx and particulate emissions compared to diesel cars with comparable performance
Class-leading luggage capacity, up to 1,658 litres
Superb versatility with Easy-Flat one-touch rear seat folding system
Auris Hybrid Touring Sports Icon has a maximum power output of 134bhp/100kW resulting in nought to 62mph acceleration in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 112mph
Auris Hybrid Touring Sports Icon priced from £21,095.
Lexus CT 200h
Range includes high-specification, high-value Advance model priced from £24,495
Standard features include satellite navigation, reversing camera, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, folding door mirrors and cruise control
CT 200h luxury compact hatchback range includes new entry-point S grade from £21,995
CO2 emissions from 87g/km
Further up the range Premier includes a DAB digital tuner and electric front passenger seat adjustment
F Sport incorporates electric passenger seat control plus Smart Entry and Start.
