Bowker Motor Group

Bowker Motor Group: franchised dealerships across Lancashire and Greater Manchester

Bowker Motor Group operates franchised car dealerships in Preston, Blackburn and Bolton. Its new-vehicle portfolio covers BMW, MINI, Porsche, Changan, Chery and LEPAS, and the group also runs a used-car operation under the Bowker Select name. The company presents itself as a family business and frames its approach around customer service and aftersales care at each site.

A transport company founded in 1919

The group traces its origins to 1919, when William Henry Bowker founded W H Bowker Limited in Blackburn to provide road transport services, using his war gratuity to buy a first vehicle. Local deliveries in Lancashire built a reputation that allowed the firm to assemble one of the larger fleets in the area. The business moved into car retailing in 1984 with the purchase of Clock Garage in Accrington, the BMW retailer for East Lancashire.

Expansion of the franchise network

The company's own chronology sets out a series of site moves and franchise additions:

• 1987: Clock Garage relocates to larger premises on Hyndburn Road in Accrington (Bowker Accrington).
• 1989: a second BMW franchise is acquired at Kinders Ashton Garage in Preston, serving Central Lancashire.
• 1996: Kinders Ashton Garage moves to a new dealership on Preston Docklands (Bowker Preston).
• 2001: the MINI franchise is awarded at both Accrington and Preston, with stand-alone facilities separate from the BMW showrooms.
• 2006: Bowker Accrington relocates to a three-acre site on Trident Park in Blackburn (Bowker Blackburn).
• 2007: a Harley-Davidson motorcycle franchise opens on Stand Road in Preston (Preston Harley-Davidson).
• 2012: Bowker Ribble Valley opens in Osbaldeston after a £750,000 investment in Bay Horse Garage on the A59.
• 2013: the group is appointed official Maserati dealer for the North West, with a new showroom at Bay Horse Garage.
• 2014: purchase of the one-acre Customs House site adjoining Bowker Preston, and a £1m showroom refurbishment at Bowker Preston BMW.
• 2015: acquisition of Southport Superbikes and entry into the Motorrad brand, with Bowker Motorrad opening in Preston in October.
• 2017: a Bowker Preston BMW & MINI Aftersales Centre opens on a 6.5-acre site.
• 2019: the Porsche franchise is acquired and Porsche Centre Preston opens on Watery Lane.
• 2022: an INEOS Grenadier franchise is acquired, with a showroom at Bay Horse Garage on the A59.
• 2024: Porsche Centre Bolton is acquired from Lithia Motors Group UK in November.
• 2026: Changan and Chery franchises are acquired, with showrooms at Customs Way on Preston Docklands; the LEPAS franchise, part of Chery International, opens showrooms in Preston and Blackburn.

New and used vehicles, business sales and part-exchange

Alongside new-car sales, the group's website lists a used-stock search, a Bowker Select used-car section, an immediate-delivery stock list for BMW and Porsche, and a service for selling a vehicle. A business and corporate section addresses company customers, including business solutions and business leasing-type enquiries under the Business & Corporate heading.

Finance and insurance role

Bowker Preston Limited, Bowker Blackburn Limited, and Bowker Performance Cars Limited (trading as Porsche Centre Preston and Porsche Centre Bolton) are appointed representatives of ITC Compliance Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 313486. Permitted activities include advising on and arranging general insurance contracts and acting as a credit broker rather than a lender. The group states that it introduces customers to a limited number of finance providers, charges no fee for its consumer credit services, and receives commission from lenders, which it says is disclosed during the sales process. Finance applications are subject to status and terms, restricted to UK residents aged 18 or over, and guarantees may be required.

Company details

The group is registered in England under company number 805059 and VAT registration number GB 135 5932 06. Its published policies cover terms and conditions, complaints, privacy, cookies, job-applicant privacy and a modern slavery statement.