Luxury car dealership Armstrong Prestige has begun construction of a more than $2million purpose-built sales area for brands Jaguar and Land Rover, expanding its Princes St, Dunedin, site.
Its Dunedin staff numbers have almost quadrupled during the past 12 years and are set for another boost shortly.
Franchise owner Rick Armstrong said the new Dunedin facility was being built to specific factory design guidelines and would be large enough for eight new vehicles, a customer lounge, cafe, merchandise and vehicle configuration facilities.
"These [Jaguar and Land Rover] are key brands for our group with huge potential.
"To give them a new purpose-built state-of-the-art home in Otago is really exciting,'' he said in a statement.
Armstrong's Dunedin general manager, Muir Gold, said he understood the extension would be the first purpose-built showroom for Jaguar and Land Rover in the country and came with specific instructions, down to bespoke furniture requirements.
Behind the construction barriers, footings and foundations are nearing completion and the first of the north wall precast concrete panels are in place.
Mr Gold said when the franchise first opened in Dunedin in 2004 it had a staff of about eight, but that had since risen to 30, in sales, workshop and administration roles.
"We've already started recruiting for the extension,'' he said.
He expected the new facility would be open in August.
Jaguar Land Rover New Zealand has partnered with Armstrong Prestige in developing the Dunedin site, and also redeveloping another dealership in Wellington.
The Dunedin building's concept work was done by MSH Architects, with design and drawings by Dunedin architects Mason and Wales, and Otago company Calder Stewart is doing the construction.
