The John Clark Motor Group (JCMG), one of Scotland’s largest family-owned automotive dealership networks, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Hawco Group, a respected Volkswagen Group franchised dealer with locations in Inverness, Elgin and Peterhead. This transition aligns with Volkswagen Group’s network restructuring plans and comes at a natural time as John and Kevin Hawco, the two remaining family directors, prepare to retire after long and distinguished careers in the motor trade.
2nd October 2025
Chris Clark, Group Managing Director of John Clark Motor Group, said:
“We are proud to welcome Hawco Group into the John Clark family. This acquisition not only extends our presence into the Highlands but also brings together two businesses with a shared commitment to heritage, customer care, and community. United, we can offer customers an even greater selection of brands and an elevated level of service across Scotland.”
Outgoing Managing Director, John Hawco, said:
“Our family business, founded by our father Jim Hawco in 1953, has represented Volkswagen Group in the North of Scotland for over 70 years. We are deeply grateful to our loyal customers and proud of the dedication of our 200 staff. As Kevin and I move into retirement, we are confident the new owners, also a family-owned and values-led business, will continue to uphold the principles on which Hawco was built.”
Joe Farrell, Group Brand Director of Hawco Group, added:
“I want to first thank John and his family for the years of support and stewardship running Hawco Group. I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say that we are excited to start work with the John Clark Motor Group. I look forward to developing the business and providing our valued customers with a broader offering supported by the resources that come from being part of a bigger group.”
David Kendrick, Managing Director, Wealth at Cooper Parry, added:
“The acquisition of Hawco by JCMG is a great strategic move for them. Hawco has been a long established and successful group, however merging into John Clark gives them initial scale and dominance in the northern Scotland region. It was a pleasure to assist the Hawco family with the transaction and we wish them a long and happy retirement.”
· Colleagues & Locations: All Hawco branches will continue operating from their current locations with their current brands and their current teams. Continuity is a core principle of this transition.
· Customer Services: John Clark Motor Group plans to enhance the Hawco customer offering by supporting the Hawco team with its wide range of central support services such as their Customer Engagement Centre, Central Funding Unit and Internal Transport Team. In addition to this, they will bring their additional expertise in service plan provision, seamless digital purchase journeys and Motability proficiency.
· Brand Portfolio Growth: The acquisition brings complementary brand coverage, aligning with John Clark Motor Group’s existing roster including Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, VW Commercial Vehicles and its other brands, offering customers access to a more diverse range of products and services.
· Community & Sustainability: This move strengthens both groups' shared values: community engagement, employee development, and environmental responsibility. John Clark Motor Group continues its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and scalable renewable energy initiatives.
