TWO major car dealerships are due to shut in the coming months – citing difficult trading conditions and rising operational costs.
Ocean Torbay, in Torbay, Devon, operates an MOT centre in Kingskerswell and a trading site on Totnes Road in Paignton – but both are expected to close on March 6, 2026.
According to Torbay Weekly, all existing service appointments will proceed as scheduled until then, while after the shutdown, future bookings will be managed through Ocean Plymouth.
Head of Business, Gareth Watton, first shared the news online, calling it a deeply emotional moment for the team.
He said: “Sadly the news that is travelling very fast is true, and Ocean Torbay will be closing in the next few months.
“Obviously a very difficult time for every member of my team and I am absolutely gutted.
“I built a great team of people and to see that break up in the coming weeks will be hard.”
The news comes amid wider uncertainty in Torbay’s dealership landscape – with Snows Toyota Paignton, also located on Totnes Road, reportedly preparing for closure in early February.
Indeed, customers received letters and digital notifications on January 10 advising that the branch would cease operations in about three weeks.
However, Snows Group has not yet issued a formal statement on its main website.
For customers of both businesses, bookings already in the diary should be honoured up to the respective closure dates, with aftersales and future appointments directed to Ocean Plymouth – in Ocean Torbay’s case.
Further information is expected as the dates approach, including how service histories, warranties and any ongoing work will be handled.
Customers are being advised to monitor official communications and contact customer services if they need to make individual arrangements, or have any extra questions.
This comes as the site of a former car dealership has been sold after the company could no longer operate the outlet.
Snows Car Centre, based in Newport, Isle of Wight, was forced to close last year following “difficult trading conditions in the automotive industry and a significant increase in running costs.”
They even wrote to customers encouraging them to head to their nearest branch situated in Portsmouth – even offering to help pay the travel expenses for trip over to the mainland.
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