BMW, Audi and Maserati car showrooms to reopen June 1 in Marshall Motors plan

BMW, Audi and Maserati car dealerships run by Marshall Motors are set to reopen on 1 June after the government eased lockdown restrictions.

Marshall runs 98 car showrooms across the country on behalf of several big brands, including Jaguar.

The company said it would ensure it follows health and safety guidelines to reopen.

Chief Daksh Gupta said: "We have been working on our detailed reactivation plans for a number of weeks with the safety and security of our colleagues and customers at the heart of those plans. We are confident that, in accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement, our businesses are COVID-19 secure and we look forward to re-opening our businesses from 1 June."

Car dealers have been waiting with bated breath to see whether they will be allowed to reopen alongside non-essential retail.

From June 1, outdoor markets will also be allowed to resume if they can do so safely.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday: "We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid secure guidelines in open spaces."

From June 15, all other non-essential retail will be allowed to reopen, contingent on progress in the fight against coronavirus and if the businesses are ‘covid secure’.

Johnson said new guidance was being published for the retail sector detailing the measures they should take to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards.

"Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen," he said. "This will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take."