Parks Motor Group
Encyclopedia
Park's Motor Group is a large company based in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
in Central Scotland
. It is one of the most well-known and recognisable brand
s in Scotland. The company is wholly owned by Douglas Park who founded the business in 1971 as a coach
and bus
operation with three vehicles. They moved into the motor trade in 1977 with a single new & used car dealership in Hamilton selling Datsun
cars.
Now Park's are arguably Scotland's leading coach operators with in excess of 120 coaches, which cater for both business and leisure travel throughout Britain and Europe. The company provides VIP
coaches for most Central Scotland-based Scottish Premier League
football teams as well as running express services throughout Great Britain
on behalf of both National Express
and Scottish Citylink
. The coaching business was strengthened in 1996 with the acquisition of Trathens Travel Services Ltd, an express coach operator running out of Plymouth
and incorporating StarRiders (a well known sleeper bus
operator). In late 2009, the name Trathens was dropped completely in favour of the Park's branding.
The new & used car dealership side of the business has continued to expand and Park's now have 28 dealerships across central Scotland with franchises for a number of manufacturers ranging from Kia
to BMW
, including the recently acquired former County Saab
dealership in Ayr
. Six petrol forecourts and a vehicle repair business complete the line-up.
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
in Central Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is one of the most well-known and recognisable brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s in Scotland. The company is wholly owned by Douglas Park who founded the business in 1971 as a coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
and bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
operation with three vehicles. They moved into the motor trade in 1977 with a single new & used car dealership in Hamilton selling Datsun
Datsun
Datsun was an automobile marque. The name was created in 1931 by the DAT Motorcar Co. for a new car model, spelling it as "Datson" to indicate its smaller size when compared to the existing, larger DAT car. Later, in 1933 after Nissan Motor Co., Ltd...
cars.
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
coaches for most Central Scotland-based Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
football teams as well as running express services throughout Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
on behalf of both National Express
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
and Scottish Citylink
Scottish Citylink
Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd is a long distance express coach operator in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland . The company was formed as a subsidiary of Scottish Transport Group in June 1985...
. The coaching business was strengthened in 1996 with the acquisition of Trathens Travel Services Ltd, an express coach operator running out of Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and incorporating StarRiders (a well known sleeper bus
Sleeper bus
A sleeper bus is a type of specially adapted coach, often used to transport bands and their technicians and road crew between cities and shows....
operator). In late 2009, the name Trathens was dropped completely in favour of the Park's branding.
The new & used car dealership side of the business has continued to expand and Park's now have 28 dealerships across central Scotland with franchises for a number of manufacturers ranging from Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
to BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, including the recently acquired former County Saab
Saab
Saab AB is a Swedish aerospace and defence company, founded in 1937. From 1947 to 1990 it was the parent company of automobile manufacturer Saab Automobile, and between 1968 and 1995 the company was in a merger with commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania, known as Saab-Scania.-History:"Svenska...
dealership in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
. Six petrol forecourts and a vehicle repair business complete the line-up.