In 1979, Terry Lister and Keith Bradshaw founded one of the UKs largest family businesses, opening their first Audi and Volkswagen dealerships in Coventry. Since this time, Listers has grown from strength to strength and now proudly represents 18 brands across the Midlands, Lincolnshire, Gloucestershire, Norfolk and Yorkshire and has over 50 dealerships, PDI Centres, Paint and Body Shops and a Head Office.
Moving to the 1980s, the family-owned business saw steady growth throughout the decade, acquiring Audi and Volkswagen sites in Stratford and Worcester. However, the 1990s saw the business surge as Listers began new relationships with SEAT and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, as well as huge growth in Boston in 1989 after acquiring two Mercedes-Benz sites.
Throughout this twenty year period, Listers were represented by their first logo, which was very much of its time with its bold font and bright red and orange colours.
Fast forward to the noughties, when two outgoing Volvo franchises paved the way for our Honda sites in Solihull and Stratford. We also acquired two more Volkswagen dealerships in Evesham and Nuneaton. Mercedes-Benz grew in size too as we opened our third and fourth sites in the North. During this time we also began another longstanding relationship, opening our first three Toyota centres in Lincolnshire.
It was early on in the noughties that the first change in our brand logo was made, with the logo colour changing to blue and a more modern font. The original red stayed in our logo and became the silhouette of a vehicle.
Later in the decade, Listers opened four more Toyota centres, two Lexus centres, two Audi centres, as well as accreditation for our Volkswagen Stratford Van Service Centre and a new relationship with BMW and MINI - opening two new dealerships.
The most recent update to our brand logo came in the twenty-tens, during a time in which the company continued to grow, opening Škoda Coventry, the Volkswagen and Škoda Service Centre, three new Land Rover sites and two Jaguar centres.
We also acquired Volvo Worcester, opened another Paint and Body Centre, Isuzu Worcester, CUPRA Coventry, Listers U and most recently, Porsche Centre Hull.