Here's what buying a car will be like when Macklin Motors reopens on Monday

Macklin Motors is gearing up to reopen its dozen car dealerships across Scotland with a series of measures ushered in to comply with Covid-19 guidelines.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, which owns the Macklin Motors chain in Scotland.

The chain, part of the Vertu Motors group, will reopen the sites on Monday following the Scottish Government’s recent announcement to relax lockdown restrictions for retail premises.

Physical distancing rules will be maintained at all times with clear signage in the form of posters and floor markings, and “touch free” greetings replacing handshakes.

An appointment-only system will support the distancing measures while test drives will be undertaken alone, with sales executives following in a separate vehicle.

Macklin said face masks, single use gloves and hand sanitiser will be available to customers and staff members. Technicians will wear gloves, masks and use protective coverings while working on customers’ vehicles.

New, used and courtesy cars will be locked at all times when not in use and “thoroughly sanitised” between customers, the firm added. Service desks will have perspex screens.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, which owns Macklin Motors, said: “Across the group colleagues have been putting significant resource into making sure that our dealerships are safe workplaces, and safe environments for customers.

“We have been working towards opening for some time, following government advice and the wider motor industry standards, and it is important that customers know what to expect when they visit one of our sites. Having successfully opened a large number of the group’s dealerships England, we are confident that our customers in Scotland will feel comfortable with the measures we have put in place.

“We are delighted to be able to welcome customers back to our dealerships, albeit with a different, safe but always professional and friendly way of working.”

It is expected that a majority of Scotland’s car dealerships will reopen their doors next week.

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