New Dunedin home for Isuzu utes and Renault

Cooke Howlison is taking over the Isuzu utes and Renault franchises in Dunedin after farewelling sales of the Holden brand.

The company, part of Oakwood Motor Group, has purchased the franchises from Mike’s Cars and will start offering the marques from October 1.

Cooke Howlison made the move following the decision by General Motors to retire the Holden brand by the end of 2020.

John Marsh, pictured, managing director at Cooke Howlison, says Isuzu’s D-Max ute has been a popular seller in the city and will make an ideal replacement for the Holden Colorado.

There will be separate showrooms for Isuzu utes and Renault, reports the Otago Daily Times. Cooke Howlison will also continue to service Holden vehicles for another 10 years.

Mike Wellington, owner of Mike’s Cars, says he has enjoyed growing the presence of the two brands in Dunedin but now plans to specialise in selling late-model used cars.