Eakin Brothers was formed in 1923 by Mr Samuel Eakin, father of the current Managing Director Mr Jack Eakin, and grandfather of John and Peter Eakin, current Retail Operators at our Maydown and Claudy facilities. Primary activity in initial years was repairs to motor vehicles in a workshop based in Claudy, a county Londonderry village 11 miles from the City of Londonderry.
Business grew through the sale of new vehicles mostly Bedford trucks and new and used agriculture tractors through the 1930’s becoming a Bedford dealer in 1932. Different models of new and used cars were sold until gaining the Vauxhall franchise in 1953. In 1962 when the Main Vauxhall dealer in Londonderry stopped trading, a site was purchased in Foyle Road and Eakin Brothers became the Main Vauxhall dealer for the Londonderry area. In 1969 the first of several terrorist bombings struck and a much developed facility was literally brought to the ground in rubble.
1975 saw the relocation of Eakin Brothers to a greenfield site at Maydown, a totally new facility with ‘forward thinking’ parts and service reception areas within a spacious showroom. Upgrading and expansion to the facilities has gone on over the years with the introduction of a paint oven and body realignment equipment in the early 80’s. Computerisation caught up with Eakin Brothers in 1990 when a Kalamazoo Motodata management system was introduced. Major refurbishment was carried out in 1993 which included tiling the showroom floor, lowering the showroom ceiling, installing new parts and service reception areas as well as a central reception area in the showroom. Once again in 2002 further expansion took place with a brand new 4 bay Vauxhall MasterFit centre and showroom extension to include the new individual sales consultant rooms.
2003 saw the addition of Chevrolet to our GM portfolio. Part of the GM brand Chevrolet produces a new car every 7 seconds. Every sixteenth car on the planet is now a Chevrolet. What makes this a reality is the fact that Chevrolet’s goals are quite simple QUALITY, RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY. EMOTION is thrown in for FREE.
Meanwhile our Claudy facility represent 3 manufacturers with Izusu, Diahatsu and LDV vans.
Eakin Brothers was the first Dealer in Northern Ireland to participate in the Management Accounts Reporting System or Tracker as it is now known.
Eakin Brothers were among the first Dealers to join up for the Network Q used car scheme.
Eakin Brothers were finalist from Northern Ireland every year of ‘Answer The Challenge’ ,the Vauxhall knowledge and team building quiz.