History of Harley Davidson Direct
Welcome to Harley Davidson Direct part of Opus Motor Group.
Opus Motor Group has a heritage of selling new and used quality cars and motorcycles to customers for over 100 years. We take pride in providing customers with quality products, competitive prices and an unbeatable customer service.
The Opus Motor Group previous owners of Jennings Motor Groups journey begins with Mr Septimus Jennings in 1890 as he starts repairing bicycles as a hobby in his garden shed. By 1911 Septimus Jennings purchases his first business premises in Morpeth, Northumberland and starts selling bicycles and motor cars.
The Jennings Motorbike and Bike Shop in Morpeth
In 1912 Septimus Jennings registers with Companies House and becomes a Limited Company known as S Jennings Ltd later this evolves into Jennings Motor Group.
Jennings Motor Group
For the next 80 years The Jennings family with S Jennings Ltd become one of the first dealers in the country to be appointed by Ford Motor Company to sell its cars and even huge LWB Ford Transit vans directly under the brand Ford Transit Direct sub brand. The company grows from strength to strength and expands into Teesside with the purchase of a Ford dealership on Yarm Road in Stockton-on-Tees.
In 1992 the Septimus Jennings family sell the company and a new era starts. Over the next 13 years, S Jennings Ltd win a staggering fourteen Chairman’s Awards for outstanding customer service. The award is a result of customers providing feedback about the service they receive. The motor group then expands into Ford South Shields, Ford Gateshead and Ford Middlesbrough to become a powerful force in the North East. The multi-franchise status comes in 2003 when we see the introduction of Mazda, Subaru, Ford Transit Direct and not long after, SEAT.
Ford Transit Direct
Offering Ford vans in all shapes and sizes that can be tailored to individual business requirements including the latest new Ford Transit and the smaller Ford Transit Connect, Ford Transit Direct had fantastic offers available across the new Ford van range.
Jennings Ford Direct
Jennings ford Direct was a similar model to Ford Transit Direct offering new and used fords to customers across the UK. Vehicles were provided with a unique warranty called the Jennings gold seal.
In 2005 Nas Khan OBE, who has been Group Sales Director for 13 years, takes over as Director following a buyout. S Jennings Ltd continue to win awards for outstanding customer service.
In 2010, Nas Khan launches his own charity, ‘The Emaan Foundation’ to raise an unbelievable £120k following floods in Pakistan. The company then expand further into Ford Washington, Tyne and Wear selling Kia vehicles. 2013 sees Britain’s biggest Kia Dealership open it’s doors on Teesside, Stockton Kia was born. Stockton Kia is officially opened by Paul Philpott, CEO and President of Kia Motors (UK) Ltd.
In 2015 Jennings Motor Group announce their first branch outside of the North East with the takeover of Leeds Harley-Davidson®. The store, located in Leeds City Centre, provides a customer experience like no other. Providing a place for Motorcycle enthusiast to hangout, buy clothing, parts and accessories.
After such a successful takeover of Leeds Harley-Davidson, Jennings Motor Group opens a second and brand new Harley-Davidson dealership in Gateshead. Gateshead Harley-Davidson becomes the main authorised dealer in the North of England. S Jennings Ltd is brought back to its roots in two-wheeled transport.
In 2018 part of S Jennings Ltd is sold to Lookers PLC. The remaining dealerships are Stockton Kia along with Leeds, Gateshead and Harley-Davidson Direct. These remain within the Nas Khan family.
The three dealerships now form Opus Motor Group. Sohail Khan, son of Nas Khan, is now managing director after the passing of his father. Opus Motor Group still boasts the same core family values, providing customers quality products, competitive prices and excellent customer service. The company rather than trading under the Jennings which was sold to Lookers the company now trades under SK motorcycles Ltd, Stockton Kia Ltd and NAK holdings Ltd as the parent company.
Harley Davidson Direct is the latest addition to the business offering a wide selection of genuine HD clothing, parts and accessories via our ecommerce website direct to the public.
