Virgin Cars

Virgin Cars Ltd was an Internet automobile retailer started by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in May 2000 as part of the Virgin brand of companies. Branson predicted the company would sell 24,000 cars in the first year with a £300m turnover. [cite journal | last =Brabbs | first =Cordella | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Virgin Cars aims for £300m sales | journal =Marketing | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher = | date =2000-05-25 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = ] By October 2000, the company had sold over 2,000 cars, generating £30 million. [cite news | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Branson launches Virgin Cars at Motor Show | journal = | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher =PR Newswire | date =2000-10-17 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = ]

In 2001, the company started a subsidiary Virgin Bikes. [cite news | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Virgin Cars | journal = | volume = | issue = | pages = | publisher =Marketing Week | date =2001-07-05 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = ] The company only managed to sell 12,000 cars in total by 2003. Branson opened Virgin Car's first showroom in Salford, Manchester in May 2003. It is located at the end of the M602 motorway near the A6 / A57.

The company stopped all operations and trading in 2005. The building which it occupied has been stripped of all branding, and has remained empty since trading ceased.

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