Motor dealer Inchcape is to sell up to 47 dealerships, including five in Norfolk, as it looks to focus on fewer brands in the UK and grow its overseas operations.

Motor dealer Inchcape is to sell up to 47 dealerships, including five in Norfolk, as it looks to focus on fewer brands in the UK and grow its overseas operations.

The company, which last year bought Norfolk-based motor retailer Lind in a £108.6m deal, has put up for sale dealerships including Hunters Land Rover, which has sites in Norwich and King's Lynn, as well as HA Fox Jaguar and Inchcape Volvo. It is also selling Bentley dealer Michael Powles which it acquired as part of its takeover of rival motor dealer European Motor Holdings, which it completed in January. Inchcape is also ditching top-of-the-range marques Ferrari and Maserati as well as Renault and Vauxhall.

The decision has been made by Inchcape's new chief executive André Lacroix, a former boss of Euro Disney. Inchcape will focus on being, or trying to become, a dominant national player in Audi, BMW, Honda, Lexus, Mini, Mercedes, Toyota and Volkswagen.