Willis Motor Company was founded in October 1989 by Dennis Willis, trading from premises in Whitton Avenue West in North Greenford, and employing just three staff in those early days. During the early years, the ‘range’ comprised just one car, the ŠKODA Favourite hatchback and estate, but sales grew as the motoring public began to appreciate the exceptional value for money, and better reliability, on offer. In 1995 ŠKODA introduced a new model, the ŠKODA Felicia.Heavily influenced by VW, it was modern, stylish and again outstanding value for money.
He signed up with ŠKODA Cars in May 1993 at the same time that Volkswagen UK took over the distribution of the ŠKODA range in the UK.Both VW, and Dennis, could see that with the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, in particular in the Czech Republic where ŠKODA built their cars, there was the scope and high likelihood that the introduction of western quality concepts could very quickly turn what had been something of a laughing stock car brand into one that would combine VW build quality with Czech economy and efficiency.If that was a gamble on Dennis’s part, it was one that would succeed, hugely.
He signed up with Å KODA Cars in May 1993 at the same time that Volkswagen UK took over the distribution of the Å KODA range in the UK.Both VW, and Dennis, could see that with the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, in particular in the Czech Republic where Å KODA built their cars, there was the scope and high likelihood that the introduction of western quality concepts could very quickly turn what had been something of a laughing stock car brand into one that would combine VW build quality with Czech economy and efficiency.If that was a gamble on Dennis’s part, it was one that would succeed, hugely.
