Trivett sees red over Porsche

The Trivett Group, which has run a hugely successful Porsche dealership in Sydney for 16 years, is facing a battle with Europe's biggest carmaker after unceremoniously being given six weeks' notice that its franchise is to end.

Porsche Cars Australia, part of the global Volkswagen Group, has its own dealerships in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as franchisees in major cities. Sydneysiders can buy Porsches from one of three sites and Trivett Group's executive chairman, Greg Duncan, believes his western Sydney dealership is being punished for outperforming Porsche's head office dealership.

"They shouldn't be acting to shore up their (business) at the expense of ours," said Mr Duncan. "There is no question about our performance; they have never written to us with any problems, any breach, any warning, absolutely nothing."

Mr Duncan was stunned when Porsche sent him a brief letter on May 24 last year telling him Trivett's franchise was to expire on June 30, just weeks later.

"We have done nothing to warrant it," he said.

After pointing out to Porsche that under the franchising code of Australia Porsche was required to give Trivett at least six months' notice of a decision not to renew the franchise, Trivett has been given a reprieve until June 30 next year.

Porsche managing director Michael Winkler said: "It is just inappropriate to comment on any ongoing relationship that I have with any of my franchisees."