Garage Bruno Mercier

Garage Bruno Mercier – Hyundai Dealership

Fondaris is pleased to have assisted Mr. Xavier Giudice, a shareholder of Garage Bruno Mercier – Hyundai Dealership in Tournai, in the sale of his shares to the Vandecasteele Group.

Located in Tournai, this Hyundai dealership was founded by Mr. Bruno Mercier in 1992. In 2015, Mr. Xavier Giudice, an employee of the company, took over as manager. Building on the dealership’s already solid reputation, he successfully retained existing customers and expanded the business by opening a used-car dealership nearby. After nine years at the helm of the company and in light of changes in the automotive sector, Xavier decided to step down to focus on future projects.

The Vandecasteele Group, a major player in automotive distribution, is thus adding a new brand to its portfolio, expanding its service offerings and strengthening its market presence.

The history of the Vandecasteele family began 57 years ago in Mouscron, with the grandparents of the current leaders, Nathalie and her cousin Christophe. At the time, Roger Vandecasteele and his wife ran a garage for commercial vehicles until they learned that Peugeot was looking for a new dealer in town. Roger passed on his passion for cars to his sons, Noël and Bernard. In 1970, Bernard opened a branch in Tournai, while Noël continued to run the Mouscron garage. In the years that followed, the two brothers opened additional branches in Kortrijk and Ath. The family legacy continued in the 1990s, when Christophe and Nathalie Vandecasteele—Noël’s son and Bernard’s daughter, respectively—joined the company. New garages were established in Péruwelz and Wevelgem, and K Motors (representing Citroën and DS) was launched in Kuurne.

The Vandecasteele family also has its own leasing company, Vancia Car Lease, which was founded in 1980. A pioneer in his sector, Bernard specialized in used cars, launching his own brand in 1994: VDC CAR.

Since the third generation took over, the group has expanded to include the eight other PSA and FCA brands (now grouped under Stellantis), notably with the launch of Citroën and DS Automobiles in 2012. Starting in 2019, they acquired Vanneste’s Opel operations in Mouscron and Tournai. In 2021, they added Fiat and Abarth, followed by Jeep and Alfa Romeo in 2022 after acquiring Kortrijk Motors. The BYD brand was integrated into the Kortrijk operation in 2023.”

The Vandecasteele Group also offers multi-brand bodywork services at five of its garages.

“No matter how large our group becomes, it is essential that we remain a family-owned business,” the executives emphasize. “Our family-oriented culture, personal touch, and personalized service are a guarantee we want to offer both our customers and our employees. With the acquisition of Garage Bruno Mercier—a Hyundai dealership—and the launch of MG (distributed by the same importer), we are further expanding our lineup to best meet our customers’ needs.”