Arnold Clark has opened its first Geely branches in Scotland in Irvine and Dumfries.
The Glasgow-headquartered business – the largest independent car dealer in the UK and one of the largest in Europe – said the move followed the success of Arnold Clark Geely branches south of the border in Stourbridge, Chertsey, Carlisle and Huddersfield.
Visitors to the Irvine and Dumfries branches can now explore and test-drive the two Geely models currently available in the UK, the Starray EM-i Super Hybrid SUV and the EX5 all-electric SUV.
Geely entered the UK passenger car market last October and in April reached the significant milestone of over 1,000 new vehicle registrations in a single month. It intends to launch 10 models over three years and achieve a sales volume of 100,000 units by 2030.
Russell Borrie, chief executive officer at Arnold Clark, said: “We’re delighted to bring Geely to Scotland with the opening of our new Irvine and Dumfries branches.
“As more drivers consider making the switch to hybrid and electric vehicles, it’s important that they have access to high-quality, affordable options backed by excellent customer service.
“Geely has already established a strong reputation globally for innovation, reliability and value, and we’re excited to introduce the brand to even more customers.”
Geely is based in Hangzhou, China and was founded in 1997 as a subsidiary unit of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH). ZGH manages several leading brands including Geely Auto, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, Polestar, Volvo, Lotus and smart. Geely is also the global strategic partner to Malaysian national automaker Proton.
Geely employs more than 50,000 people and operates five global R&D centers in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Gothenburg, Coventry and Frankfurt. Geely also boasts five global design studios in Shanghai, Ningbo, Gothenburg, Milan and Coventry respectively with over 1,000 employees.
Geely Automobile Holdings, a subsidiary company holding controlling stakes in Geely Auto, Lynk & Co and Zeekr has been listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange since 2005.
Geely currently owns a number of high-profile businesses in the UK positioned in the premium, sport and taxi segments.