NEWS
CHARLES HURST DEBUTS TWO NEW BRANDS IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN MAJOR GROWTH STRATEGY
C harles Hurst Group is introducing two new vehicle brands – Geely and Changan – in Northern Ireland, increasing the choice and value on offer to customers at its Boucher Road retail complex in Belfast . In a major investment that will create additional new jobs, Northern Ireland’s largest car retailer is introducing the Changan EV brand for the first time with a new showroom in Belfast designed to showcase the stylish fully electric Deepal S07 and S05 compact SUVs. Designed in Italy and engineered in the UK with Chinese expertise, Changan offers premium features and advanced technology without the premium price. Charles Hurst is also partnering with Geely Auto UK to launch its compact SUVs – the electric Geely EX5 and hybrid Starray EM-i – with its own new showroom at Boucher Road. Geely Auto Group, the world’s seventh biggest automotive maker, which owns Volvo and Lotus, only entered the UK market for the first time last year. This latest addition to the Group’s vehicle line-up reinforces Charles Hurst’s commitment to becoming Northern Ireland’s first choice for electric and hybrid driving. The Group has invested millions in bringing the most innovative new brands to the region, expanding customer choice with new showrooms, expert advice, and premium aftersales support. The new partnership with Changan and Geely – which includes sales, servicing, and aftersales for both brands’ growing
model range – marks a significant expansion of Charles Hurst’s vehicle portfolio. Jeff McCartney, Group Operations Director at Charles Hurst, said: “We’re excited to be the first major retailer in Northern Ireland to debut not one but two of the world’s newest and most innovative EV and low-emission brands. This underlines our commitment to bringing real choice and value to customers who want to make the switch to a more sustainable and affordable drive. We can’t wait for customers to see and experience the new Changan Deepal S07
and Geely SUVs which combine striking design and premium technology without the premium price tag – and we look forward to expanding the range available over the months and years ahead.” Meanwhile, Geely Auto UK has said that it will launch 10 new models over the next three years, by which time it expects to sell 100,000 cars annually. Geely, meaning 'lucky', has almost 30 years of automotive expertise, creating a smarter, more sustainable way to drive. It also offers an eight-year 125,000-mile warranty on all vehicles with four years roadside assistance.
Pictured (l-r) with the all-new new Changan and Geely brands are franchise sales managers Jason Hawthorne and Curtis McCartney.
NORTHERN IRELAND DRIVERS SEE SMALLEST DROP IN CAR INSURANCE PRICES
D rivers in Northern Ireland are seeing almost no benefit from falling car insurance costs, with
drivers stack up against those in Great Britain. While Northern Ireland boasted some of the most competitive car insurance prices back in 2024, it has jumped up the regional rankings over the past year and is now the third most expensive, with average prices currently sitting at £624 – almost 8% above the national average.
Elsewhere, motorists have seen more meaningful savings. Drivers in the West Midlands enjoyed average drops of nearly £50, while Londoners saw prices fall by more than £30. The findings are based on the latest data from car insurance experts at CompareNI.com, who analysed the most recent quarter of statistics to see how insurance costs for Northern Ireland
premiums here barely budging compared to the rest of the UK.
New figures reveal Northern Ireland recorded the smallest decrease of any region, with average prices falling by just £2 over the last quarter.
PAGE 6
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator