Chinese brands are giving one AM100 dealer group the opportunity to expand its business in Lincolnshire, opening three new car showrooms.

Hartwell, which is in the second half of the AM100, has expanded its Grimsby and Scunthorpe dealerships and taken on the GWM Ora, Omoda and Jaecoo Chinese car brands.

Following significant refurbishment, the Grimsby site, which hosts a Ford dealership, has already begun retailing GWM Ora's electric cars.

Next month Hartwell's Scunthorpe property, which also hosts a Ford dealership, will add a dual-brand Omoda and Jaecoo showroom.

Earlier this year Hartwell also announced it was joining the dealer network of BYD, one of China's largest electric vehicle manufacturers.

It is retailing BYD at its Dunstable, Oxford, and Hereford sites.

At the time, managing director Mark Knapton’s said he was confident that Hartwell's additions will further its commitment to sustainable transportation and attract a broader range of customers.

The decline in Ford's share of the UK's new car market has led many of its franchisees to look for additional brands to strengthen their business.

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