John Barr Cars and Eakin Brothers have joined the Isuzu UK franchised retail network with the opening of new dealerships in Northern Ireland.

Isuzu managing directors flew in from the pick-up brand’s European headquarters in Germany and UK head office in the Midlands to officially launch the two new purpose-built sites in Antrim and Maydown.

Isuzu said in a statement that this was the first time that NI Isuzu dealers have had a visit from Japanese managing director Mikio Tsukui, a gesture that it said “underlines the importance placed by Isuzu in growing representation for the brand through substantial investments in first class customer facilities”.

The new John Barr Cars facility is located opposite Junction 1 Retail Park, in Antrim, while the Eakin Brothers facility can be found on Carrakeel Drive, Maydown.

News of the new openings comes just a month after Isuzu UK celebrated the addition of seven new franchised sites to take its total dealer count to 105.

Tsukui said: “It is a great honour to have our dealers investing in their futures with Isuzu, both dealer operations are state of the art new build and located in prime locations with easy access to major road arteries.

“Both dealers are very highly regarded in our network; Eakin Bros have an outstanding 96-year pedigree, are third generation motor dealers and have represented Isuzu from the earliest days in the UK.

“John Barr Cars are a young company that have expanded rapidly and consistently with Isuzu and in a short time have outgrown each of their previous Isuzu locations in Dundrod and Crumlin through consistent high sales. 

“They are each top-class representatives for our Brand, and a pleasure to have within the global Isuzu family.”

Isuzu UK managing director, William Brown, from the Isuzu brand’s UK importer IM, said “I’m personally delighted with this huge double leap forward. 

“Customers old and new will benefit greatly from bigger and better facilities. It’s no exaggeration to say these new sites are the finest Isuzu dealers in Europe, all credit to each of our dealers.

“Of course, our network is not just about glamorous buildings, and year after year John Barr Cars and Eakin Bros have won multiple Dealer of the Year awards in both sales and aftersales, by delivering good old-fashioned customer service and thorough attention to detail in every aspect of their businesses.”

Eakin Brothers managing director, Peter Eakin, said that it was “overwhelming” to have Isuzu’s Japanese MD make the first ever visit to NI.

He added: “We are delighted to have Maydown fully operational.

“Isuzu build the finest pick-ups in the market and we are absolutely delighted to continue to be their sole representatives for Isuzu and their specialist Arctic Truck brand in the Northwest.”

John Barr managing director, John Barr, thanked both MDs for personally visiting his new facility. He said: “My team worked late into the nights to ensure everything was ready and shipshape.

“The last few months have been a delight seeing all the plans come together, we are truly pleased to finally be operational in our new home opposite Junction 1 Retail Park in Antrim.”