GWM Ora UK has appointed two new car dealer partners in the first quarter of 2024, with four new sites set to launch in Abingdon, Scunthorpe, Driffield, and Bridlington. These additions bolster a network of over 30 GWM ORA customer service points across the UK, encompassing sales, aftersales, and test drive centres.
Richardson’s opens with one full sales and aftersales site in Driffield and a test drive centre in Bridlington, while Hartwell joins with two full sales and aftersales sites in Abingdon and Scunthorpe.
The brand has just one car on sale currently, the 03 (formerly known as Funky Cat), and GWM Ora UK managing director Toby Marshall wants to onboard at least one new retail partner each month on average this year to support the introduction of additional ORA 03 variants and the ORA 07, the second model coming to the UK later in the year.
Marshall said: “There’s no better way to showcase our innovative all-electric vehicles than through trusted and well-established retail partners like Hartwell and Richardson. They join a network of over 30 GWM ORA customer service points across the UK, which we plan to expand further this year in line with our ambitious growth plans.”
Hartwell Group has 11 dealerships in the UK, mostly representing Ford, but it also has a Hartwell-EV’ business helping consumers make the switch to EV ownership. Richardson’s is a family-run dealer with two Ford dealerships in East Yorkshire and long experience of motor retail.
Mark Knapton, Hartwell's managing director, said: “We are already great advocates of electric vehicles as we currently retail new Ford electric vehicles and a range of multi-franchise used electric vehicles. The introduction of GWM ORA’s range into the UK is very exciting as they offer high quality vehicles that represent great value and we believe they will be attractive to customers who may never have considered a fully electric vehicle previously.”
At Richardson's, its managing director Toby Richardson said: “We are very excited to be partnering with the GWM ORA, which we believe will complement our existing new car franchises. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority and we look forward to welcoming customers past and present to the latest brand in our portfolio.”
An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
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