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Charles Hurst to sell Geely and Changan EVs in Northern Ireland as Chinese brands expand UK presence

By Eve

Charles Hurst has signed deals with Chinese automakers Geely and Changan to open new Belfast showrooms on Boucher Road. The Changan dealership will feature the fully electric Deepal S07 and S05 compact SUVs, while the Geely showroom will sell the electric EX5 SUV and hybrid Starray EM-I. Geely, which owns Volvo and Lotus and ranks as the world's seventh largest automotive maker, entered the UK market last year and plans to launch 10 new models over the next three years as part of a strategy to sell 100,000 cars annually.

Why it matters

The expansion of Chinese EV brands into Northern Ireland signals growing competition in the UK market and potential demand for charging infrastructure to support new electric models. With BYD already operating dealerships in Derry and Belfast, and Geely targeting 100,000 annual UK sales, charge point operators may see increased installation opportunities at dealership sites and across the region.

Source

Original title
“Chinese car giants Geely and Changan sign up Charles Hurst to launch new EV and hybrid brands in Northern Ireland market”
Published
6 March 2026
Updated
18 July 2026

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