Lookers has opened its first new and used multi-franchise Car Hub retail concept in Middlesbrough.
The Car Hub has a special focus on electric vehicle (EV) sales with its EV Experience Centre and has opened following a £6 million investment.
The location is the first showcase for its partnership with new Chinese brand BYD and it also features the Ford franchise.
The site, which is located off Cargo Fleet Lane and South Bank Road, boasts six 150kW EV rapid chargers – capable of providing a 100-kilometre range to EV drivers in six minutes.
Open 24 hours a day, the new EV charging hub can power up to 480 cars in a single day, providing a boost to Middlesbrough’s EV charging infrastructure.
Duncan McPhee, Lookers chief operating officer, said: “Lookers Car Hub in Middlesbrough is an exciting new concept – a one stop shop where customers can buy a quality new or used vehicle, book in for repair work for any car brand, recharge their car, and learn about the future of sustainable motoring.
“With space for more than 300 cars, an onsite workshop and Middlesbrough’s first EV Experience Centre packed with resources, we’re proud to be leading the charge for a greener, more sustainable future in Teesside and the wider area.”
McPhee said the aim of the new EV Experience Centre is to provide knowledgeable, free and unbiased advice about electric driving.
Lookers said its investment will help Middlesbrough Council achieve its ambition to ensure that Middlesbrough as a town is net carbon neutral by 2029 as sales of battery electric vehicles continue to grow.
Last year, Lookers also invested £3m transforming its Volkswagen dealership in Teesside, bringing both its local VW car and van sites together into one consolidated location at the redeveloped Newport Road location.
In January this year, it officially opened a new Nissan showroom in Sunderland as the brand looks to improve on its sizeable presence in the northeast.
The site, on Newcastle Road, opened after a £1.8m investment from Lookers to transform its former Ford premises for the Japanese brand.
“Teesside is a strategically important location for Lookers and we’re delighted to be making a further significant investment in Middlesbrough, in Sunderland, and in the wider area,” McPhee added.
Lookers is one of the largest multi-franchise dealer groups in the UK and Ireland, representing 33 volume and premium car manufacturers across a network of over 150 franchised locations.
The group transitioned to private ownership in October year, following a £504 million deal by Canadian firm Alpha Auto Group.
The business completed a review of its business and operations following the deal, which led to 650 redundancies across the group.