Northern Ireland car retailer Charles Hurst is creating 26 new jobs as it opens a new dealership in Belfast.
The investment will bring Spanish car maker SEAT’s electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid brand CUPRA to the province when it opens later this year in a move it said will expand the choice of EVs to local motorists.
CUPRA is SEAT’s “high performance brand” which was launched back in 2018 and is similarly owned by Volkswagen.
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The move by Charles Hurst’s is in response to growing demand for hybrid and electrically-powered vehicles and follows a shift by car retailers away from petrol and diesel sales.
Charles Hurst Group Operations Director Jeff McCartney welcomed the move.
“Committed to growth and delivering an unrivalled choice for our customers in Northern Ireland, we’re delighted to be expanding our brand portfolio and introducing the groundbreaking CUPRA hybrid and all-electric vehicles to meet fast-growing local demand for cutting-edge, sustainable and innovative driving options,” he said.
Charles Hurst operates across eight sites in Northern Ireland and two in the Republic, representing more than 20 car manufacturers.
“Since the start of this year, we’ve invested around £8 million across our dealership estate, increasing choice and creating new jobs as part of an ambitious strategy to drive new growth and success, as we look toward an all-electric driving future.”
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Charles Hurst has invested significantly in its retail estate this year and in a range of brands, including around £2.2 million in a new Toyota showroom, around £1 million to refurbish and relaunch two Nissan dealerships in Belfast and Newtownards and £3 million in a redevelopment of its parts centre on Boucher Road.
It is also advancing plans to launch Northern Ireland’s only Lotus dealership after striking an agreement with the sports car maker last year.