Vertu Motors has opened the first of its new BYD dealerships with Bristol Street Motors Worcester, which is co-located with its Ford showroom.
The new partnership includes a dedicated showroom and technicians for BYD vehicles, complete with a “robotic assistant”, with a shared workshop and service reception with the existing Ford site.
The robotic assistant will greet customers, offer bottles of water and be able to provide introductions to each vehicle and its specifications.
The robot can autonomously navigate to its charging point or reception area and even entertain with singing and dancing.
The new showroom has created four jobs and Vertu is expecting to increase the number of dedicated staff for the brand as the dealership grows.
Iain McDonald, general manager of Bristol Street Motors Worcester BYD, said: “It is a new venture from Bristol Street Motors but one which we are all very excited about.
“We will grow with the brand and it’s fantastic to be at the forefront of bringing BYD to the area.”
McDonald is planning an introduction event for BYD in September to introduce the brand to the region.
Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, said: “The launch of this dealership marks a significant milestone in our collaboration with BYD and our dedication to expanding our new energy vehicle portfolio.
“We eagerly anticipate the opening of our second BYD dealership in Gloucester later this year and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the manufacturer.”
Forrester confirmed the partnership with BYD earlier this year and told AM at the time that partnering with BYD was “the next logical step” in terms of expanding with new partners.
He said: “BYD is the largest BEV brand in the world and products like the 350-mile range Seal are very good.
“The Worcester and Gloucester market area will give us a good indication of how the brand operates and whether they like what we do and in turn, if we like what they do.”
