Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand BYD has revealed that it is planning to establish a UK retail network of 100 dealerships by the end of 2025.

AM has already reported on the brand’s franchise contracts with Pendragon, Arnold Clark, Lookers and LSH Auto but discussions with its county manager for the UK and Ireland, Bono Ge, revealed far more about its ambitious growth plans.

And Ge insisted that agency model retail was off the agenda as he spoke to AM editor-in-chief Stephen Briers at this week’s launch of its debut EV, the Atto 3 SUV.

“We are not going to have direct sales, we want to have partnerships with dealers who are the specialists,” Ge said.

“We have already appointed Pendragon, Lookers, Arnold Clark and LSH Auto and those showrooms open next week in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Milton Keynes. We will have dealerships in London and Belfast in quarter two.”