IA Electric Vehicles on quest for Seres, Skywell franchise partners

IA Electric Vehicles, the UK’s first multi-brand electric vehicle distributor, earlier this year announced its plan to introduce two new Chinese brands Seres and Skywell in 2024.

Its chairman Samir Hmicho says the business is now offering franchise opportunities to both single- and multi-site dealer groups to support future growth.  

Indeed, since that announcement Armstrong Vehicle Centre, part of the William Armstrong Group, said it will be opening the first Seres brand showroom in the UK, in Kingstown, Carlisle.

Nicola Robinson, business manager at Armstrong Vehicle Centre, said: “Seres represents the future of affordable electric mobility, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformative journey. With Seres, we aim to revolutionise the way people think about electric vehicles and accelerate the transition towards a zero-emission future.”

In addition to the introduction of the Seres brand, Armstrong Vehicle will also be taking on Skywell later this year, hoping that the dual partnership will position it as a leader in cutting-edge electric vehicle solutions.

IA, which has been selling the DFSK EC35 compact panel van since 2022, said it is not only offering Seres and Skywell as examples of advanced range of next-generation electric vehicles, but will also deliver robust support packages and flexible finance solutions too.

Opportunities

Speaking exclusively to AM Online, Samir Hmicho claims that, as the UK’s only multi-brand EV distributor, an IA franchise is a very attractive proposition for UK dealers.

“By the end of this year, we will have a wide product portfolio of the most advanced electric vehicles appealing to a broad range of customers; from families to businesses. With low franchise costs and excellent dealer margins, we offer excellent return-on-investment without imposing strict corporate identity guidelines”. 

Seres

Officially introduced to the UK at the London EV Show in December, Seres is a California-based manufacturer and a subsidiary of the Seres Group – an A-Share listed Chinese manufacturer with over 10,000 employees globally.

The Seres 3 electric SUV which was unveiled at the London EV Show is competitively priced from less than £30,000 and will go on sale in late Spring.

Following on later this year will be the larger and sportier Seres 5, along with the even larger Seres 7 and Seres 9 in 2025.

Skywell

Set to be launched in the UK in Q2 2024, Skywell is one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive brands; globally-renowned for its cutting-edge technology and sleek designs. Going on sale in the summer, the Skywell ET5 is a premium mid-size SUV with a practical range of 304 miles (WLTP).

DFSK

The company’s existing brand partner, LCV manufacturer DFSK, will also be launching a new model towards the end of this year. At 7 cubic metres, the new model is larger that the outgoing EC35 and and will compete against the likes of the Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic.

To support the strong sales growth anticipated for 2024, IA Electric Vehicles is targeting 60 dealer partners by the end of the year and is encouraging single- and multi-site dealerships from across the UK to get in touch about franchise opportunities with low investment costs.

About Samir Hmicho

Innovation Automotive selects Intelligent Motoring as exclusive electric vehicle warranty partner

London, U.K., 14th October 2022 – Multi-brand electric vehicle provider, Innovation Automotive, has chosen Intelligent Motoring as an exclusive provider of warranty and claims management solutions, confirming its commitment to offer future electric van and passenger vehicle customers the most comprehensive aftersales package possible. The move follows Innovation Automotive’s recent announcement that it has secured the rights to distribute the all-electric Chinese brands DFSK, Seres and Skywell in the UK.

Intelligent Motoring’s extended warranty offering, MotorEasy, joins a portfolio of aftersales solutions brought together by Innovation Automotive, including AA breakdown cover and servicing and repairs via Halfords Autocentres.

Innovation Automotive’s distribution rights will begin with the launch of the DFSK EC35 in the UK, with all buyers receiving a 5-year / 75,000 mile vehicle warranty, as well as an 8-year / 100,000 mile warranty for the traction battery.

DFSK customers will also receive a white label version of MotorEasy’s “digital garage” account area. The free digital garage, which was another contributing factor to Innovative Automotive’s appointment of Intelligent Motoring, enables customers to store policy documentation and garage records, including servicing and repairs. Records will be automatically uploaded, via an existing API between Halfords Autocentres and Intelligent Motoring, helping customers build and maintain a full service history that they can pass on to future owners.

Samir Hmicho, Chairmain of Innovation Automotive said, “There are a host of reasons why Intelligent Motoring stood out from its competitors. Aside from its innovative approach to product development and customer lifecycle management, it has a proven record in achieving an exemplary record of customer service, as shown by MotorEasy’s “excellent-rated” Trustpilot score.

“Furthermore, its established relationship with Halfords Autocentres enables us to capitalise on existing synergies between both our chosen servicing and warranty providers. As a direct-to-consumer business it was vitally important that we chose a portfolio of partners that each boast a high record of success on customer service. We are delighted to have Intelligent Motoring join us as we embark on launching a new chapter in the UK’s decarbonisation journey.

Commenting on the appointment, Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO of Intelligent Motoring said, “Having pioneered the introduction of extended warranties for electric vehicles in the UK back in 2020, we are particularly excited to be working with a group that themselves are pioneering the introduction of new types of electric vehicles to the UK. EV development is evolving at incredible pace, notably in the commercial vehicles sector, providing huge learning and commercial opportunities across our suite of customer lifecycle brands.”

About Samir Hmicho

All-New Skywell BE11 to be unveiled at the Everything Electric Expo in Harrogate

Innovation Automotive, the UK’s only multi-brand EV distributor, will officially unveil the captivating Skywell BE11 electric SUV at the Everything Electric NORTH Expo in Harrogate, with sales due to commence in the second half of the year.

The smart and sophisticated BE11 is the first Skywell vehicle to ever be showcased in the UK, representing a pivotal moment for both the brand and Innovation Automotive. Generously equipped and competitively priced, the mid-size SUV promises to help remove the barriers to EV affordability and accelerate the UK’s transition to zero-emission mobility.

The emotive and dynamic exterior design is distinguished by its ‘razor’ LED front headlights lights, ‘Lynx’ two-tone 19” alloy wheels and Skywell-embossed full-width rear lights, while the sumptuous leather-style seats and contrasting wood-style veneer and piano black panelling provides the interior with premium and contemporary feel.

All models are powered by a spritely 204PS/320Nm motor which propels the BE11 to 62mph in just 9.6 seconds, and there is an option of a 72kWh and 86kWh lithium-ion battery which provide practical ranges of 248 and 304 miles respectively (WLTP – Combined).

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Samir Hmicho, Chairman at Innovation Automotive, commented:

“As the UK representative of Skywell, we are delighted to be introducing the BE11 to the British public at the Everything Electric SHOW. The BE11 sets a new standard for specification and pricing in the mid-size e-SUV market, helping make the switch to electrification more affordable for families and individuals alike”.

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Head of Marketing & PR at Innovation Automotive, Liam Campbell, add

“This is the first UK showing of both the BE11 car and the Skywell brand, and we wanted a high-profile exhibition that matched the status of this event to give us that real sense of occasion.

Having personally attended every Fully Charged LIVE and Everything Electric SHOW in the UK, I’ve always been thoroughly impressed by the levels of attendance and the social traction generated and therefore there was only once place to hold the launch. The team are incredibly talented and amenable, and they are a genuine pleasure to work with”.

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The Skywell BE11 unveiled will be unveiled at the Everything Electric NORTH Expo, part of the world’s largest series of EV events, at Harrogate on the 24th of May, with sales due to commence in Q3 of 2024.

Everything Electric NORTH runs from 24th-26th May at the Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate. Tickets are available here.

Press passes for the event can be requested here.

About Samir Hmicho

Innovation Automotive to Launch ‘Next Level’ DFSK and Skywell Electric Vans

Innovation Automotive, the UK’s first multi-brand electric vehicle company, is reinventing itself ahead of introducing three new electric vans. After introducing the compact DFSK EC35 van to the UK in 2021, Innovation Automotive will replace it with vans in the small, medium, and large segments.

The medium-sized van is expected to be based on the Dongfeng Sokon RuiChi EC75, a Chinese model powered, in its home territory, by a 42kWh battery pack that’s good for a range of 156 miles. That’s a long way short of the forthcoming Ford E-Transit Custom’s 236-mile range or 230-mile capability of the Maxus eDeliver 7, but UK specifications are likely to change.

At 5,130mm long, the EC75 provides a cargo volume of 6.9m3 — on par with a Ford Transit Custom L2H1.

The upcoming vans and pickups will be produced with DFSK and Skywell, partner OEM brands of Innovation Automotive. DFSK, a member of the Seres Group, has over a decade of experience selling LCVs in the UK, while Skywell, supported by the electronics giant Skyworth, manufactures a broad range of vehicles, including the Skywell BE11 SUV.

“We are hugely excited to be launching our ‘Next Level Vans’, which, in true Innovation Automotive style, combine great productivity and low cost of ownership.,” explains Samir Hmicho, chairman of Innovation Automotive. “With three distinctive products and a range of body lengths and heights, we have a product to suit every business.”

The DFSK EC35 is still available from Innovation Automotive but is no longer expected to be imported to the UK. Only stock vehicles can be ordered with a price tag of £25,999 before VAT and government grants.

Hakkımızda Samir Hmicho

Chinese electric car brands Seres and Skywell draw up plans for UK market assault

Two Chinese electric car brands are drawing up plans to enter the UK market.

Cirencester-based Innovation Automotive (IA) Electric Vehicles has confirmed it will import the Seres and Skywell brands to Britain later this year

Seres Group – a Chinese company whose automotive arm is headquartered in California – through its Seres brand has a range of electric models, but confirmed for the UK is its Nissan Qashqai-sized Seres 3.

The car was shown in right-hand drive form at the Munich Motor Show in September 2023 and at the London EV show in December.

Nio won’t create UK dealer network as it fears it would lose ‘control’ over customer experience
It sports a 54kWh battery, giving a range of 205 miles, and a 161bhp electric motor that powers the front wheels.

The Seres 3 is set to go on sale in April 2024 with a price of ‘less than £30,000’, which will undercut the £30,495 MG ZS EV.

Also due to launch in the UK in 2024 is Skywell, which will introduce the ET5 as a ‘premium and sophisticated’ mid-size SUV, boasting a range of up to 304 miles.

IA Electric Vehicles says the Skywell ET5 will go on sale in the summer, with no indication of pricing.

The Seres 3 is set to undercut the top-selling MG ZS EV when it arrives in the UK later this year

Gary White, general manager at IA Electric Vehicles, said: ‘This is a very exciting time for IA Electric Vehicles as we welcome Seres and Skywell into the family, alongside DFSK. Both brands are highly respected around the world and their technology, comfort and refinement are a perfect match for the UK marketplace.’

IA Electric Vehicles already sells electric vans from Chinese firm DFSK, which is also part of the Seres Group, and has done so since 2022.

The firm is now looking for dealer groups to help it sell the new models.

Seres and Skywell are expected to be joined by other Chinese car firms making their UK arrival this year, which include Omoda and Nio.

There are a handful of Chinese car firms already in operation in the UK, including GWM Ora and BYD, with other firms such as Chery – one of China’s largest automotive groups – and Nio set to launch in 2024.

Source:
https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/chinese-electric-car-brands-seres-and-skywell-draw-up-plans-for-uk-market-assault/295624

About Samir Hmicho

IA Electric Vehicles on quest for Seres, Skywell franchise partners

IA Electric Vehicles, the UK’s first multi-brand electric vehicle distributor, earlier this year announced its plan to introduce two new Chinese brands Seres and Skywell in 2024.

Its chairman Samir Hmicho says the business is now offering franchise opportunities to both single- and multi-site dealer groups to support future growth.

Indeed, since that announcement Armstrong Vehicle Centre, part of the William Armstrong Group, said it will be opening the first Seres brand showroom in the UK, in Kingstown, Carlisle.

Nicola Robinson, business manager at Armstrong Vehicle Centre, said: “Seres represents the future of affordable electric mobility, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformative journey. With Seres, we aim to revolutionise the way people think about electric vehicles and accelerate the transition towards a zero-emission future.”

In addition to the introduction of the Seres brand, Armstrong Vehicle will also be taking on Skywell later this year, hoping that the dual partnership will position it as a leader in cutting-edge electric vehicle solutions.

IA, which has been selling the DFSK EC35 compact panel van since 2022, said it is not only offering Seres and Skywell as examples of advanced range of next-generation electric vehicles, but will also deliver robust support packages and flexible finance solutions too.

Opportunities

Speaking exclusively to AM Online, Samir Hmicho claims that, as the UK’s only multi-brand EV distributor, an IA franchise is a very attractive proposition for UK dealers.

“By the end of this year, we will have a wide product portfolio of the most advanced electric vehicles appealing to a broad range of customers; from families to businesses. With low franchise costs and excellent dealer margins, we offer excellent return-on-investment without imposing strict corporate identity guidelines”.

Seres

Officially introduced to the UK at the London EV Show in December, Seres is a California-based manufacturer and a subsidiary of the Seres Group – an A-Share listed Chinese manufacturer with over 10,000 employees globally.

The Seres 3 electric SUV which was unveiled at the London EV Show is competitively priced from less than £30,000 and will go on sale in late Spring.

Following on later this year will be the larger and sportier Seres 5, along with the even larger Seres 7 and Seres 9 in 2025.

Skywell

Set to be launched in the UK in Q2 2024, Skywell is one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive brands; globally-renowned for its cutting-edge technology and sleek designs. Going on sale in the summer, the Skywell ET5 is a premium mid-size SUV with a practical range of 304 miles (WLTP).

DFSK

The company’s existing brand partner, LCV manufacturer DFSK, will also be launching a new model towards the end of this year. At 7 cubic metres, the new model is larger that the outgoing EC35 and and will compete against the likes of the Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro and Renault Trafic.

To support the strong sales growth anticipated for 2024, IA Electric Vehicles is targeting 60 dealer partners by the end of the year and is encouraging single- and multi-site dealerships from across the UK to get in touch about franchise opportunities with low investment costs.

Source:

https://www.am-online.com/news/manufacturer/2024/03/13/ia-electric-vehicle-on-quest-for-seres-skywell-franchise-partners

About Samir Hmicho

SERES announces comprehensive global sales and service expansion strategy

Among the distinguished participants gathered at the SERES conference in Chongqing on March 20, 2024, Mr. Samir Hmicho. As a participant in this pivotal event where SERES unveiled its ambitious global sales and service expansion strategy, Mr. Hmicho’s attendance underscores the significance of the occasion. While his specific role may not yet be fully revealed, his presence undoubtedly signals a shared interest in the future of sustainable transportation and the burgeoning electric vehicle market. Let’s explore the implications of his participa
tion and the potential synergies it may herald for the industry’s evolution.

View Source:

https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=3_cc-session_43a5664a-09f6-4050-b5c3-cf732cbb0206

About Samir Hmicho