Harris Maxus has invested in a UK headquarters in Warrington as it anticipates growth of more than 200% this year.
While its current UK best-seller is the diesel Maxus, its electric version – available as a van or minibus – has been steadily gaining ground, since its launch in June 2020.
Until now, all operations for Maxus UK have been overseen from Harris’s Global HQ in Dublin, Ireland.
The importer says its new Birchwood Park office will give it “added capacity to increase its existing operations in the region”.
UK-based employees will be housed at the new site, which will also serve as a parts depot. A training room will be established at the base for engineers taking part in Maxus’s technical training academy.
Harris Maxus GM Mark Barrett says: “The creation of a UK HQ is an important step for our business activities and only strengthens our commitment to the UK market.
“Maxus has become a leader in the electric vehicle sector and our success in this area will only continue as electric vehicles become more and more popular in the years ahead.
“We are currently forecasting growth of 200% in 2021 and have plans to expand our network of dealers right across the UK. The past 12 months have been difficult for the industry as a whole, but we are looking forward to what the next year has in store.”
Last year, according to SMMT figures, it sold 115 Maxus electric vans in the UK and 788 LDV vans. The LDV brand was changed to Maxus in April last year.
As the sole distributor for the Maxus diesel and electric range of vehicles in the UK and right-hand drive markets in Europe, Harris Automotive Distributors now delivers a “significant” number of vehicles every week to its network of dealers across the UK.
In 2009, LDV was bought by China’s largest automotive manufacturer, SAIC, and was manufactured under the Maxus brand for the home market in addition to selected left-hand drive markets in Europe such as Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands.
In 2015, Dublin-based distributor, The Harris Group, secured the distribution rights to the brand for the UK, Ireland and right-hand drive Europe.
Find out more: saicmaxus.co.uk
