Brisbane car dealership, Bartons, launches hi-tech Chinese brands LDV and Haval

A Brisbane car dealership has announced the addition of hi-tech foreign brands in a desperate bid to save jobs after the shock axing of Holden.

A giant Brisbane car dealership has announced the launch of two hi-tech Chinese brands to replace Holden after the shock closure of the Australian icon last year.

Bartons, who were one of the first dealerships in Australia to showcase the new Holden branding in 2019 before General Motors pulled the pin on the brand, added GWM Haval at its Capalaba showroom earlier this month with LDV to start at their Wynnum location today.

Stock from the two Chinese brands includes utes, vans, people movers, light trucks and SUV’s and come with the latest technology.

Bartons managing director Mark Beitz. Picture: Liam Kidston

Prices on the dealership’s brand new Haval stock ranges from $19,990 to $40,990 while LDV vehicles range from $30,990 to $39,990.

Bartons managing director Mark Beitz said adding GWM Haval and LDV helped the dealership recover from COVID as well as the Holden closure.

“It was definitely needed after Holden, without this it would have meant the loss of jobs and revenue,” he said.

The 2020 LDV D90 Executive, LDV is one of the two new brands to join Bartons.

“These two additional brands have resulted in nil job losses and in fact additional staff requirements right now.

“After COVID and with what is a short term supply of cars this is a really good boost.”

Mr Beitz said the dealership’s latest move has resulted in the additional employment of eight in positions including sales, after-care, service advising, mechanics and administration.

The 2021 Haval H6, which is one of the new cars sold at Bartons car dealership.

LDV is one of the oldest automotive companies in the world after launching their first vehicle in 1896 and joined the SAIC Motor family (formerly Shanghai Automobile and Industrial Corporation) in 2010.

Haval is one of the four brands of Great Wall Motors, which also became an independent brand in 2013 and is the first Chinese SUV brand to join the five million sales club.

Mr Beitz said the addition of the two new brands also meant the dealership would have to make further improvements to its new showrooms after completing more than $10 million worth of redevelopments last year.