Family owned Shelbourne Motors has opened its second Renault franchised dealership.

The new 50,000 sq ft complex in Newry represents a £5 million investment by Shelbourne Motors. The ongoing success of its Portadown Renault dealership was a key factor in their decision to open the state-of-the-art facility.

The new eight-car showroom includes a customer lounge with innovative ‘brand bar’ where visitors can configure their ideal Renault or Dacia online. There’s also a cutting-edge 28-bay workshop staffed by manufacturer-trained technicians. Another feature is the drive-in service bay where customers can drop off their vehicle below the dealership and take an escalator to the showroom.

Outside is a display of hand-picked Approved Used vehicles and electric vehicle charging facilities. The dealer group have increasing numbers of enquiries regarding Renault’s electric vehicles.

Paul Ward, Director, Shelbourne Motors, said: “Opening a Groupe Renault dealership in Newry was a very straightforward decision for us. Our Portadown dealership has served customers in the area for many years, but we felt the area deserved its own dealership. 2018 was very strong and it was important for us to reinvest in our operation.

“Being a partner of Groupe Renault has also worked very well for us as a business. The variety and strength of its model ranges enables us to offer our customers a great choice, whether its an SUV, family car, supermini or electric vehicle”.

“Building the complex was the biggest investment we have ever made, and the inclusion of a Groupe Renault dealership will help us to strengthen our position as one of Northern Ireland’s largest family-owned automotive groups. The doors have just opened but the reaction has been exceptional. Many customers have said that they have never experienced a dealership like it, while it’s also proving a fantastic working environment for our team.”

To help celebrate the opening, Vincent Tourette, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK, and Louise O’Sullivan, Network Operations Director, Groupe Renault UK, visited the new dealership to congratulate the Shelbourne Motors team.

Vincent Tourette said: “We are delighted that Shelbourne Motors has chosen Groupe Renault to be included in its flagship dealer complex. Its confidence in making such a significant investment and opening a second Groupe Renault dealership perfectly illustrates how appealing our franchise is and the popularity of our brands with car buyers. We are very pleased to have had Shelbourne Motors as a partner for over 16 years and we look forward to supporting them as they enter a very exciting time of growth. They have amassed an excellent reputation over the years and their commitment to customers and our brands is exceptional.”