Bartons reveals plans for $2m expansion and new Chery showroom

A leading car dealership on Brisbane's bayside has announced a new international brand will join its showrooms later this year as part of a $2 million expansion.

This article was originally published in the Wynnum Herald, 14 February 2023. Review written by Brayden Heslehurt.

Artist impressions of the new Chery showroom to be built at Bartons Wynnum.

A Queensland car dealership giant has revealed plans for a $2 million expansion with a new showroom to showcase another global brand at its bayside location.

Bartons will launch Chery, a globalised car brand based in China, at a new showroom at Wynnum in March – bringing the number of brands under the company's banner to 12 with six also at its Capalaba location.

The Chinese brand will be sold at Bartons from mid-March at temporary facilities before the new flashy showrooms are finished before Easter.

Artist impressions of the new Chery showroom to be built at Bartons Wynnum.

The move also comes after Bartons recently added an electric road scooter showroom and also added international brands in LDV and Haval.

Up to 10 jobs are also expected to be added to the bayside economy as a result of the expansion.

Artist impressions of the new Chery showroom to be built at Bartons Wynnum.

"Unfortunately it was disappointing that Toyota left the area and that other brands don't invest into our community," Bartons managing director Mark Beitz said.

"However we will continue to seize opportunities with additional brands to give our consumers and community as many vehicle options as possible and hopefully avoiding many needing to travel far and wide to buy and service.

"We were the very first dealership appointed with Chery in Brisbane however at launch it is expected there will be four dealers across all of Brisbane initially."

A Chery Tiggo 7, part of the cars which will be on sale at Bartons' new showroom in March.

Mr Beitz said the historic bayside business needed to continue to expand to compete with larger corporate automotive dealerships.

"We have had our best few years in business and have reinvested into facilities and new brands during this time however the climate has definitely changed and business has slowed," he said.

"We now have healthy inventories and we are seeing supply and demand being equal.

"Despite challenging times we are confident that southeast Queensland will stave off the economic pressures that other states are experiencing.

"Our model is unique being family-owned and operated in both Wynnum Manly and the Redlands.

"Our business now sells over 7000 new and used cars per year and services over 15,000 vehicles – we have over 300 staff across our group.

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