Sales executives Rochelle Mills (left) and Alyssa Jones unveiled the BYD Song Plus DM-i Super Hybrid at the BYD Jamaica showroom, which opened on June 21. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)
A year after announcing it had secured the regional master dealership for Chinese new energy vehicle brand BYD, ATL Automotive Group opened the first of two planned showrooms islandwide at the AC Hotel Kingston on Friday, June 21st.
“BYD is one of the brands with great technology and as the transition to electric vehicles continues they are leading the way as the largest EV manufacturer in the world,” Adam Stewart, executive chairman of ATL Automotive Group, told the Jamaica Observer’s Automotive Weekly magazine.
Stewart stressed the importance of being a Master Dealer, saying it ensures the buyer’s experience is fully representative of the brand from start to finish.
“Being a Master Dealer means that every sale and service is 100% compliant with that brand’s standards,” he explained.
That proof was real for Warren and Tanee Ramey, who recently received their 2024 Yuan Plus and were invited to the showroom opening.
Already considering purchasing an EV, driven by their personal clean energy philosophy and the realization that an EV would fit with their current lifestyle, they began their research and were fortunate to come across BYD, which had arrived in Jamaica courtesy of ATL Automotive Group.
“We have had our eye on the BYD brand ever since it was launched in Jamaica. My husband and I did a little research online to find out more about it, so when we found out it was coming to the Jamaican market, we jumped at the opportunity and decided to buy one,” Tunney said.
Two months after purchasing their BYD, the Rameys love it and realize that it has saved them a lot on travel costs, as they now live in Spanish Town and their commute to Kingston is minimal.
BYD Jamaica and its two showrooms represent an investment of approximately US$5.5 million by ATL Automotive Group into the future of EVs in the Caribbean region.
The showroom at AC Hotel Kingston follows an international trend of EV companies setting up shop in high-traffic areas rather than at standalone dealerships.
The ATL Automotive Oxford Road store has four staff members servicing vehicles and catering for all customer requirements.
BYD currently sells six EV models – Dolphin, Yuan Plus, Seal, Tang, Han and E6 – as well as the hybrid vehicle Song Plus DM-i, which was unveiled at the showroom opening.
All models come with a 6-year warranty and an 8-year battery warranty.
“We plan to have 10 BYD models available by 2025, including pickup trucks,” Stewart said.
A second showroom is scheduled to open later this year at ATL Automotive’s Vogue City Centre on the western end of the island.
