Leapmotor Australia has appointed the Ignition Car Centre in Brisbane (MM Brisbane Holdings Pty Ltd) as its sole dealership for the area.
The Ignition Car Centre is owned and operated by Martin Roller, Marvin Burke, and Anthony Alafaci, renowned Brisbane car dealers.
The Stafford-based dealership operates the Brisbane agency for Ineos Grenadier and has a strong used prestige car business.
Over the past months, Roller, Burke, and Alafaci reviewed the range of new Chinese brands in Australia. After due diligence, they decided that Leapmotor presents the best potential for success for their business.
Roller says Leapmotor is focused on the larger SUV segments, which are very strong in South East Queensland. The brand is also developing high-quality battery electric and range-extender vehicles.
He says the Leapmotor Internation joint venture with Stellantis provides a solid local support infrastructure for sales, service, parts and systems and sharp pricing to allow market competitiveness.
Roller and Burke previously owned and ran LMM Brisbane Holdings along with trucking magnate Lindsay Fox.
LMM sold and serviced prestige brands such as BMW, Ferrari, Mini, Volvo, Lamborghini, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo. In 2019, it was sold to Sime Darby Motors.
Roller and Burke focused on their property portfolios and operated a caravan business while observing a non-compete period. Alafaci then joined Roller and Burke as they returned to the new vehicle sales market to take on the Ineos Grenadier, a 4×4 designed and built by UK billionaire Sir James Ratcliffe.
They say that in 1.5 years, the Ignition Car Centre has become the leading agent for Ineos Grenadier in Australia.
Whilst Leapmotor produces several vehicles for the Chinese domestic and international markets, Australia will launch the mid-sized Leapmotor SUV, the C10, in November.
This model will be available in two specification levels, launching at $45,888 plus on-roads.
