Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) today announces the appointment of Richard Chamberlain as SAIC MAXUS Country Manager for the UK & Ireland.
The appointment comes at a time of sustained growth for the MAXUS brand, which is distributed by Harris Group across right hand drive Europe.
As SAIC MAXUS strengthens its position on the ground in Europe and appoints various country managers, Richard Chamberlain has been appointed to Country Manager by SAIC MAXUS for the UK & Ireland and joins SAIC from Stellantis where he was previously LCV Director for Stellantis UK and Country Manager for Fiat Professional. Richard will be working with the Harris MAXUS team in a supportive role as the network and brand continues to evolve. SAIC MAXUS will not be directly selling in the UK but will offer a real-time support role to Harris MAXUS and its dedicated dealer network.
Mark Barrett, Managing Director at Harris MAXUS welcomed the news saying: “We look forward to working with Richard and SAIC to further grow the MAXUS brand in the UK and Ireland. Since we relaunched the brand here in 2016, we’ve enjoyed sustained growth in both markets. With a diverse range of premium vehicles, and with even more new models on their way, MAXUS is set for even more success into the future. It’s an exciting time for the brand and Richard’s arrival could not have come at a better time.”
Richard Chamberlain, SAIC MAXUS Country Manager for UK & Ireland commented saying; “this is a great opportunity to join an exciting and growing brand that is leading the industry with a wide portfolio of electric products and significant traction in a number of sectors. I’m looking forward to working closely and supporting the Harris MAXUS brand as we embark on the next stage of the journey.”
MAXUS is synonymous with market-leading commercial electric vehicles and is having a significant impact on the EV marketplace, particularly in the UK under the Harris Group’s expertise. Between July 2022 and July 2023 there were more than 196,916 LCVs registered in the UK with MAXUS capturing 1.13% market share. EVs accounted for more than half (55%) of MAXUS registrations over the past 12 months with the brand’s eLCVs being particularly popular with companies in the grocery, delivery and pharmaceutical sectors.
Over the past 7 years, MAXUS has introduced a full range of premium EVs to the UK & Irish markets, including the award-winning flagship eDELIVER 3 and eDELIVER 9 electric vans and most recently the eDELIVER 7, which targets the 1 tonne payload van sector in the UK. In 2022, Harris MAXUS also debuted the UK’s first all-electric pickup, the T90EV as well as the world’s first fully-electric MPV, the MIFA 9.
Harris MAXUS currently has over 70 dealers located around the UK and Ireland. Each dealership owns and operates its own business, but when it comes to MAXUS, the network thinks and behaves as a collective, something which MAXUS attributes to the success and growth of the brand.
SAIC has been name behind the MAXUS brand since 2010, is the largest automotive group in China and is ranked 68th in Fortune’s Global 500 list.