Another Chinese electric vehicle brand has its eyes set on entering the Irish market later this year.
Seres, a brand of Seres Group, owned by DongFeng Motor Corporation, has already made its debut in the UK with its all-electric Seres 3 SUV being displayed at last month's Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham.
The Seres 3 is priced there from £29,995 to £31,955, depending on spec, making it the UK's cheapest new electric SUV. Its front wheels are powered by a 120kW/163PS electric motor and uses a 54kWh battery, giving it a WLTP range of 205 miles/ 330km.
A senior representative for Innovation Automotive, the official UK importer of Seres, told us that the brand should be in Ireland "before the end of the year", adding that interest has already been expressed by distributors here.
The Seres 3 will be available in two trim levels: 'Active' and 'Spirit'. The entry-level Active model comes with 18 inch alloy wheels, keyless start, reversing camera, air conditioning and a 10.25-inch touchscreen display. The top-level Spirit (pictured ) adds a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging and heated front seats.
According to the brand, the Seres 3 can sprint from 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds and has a top speed of 154km/h. It has a maximum AC charging speed of 11kW and a top DC speed of 60kW. Seres claims it can be charged from 20-80 per cent in 40 minutes.
Once in Ireland, the Seres 3 is expected to compete with the likes of the BYD Atto 3 and the Hyundai Kona.
