SLOUGH, United Kingdom, October 27, 2026 — AION Auto UK has appointed Shelbourne Motors as the exclusive retail partner for its electric-car range in Northern Ireland, with three sites scheduled to open in early 2027.
The dealerships will be located in Belfast, Newry and Portadown. AION said the arrangement will bring its UK model range to customers across Northern Ireland as the Chinese-backed brand continues to expand its retail network.
Three AION dealerships planned for early 2027
Shelbourne Motors, established in Portadown in 1973, will represent AION exclusively across Northern Ireland. The three planned locations include the group’s first new-car franchise in Belfast, alongside facilities in Newry and Portadown.
AION said it selected the retailer because of its existing automotive operations and local market experience. Shelbourne Motors sells more than 6,000 new and used vehicles annually and also operates used-car sales, vehicle leasing, contract-hire and rental services.
AION V and AION UT to lead electric range
The initial model lineup in Northern Ireland will include two battery-electric passenger vehicles:
- AION V: the brand’s electric family SUV, introduced to the UK in May 2026.
- AION UT: a battery-electric compact hatchback added to the UK lineup in October 2026.
AION said the UT Cross, another electric model, will follow later in 2027. The brand also plans to introduce the GS7 SUV during 2027, bringing hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options into the UK range. The GS7 should not be described as a confirmed fully electric model.
UK AION UT specifications and ownership support
In its earlier UK product announcement, AION listed a 60 kWh battery and a driving range of up to 268 miles for the UT electric hatchback, with UK pricing starting at £28,950. These figures refer to the previously announced UK model; the October Northern Ireland retail-partnership announcement did not provide separate regional pricing.
AION said its vehicles are covered by the Great 8 Promise, which includes an eight-year/100,000-mile vehicle warranty, eight years of servicing and roadside assistance, and MOT support until a vehicle is eight years old, subject to applicable conditions.
AION’s UK network expansion
The appointment forms part of AION’s wider British retail expansion. The company said further UK retailer appointments were expected before the end of 2026 and reiterated a target of at least 100 retail locations by 2030.
AION Auto UK is a joint venture between Chinese carmaker GAC and Jameel Motors. The company has been building its distribution operations in the UK during 2026, initially with the AION V electric SUV and subsequently the AION UT hatchback.
For details of a future electric model, see the site’s coverage of the AION UT Cross.
Sources: AION Auto UK announcement, October 27, 2026; AION UT UK product details, August 19, 2026. Featured image: GAC AION UT photographed in Chengdu, China, in March 2025; an archive photo of the model, not a Northern Ireland dealership opening. Photo: Navigator84 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
