Overview
Evans Halshaw has relocated its BYD Birmingham operation from Digbeth to a larger site in Erdington, opening on 2 January, to expand electric-vehicle retail capacity and grow used-car stock. The move forms part of Lithia UK’s portfolio realignment to meet rising EV demand and is designed to support a broader model range and higher volumes across sales and aftersales.
What’s new at the Erdington site
- Significantly larger showroom and operational space to support BYD’s growing presence.
- Expanded test-drive routes and aftersales capabilities with additional service bays.
- Capacity for higher on-site stock, with a focus on bolstering used EV availability.
- Room for a larger operational team and improved customer-facing areas.
- Enhanced logistics: more space for inbound units, pre-delivery preparation, and faster order-to-delivery timelines.
- Built to handle a multi-model showroom, more demonstrator vehicles, and EV-specific maintenance, warranty work, and software updates.
People and continuity
All employees from the former Birmingham location have transferred to Erdington, preserving local jobs and maintaining continuity for customers while enabling the store to scale quickly.
Franchise and portfolio shift
The property transitions from Audi (previously operating there under Stratstone) to BYD, reflecting Lithia UK’s group-level realignment toward EV-focused brands where it sees the most growth.
Network growth
Separately, Evans Halshaw has opened its eighth BYD site in Bury, Greater Manchester, extending geographic coverage in the North West and complementing the Erdington expansion in the Midlands.
Expected customer impact
- More model choice across new and pre-owned EVs and quicker availability, especially for used EVs.
- Higher test-drive capacity to support shoppers new to electric.
- Reduced wait times and improved throughput in service and aftersales.
Additional notes
- The company did not disclose financial terms or detailed capacity figures for the new store.
- Leadership highlighted growing demand for BYD vehicles and EV options as the rationale for the move and accelerated rollout.
