150 new jobs are to be created through the arrival in Ireland later this year of the Chinese manufactured electric vehicle car brand BYD.
Dublin based Motor Distributors Limited (MDL) has been appointed as national dealer for the vehicles in Ireland.
The deal will see MDL take on responsibility for both distributing the vehicles and providing support to customers.
The development will see MDL establish a dealer network here, with Dublin and Cork among the first locations.
"We look forward to introducing BYD vehicles to Irish motorists and to establishing BYD as a major player in the Irish market," Paddy Finnegan, MDL chief executive.
"Whilst complementing the long-standing distribution interests we currently have, this new opportunity to represent BYD and introduce their vehicles to Irish motorists is one of great importance to MDL by enabling us to re-establish a strong presence in the volume-selling segment of the Irish market."
Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Shenzhen, BYD Auto produces a range of electric cars and light commercial vehicles.
Over the past 10 years it has held top spot in sales for new energy passenger vehicles in China.
The BYD ATTO 3 C-Segment SUV will be the first to go on sale here.
The new roles will be in sales, technical and customer support.
The development will bring the numbers employed by MDL to 450.
BYD's already has a presence in more than 70 countries and over 400 cities across six continents.
