ATL Automotive Group welcomed sister brands Omoda and Jaecoo on Saturday, February 7 at their new Oxford Road showroom.

“We’re excited about what Omoda | Jaecoo will bring to the Jamaican automotive landscape, and we’re proud to have them in our home at ATL Automotive,” said Mark Dommisse, managing director, ATL Automotive Group, in his opening statement at the launch event.

His optimism for the dual brands was shared by Courtney Smith, sales manager, Omoda | Jaecoo.

“These are two brands that represent a new direction in mobility for what we are trying to do here at ATL Automotive,” Smith said.

The two marques, part of Chery Automobile, are positioned with distinctive buyer demographics in mind. Omoda, a portmanteau of the word oxygen and moda (Italian for fashion), represents a fresh new modern approach to style.

“It appeals to young professionals, first-time buyers, and tech-forward consumers,” said Dommisse.

Jaecoo, which blends Jaeger, the German word for hunter, and cool, is focused on higher-end sport utility vehicles.

“It’s for customers seeking a presence, capability, but also comfort,” Dommisse explained.

The new showroom, located at 5 Oxford Road, takes over the property formerly housing the ATL division that handled certified pre-owned cars. Vehicle display will be external on the grounds, with Smith managing a contingent of five sales associates.

Dommisse and Smith explain that servicing will be handled at the primary ATL Automotive Group location for now.

There is also a Montego Bay showroom.

“Omoda | Jaecoo will launch with strong after-sales support, long warranties, and a good service infrastructure as we invest money into additional service capacity and a dedicated local team of experienced staff that understand the brand exceptionally well. We’re not testing the market, we’re committing to it,” Dommisse said.

To start, there will be five models across the two brands. Jaecoo has the J6, J7, and J8, while Omoda has the C5 in both petrol and electric.

The J8 is Jaecoo’s large SUV featuring six seats. Second-row passengers are treated to captain’s chairs. The J7 is a five-seat plug-in hybrid SUV in the compact segment. The J6 is a pure EV.

Omoda’s C5 is also a compact SUV that can be had with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine or an electric motor with a rated range of 501 kilometres.

Prices start at $4.8 million for the C5 going as high as $10 million for the flagship J8.

Smith added that the model range will expand later in the year.

“We’ve been marketing way before the cars got here, and we’re seeing the benefits of that, because now that the cars are on the ground, customers have been calling, and coming in. Fortunately, we’ve had a few deliveries already,” said Smith.

Early Omoda owner Dale Richards (left) shares a moment with Chris DaCosta, head of business, Omoda | Jaecoo, at the February 7 launch of the brands. (Photo: Rory Daley)

The Jaecoo J8 is the flagship for the brand — six-seater premium SUV. (Photo: Rory Daley)

From left: Chris DaCosta, head of business, Omoda | Jaecoo; Courtney Smith, sales manager, Omoda | Jaecoo; Mark Dommisse, managing director, ATL Automotive Group; and Stephen Hector, deputy managing director, ATL Automotive Group, welcome —Omoda | Jaecoo to the ATL Automotive stable of brands. (Photo: Rory Daley)

The Jaecoo J6 (Photo: Rory Daley)

Kellise Wong, group marketing manager, ATL Automotive, and Mark Dommisse, managing director, ATL Automotive, check out the Jaecoo J8. (Photo: Rory Daley)