Council leaders join commercial vehicle and EV industry figures to mark the official launch of Farizon North East at CPD's Stockton headquarters
Farizon North East has been officially opened in Stockton-on-Tees, bringing together local government, business leaders and some of the UK's leading commercial vehicle and electric fleet specialists.
Councillor Paul Rowling, Deputy Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Regeneration, joined Calum James, Country General Manager of Farizon Auto UK, to officially cut the ribbon at the dealership, which is operated by CPD from its Stockton headquarters.
The opening marks the latest stage in CPD's continued investment and diversification in the region. The family-founded commercial vehicle specialist has so far created 20 new jobs during 2026, with a further seven to follow – representing a 20% investment in headcount - as it expands its vehicle sales, conversion and fleet capabilities.
Farizon North East is already operating as the electric commercial vehicle manufacturer's retail dealership for the North East, while CPD also works with Farizon as a strategic conversion partner.
That relationship was evident throughout the launch, with guests able to drive the Farizon SV range and see the new SV Sport, developed by CPD in Stockton using the Farizon SV platform.
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Councillor Paul Rowling, Deputy Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Regeneration, said, “This is another fantastic achievement for CPD right here in Stockton-on-Tees and we have been delighted to support the growth of the business in our area, which has helped boost our local economy and provide some excellent employment opportunities. |
“Stockton-on-Tees is the economic powerhouse of the Tees Valley and as well as being here to help our existing businesses thrive, we are also ready to welcome new businesses to the area and have a great team in place to help every step of the way. To find out more about the support available, visit investstocktonontees.co.uk.”
Cathal Doocey, CEO of CPD and Farizon North East, said, “CPD has been my baby for 17 years. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and officially launching Farizon North East is a massive moment for us.
“Farizon gives us a huge opportunity to build on that experience and take the business in a new direction. Our partnership with Farizon goes much further than simply selling electric vans. We understand how commercial vehicles are actually used and how to develop them around the work our customers need them to do. That's where I think the future of this partnership gets really interesting.”
Calum James, Country General Manager for Farizon Auto UK responded, saying, “Farizon Auto's success relies on partnering with the best. With Farizon North East, operated by CPD, we found a business with bags of ambition, and an incredible 17-year build heritage, built in the heart of Stockton-on-Tees.
“Farizon North East has created a dedicated hub designed around real fleet needs, combining cutting edge workshop capabilities, commercial vehicle expertise and rapid turnaround support all under one roof. This site isn’t just a dealership, though, it's a fully operational service hub for your fleets. By pairing Farizon's advanced electric platforms with Farizon North East’s proven family heritage and engineering strength, customers can benefit from the complete package - real world sustainability backed by local expertise that you can trust.”
The launch was also attended by Chris Renahan, Assistant Director for Inclusive Growth and Regeneration at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, alongside customers, partners and representatives from across the commercial vehicle and fleet sectors.
Test drives and roundtable discussions
Following the official opening, guests took part in vehicle demonstrations and test drives before the event moved into CPD's new panel van workshop for the inaugural Charged Conversations roundtable discussion.
The recorded industry roundtable brought together Gareth Jones, Non-Executive Director of CPD and Farizon North East; Calum James, Country General Manager of Farizon Auto UK; Paul Kirby, Co-founder of The EV Café; and Dave Saint, Interim Chief Operations Officer of Leighton Vans Limited, for a wide-ranging discussion about the practical challenges and opportunities surrounding electric commercial vehicle adoption.
Audience members also joined the discussion, covering the issues businesses and fleets are facing as they consider the transition to electric vehicles.
The session was filmed and will be released as the first episode of the Charged Conversations podcast.
Farizon North East operates from CPD's headquarters in Stockton-on-Tees, providing sales and support for the Farizon electric commercial vehicle range alongside CPD's specialist vehicle conversion and fleet capabilities.
