As car sales recover there have been several significant changes in the dealer networks across the State, the latest being the move by Michael Barrable Motors to take on the Hyundai franchise at its Airside dealership in north Dublin.
Barrable, who has been trading in the Swords area since 1987, is replacing his current Kia franchise with the Hyundai brand. He also holds franchises for Seat and Fiat, but these represent only about a third of his business.
According to Barrable, Hyundai – with a 10 per cent share of the new-car market – offers the potential for his business to double its new car trade from its current level of 300-350 to more than 600 new cars a year.
The Airside retail park facility opened in 2001 at a time when expectations for new car sales were particularly high. “Our car showroom was built on the basis of annual sales of 800 or even 1,000 a year at a time when it was suggested total new car sales would hit 220,000 a year. The reality has been much more difficult, particularly over the last six or more years.” Thankfully for the trade, things are now picking up and Airside is proving an interesting microcosm of Dublin’s motor business.
Industry watchers are keeping an eye on developments at the substantial corner site in Airside once operated by Bill Cullen as a Renault dealership. In October 2013, the Irish motor trade’s biggest operator, Joe Duffy Motors, confirmed it had purchased the premises. It already owns the McAllister Volkswagen facility in Airside along with the HB Dennis operation there.