Inside the industry with Michael McAleer.
BMW AHEAD: Figures released by BMW and Mercedes on Friday show that BMW outpaced the sales growth of its key rival in the first 10 months of this year. The Bavarian marque sold 891,100 cars worldwide between January and October, 19 per cent more than by this stage last year. Sales in October rose nine per cent, signalling this high growth may be losing momentum. Mercedes, the luxury unit of DaimlerChrysler, said it had sold 1,500 fewer cars in the 10-month period for a total of 936,700 worldwide - but it said it had expanded its share of a shrinking global market. The market decline in western Europe appears to be slowing, with new sales falling less sharply in October than in the year so far, helped by stronger demand in Germany, according to British forecaster JD Power-LMC.
PEUGEOT UPGRADE: Peugeot has embarked on a programme to upgrade dealer network showrooms in Ireland. The first Peugeot dealership to reveal the upgraded facilities is Appleyard Motors in Stillorgan, Co Dublin - its new premises (below), upgraded at a cost of €7.2 million, was officially opened by the Minister for Transport on Thursday. A new 2,000 square metre dealership is currently under construction for Mongey Plunkett Motors in north Dublin and Adams of Glin in west Limerick will be moving into a new building at the end of this year. Over the next two years, 15 other development projects following this new concept are planned for centres throughout the country.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Belgard Motors celebrates 21 years of business this year. Opened in May 1981 in a 12,000 sq ft premises, it occupied part of the present site. In the intervening years Belgard has expanded the premises, which currently extend to over 120,000 square feet on over 5 acres, having just completed the development of its 50-bay service centre which is thought to be the biggest in Ireland. Located on the Belgard Road, it has dedicated showrooms for Audi, Citroën, Mazda, Mercedes, Volkwagen and Porsche, together with a first-floor showroom with over 70 used cars on display. Belgard Motors has the biggest showroom facilities in Dublin. Facilities also include a body repair centre, car rental and car valeting. Brothers Brian & J D Murphy privately own the company. We wish them well for another 21 years.
CLEVER EDDIE: Our good friend, Eddie Cunningham, motoring editor of the Irish Independent has written a book, Clever Car Buying, described as a consumer guide to buying a car. It retails at €8.99 through all bookshops. The 138-page publication is sponsored by Bridgestone Tyres and Colm Conygham for Bridgestone, says it is specifically targeted at people who might not have a lot of knowledge about car buying processes. "It isn't about the virtues of one model against another," he says. "It's coming out just as we approach the expected 2003 sales rush."