- by Brian Byrne
BMW to take over Motor Import Ltd
03 April 2003: A major change in the Irish motoring industry has just been announced, with the planned taking over of Motor Import Ltd, the BMW franchisees here, by the BMW parent company.
Motor Import was the business vehicle set up by Frank Keane and which became one of Ireland’s biggest motoring success stories, selling over 4,000 BMWs a year and building a company which was last year estimated to be worth in the region of E40 million.
BMW Group will consolidate the brand's success in Ireland by assuming responsibility for car and motorcycle distribution activities in the Republic of Ireland with effect from October 1, 2003.
According to a spokesman for Motor Import this afternoon, the expansion of BMW sales in Ireland, together with changes in industry structure brought about by the introduction of the Block Exemption Regulations, enable BMW Group to invest directly in this market. "This is part of a European strategic policy pursued by BMW Group to take responsibility for the distribution in all markets and is being implemented in other European Importer markets," says Motor Import's Michael Nugent.
Frank Keane has been the official importer of BMW cars for 36 years. He intends to stay in the 'BMW family' by opening a dealership in West Dublin.
The new BMW Group company will be established in Dublin and will be a subsidiary of BMW AG. It will be dedicated to serving the Irish market for BMW and MINI products.
PREVIOUSLY
How Frank Keane became 'Mr BMW'
(An interview with Frank Keane last year on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his entry to the motor business.)
©2003 irishcar.com