Government asked to continue EV supports, 'at key time of growth'

Bodyshop of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Winner Owen Cullen Accident Repair Centre, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI and Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President.
A call for the Government to continue electric vehicle grant supports out to 2025 was made at last week’s announcement of the SIMI Motor Industry Awards 2023, writes Brian Byrne.

Deputy President of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry Paddy Magee also asked that consideration be given to halting the reduction of Benefit in Kind reliefs for a few more years. He said premature reduction of supports could risk stalling sales at ‘a key time of growth’ in the EV market. He said that changing consumer behaviour to accept a new vehicle technology in such a short period of time is unprecedented, and this requires incentives, supports and education.

“A strong new EV car market will also create an active used EV market, providing the opportunity for a greater cohort of motorists to go electric,” he added, adding that the industry recognises that supports cannot remain in place indefinitely.

The Awards in seven categories were presented on the evening by Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General and Derek Kavanagh, Head of Motor Franchise Sales of Bank of Ireland Finance. The winners were Bodyshop of the Year: Accident Repair Centre (ARC); Commercial Vehicle Operation of the Year: Rathcoole Commercial; Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year: James Foy Auto Services; Independent Sales Operation of the year: AutoXpress; Independent Aftersales Operation of the year: AutoAssure; Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year: Blackstone Motors; and Franchise Sales Operation of the Year: MSL Cork.

Commercial Vehicle Operation of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Winner Paul Cooke Rathcoole Commercial, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI and Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President.
Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Winner James and Brian Foy James Foy Auto Service, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI and Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President.
Independent Sales Operation of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Winner Ger Cremins and Eddie Adomiaitis AutoXpress, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI and Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President.
Independent Aftersales Operation of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Winner Eoin McGuinness Auto Assure Ltd, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI and Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President.
Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President, Winner Noel Stewart and Donal Waters Blackstone Motors, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI.
Franchise Sales Operation of the Year: Derek Kavanagh Bank of Ireland Finance, Winner Dermot O’Hara MSL Cork, Brian Cooke Director General SIMI and Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President.
The Society welcomed the establishment of the Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland  (ZEVI) organisation, whose Dealership of the Year regional awards, aimed at rewarding excellence in the promotion and sale of electric vehicles (EV) in Ireland. The winners were Kearys BMW & Mini Cork (Munster); Joe Mallon Motors Kildare (Leinster); JJ Burke Car Sales Mayo (Connacht); and McGinley Motors Donegal (Ulster). (ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year Kearys BMW & Mini Cork (Munster) were unavailable on the night to collect their award.)

ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year Ulster Winner: Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President, Winner Noel McCormick McGinley Motors Donegal, Aoife O’Grady Head of ZEVI and Declan Meally Director of Business Public Sector and Transport at SEAI.
ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year Connacht Winner: Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President, Winner Pauline Burke JJ Burke Car Sales Mayo, Aoife O’Grady Head of ZEVI and Declan Meally Director of Business Public Sector and Transport at SEAI.
ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year Leinster Winner: Paddy Magee SIMI Deputy President, Winner Anthony, Eithne and Philip Mallon of Joe Mallon Motors Kildare, Aoife O’Grady Head of ZEVI and Declan Meally Director of Business Public Sector and Transport at SEAI.