Fuel Costs

Due to the Carbon Tax inflating to €6 a tonne, from midnight tonight (8th October 2019) fuel prices will rise. Petrol will be rising by 1.7 cents per litre, and diesel will be increasing by 2 cents per litre.

That’s not all regarding Carbon Tax, as it was also stated it will increase from €20 today to €80 per tonne by 2030.

Emmisions Charge

There will be a new Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions-based charge introduced. This will be replacing last years 1% diesel surcharge and will apply to all cars registered from the 1st of January 2020. The charge will apply on a euro (€) per milligram/kilometre basis, with the rate increasing in line with the level of nitrogen oxide emitted.

Thinking of buying a new car or importing a second-hand one? You will have to calculate the car’s NOx emissions before committing.

Imported cars that do not meet limits set in 2016 are likely to be the most affected.
Under the new system, a car producing up to 60mg of NOx per kilometre will be taxed – on registration – at €5 per gramme per kilometre up to 60mg. From 61mg to 80, it will be taxed at €15 per mg and any figure over 81mg will be taxed at €25 per mg.

• E.g. – A VW Golf built in 2013 and producing 118mg of NOx per kilometre will now attract a tax of €1,550.

Plus Points

For our forward thinking, EV enthusiasts, there were a few plus points.

• An additional €3 million has been earmarked for “electric vehicle infrastructure”.
• VRT benefits for hybrid and plug-in hybrids are being extended to next year (depending on CO2 thresholds).

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Today, the 1st of October 2019, Toyota Ireland has issued a voluntary recall on nearly 12,000 vehicles.

The models in question include the Avensis, Avensis Verso, Corolla and Yaris, produced between February 2001 and July 2008.

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The cause for concern and recall is a potentially fatal issue with the airbags.
The company that produces the airbags, Takata, fears the vehicles may have been fitted with inflators which could degrade over time. Degradation being due to exposure to high temperatures and humidity.

In a statement issued by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), Toyota says an inflator rupture may cause metal fragments to pass through the airbag and into the vehicle interior at high speed, which “may result in injury or death to vehicle occupants.”

The exact number of vehicles effected in the Republic of Ireland is 11,943.

Toyota has confirmed that they will contact all affected vehicle owners via letter. Owners of effected vehicles are advised to make an appointment with their local authorised repairer. All necessary checks and repairs will be carried out free of charge.

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The affected Mondeo, Galaxay and SMAX models may experience a leakage of battery acid, which could cause a fire.

The vehicles were manufactured between February 13, 2014 and February 11, 2019.

A statement from the CCPC read:

A safety issue has been identified, whereby it is possible that due to a potential leakage of battery acid around the battery negative terminal, this could cause the battery monitoring sensor to fail. Over time a growth of copper sulphate may accumulate. This in turn could provide a conductive layer underneath the Battery Monitoring Sensor, creating a low resistance to ground. The increased current flow, due to low resistance, could cause the surrounding material heat up to a point where it ignites, this may result in a fire.

The recall effects 7,733 vehicles in the Republic of Ireland.”

What to do if this affects your vehicle?

Henry Ford & Son Limited will contact all affected customers directly, advising them to contact a Ford Dealer to have the FSA carried out.

If you believe that your vehicle may be impacted by this recall, then you can contact Henry Ford & Son Limited’s Customer Service on 1890 812 333 (open 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday).

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This year marked the Kildare-based firms tenth year in a row sponsoring the rally. Killarney and District Motor Club, this year celebrated the 40th running of the famous rally and the new sponsorship agreement will safeguard the events future.

Cartell.ie will back the rally until 2023 making this one of the longest event sponsorship agreements in Irish rallying. Only Shell Oil’s involvement with the Donegal International Rally in the 1980s, through to the early 2000s eclipses this deal.

Senior management at the company were impressed with this year’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

They recently returned to Killarney where the met with club and rally officials and put pen to paper the confirm the deal until 2023.

“It is great that such a well-known and prominent company want to be involved in the rally and this is a testament to strength of the club,” said chairman Diarmuid Cronin. “It is an arrangement that works so well and Cartell.ie and the Rally of the Lakes are hand in glove at this stage. We are delighted to welcome back Cartell.ie and the professionalism they bring.”

“We are delighted to have Cartell.ie on board for the next three years” said Rally of the Lakes clerk of the course Dermot Healy, “Cartell.ie are a pleasure to deal with, their business fits ideally with the rally and the motor trade. Over the last ten years, I have become personal friends with Nicola and Jeff Aherne and Richard Lahiff, and the Killarney and District Motor Club look forward to welcoming them back to Killarney for next year’s rally.”

Next year will also mark the Gleneagle Hotel’s 40th year as the event headquarters and already the O’Donoghue family are planning a special way to mark this occasion.

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As it’s the 4^th of July,  Independence Day for our American friends, we’ve decided to take a look at the average age of US cars.

According to the results of a study from HIS Markit, the average age of a car in the U.S has hit a record all-time high. As of 2018, the average age is 11.8 years!

They just don’t like to say goodbye to cars in the US!

There are a number of factors likely to have contributed to the rising age of vehicles. To begin with, longer-term loans are available with many consumers financing cars for six or seven years. Thus, they’re hanging onto the cars and maintain them longer. Secondly, IHS Markit said vehicles are simply built far better than they were in the past. Both factors have helped the fleet of cars on American roads stick around longer.

State-by-state, Montana is home to the oldest vehicles on the road with an average age of 16.6 years. The state with the youngest vehicles is Vermont at 9.9 years.

In comparison, as of February 2019, Cartell.ie reported that the native Irish fleet (private) had an average age of 8.48 years. The imported Irish fleet (private) stood slightly higher at 8.76 years.

Read more about Cartell’s report on the Private Irish Fleet and Younger Imports here.

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Hyundai’s resident drivers, Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo had both made it clear they did not want to compete in the first round of the World Rally Championship. The decision to appoint Ireland’s Breen and Nagle comes after weeks of speculation surrounding the empty seats.

The pair are in fantastic form having spent the last number of months contesting Irish and Italian events in R5 cars. Taking home the crown in our very own Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes.

Regarding Finland, Breen has a strong record. He finished in the top five on two of the last three rallies and was on the podium with third place in 2016.

Hyundai Motorsport director Andrea Adamo said Breen had been called up because… “Rally Finland is a very particular type of event that warrants an approach like no other on the calendar” and as the WRC title battle was “entering a critical phase”.

Adamo added: “He has demonstrated his class at this event in the past and has a lot of experience, which will be invaluable to us.

“We are making sure he has enough preparation with Rally Estonia, an event similar in style to Finland, and the pre-event test.”

Craig Breen on his WRC Return

Breen shared his thoughts of the appointment and upcoming rally via Twitter, admitting it was a “bittersweet” feeling following the death of fellow competitor Manus Kelly at the Donegal International Rally.

It’s a bittersweet feeling this morning as I share with you all the news that Paul and I are getting our return back into the #WRC with @HMSGOfficial. When I found out that this was going to happen, you cannot begin to understand the excitement, it was an incredible feeling to know all our hard work was finally being recognised and we were getting our break again. Obviously, after last weekends events, it’s difficult to be too excited, I know one of the first messages I would be receiving without any doubt would be from Manus… However, we have to be very thankful. I have had incredible support from so many people during these last difficult months. Paul and I are determined to do the best job and we cannot wait to get started with our new team.
Thank you, everyone, for making this happen!”

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The post Craig Breen & Paul Nagle in the WRC with Hyundai appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

For some reason the Powers-that-be in Honda Ireland decided they would treat a select few to a Track Day at Mondello Park.

Attendees from Cartell included Managing Director Nicola Aherne and Marketing Manager Jonathan McCluskey.

Setting the scene

First to arrive at Mondello Park was the Radio Nova truck, followed by several Honda Civics (Sedan & Hatch), HR-V’s and CR-V’s. Then a “Highlight Reel” including a sparklingly maintained Honda S2000, New Civic Type-R’s and the New NSX were cautiously and carefully, using the highest precision (you’d expect nothing less from Honda), positioned into their most photogenic angle in the paddocks.

After a quick briefing and signing of a waiver (Honda’s: “your fault not ours” contract), the madness happened. These beautiful, shiny products of meticulous engineering were handed over to the petrol sniffing, brake pad wearing lunatics (slight exaggeration!) patiently waiting by the pits.

Honda cars on the track

Immediately I seized the opportunity to jump into the S2000, a personal favourite of mine, and attempted some donuts. “Attempted” being the key word, but I’d still take these over Krispy Kreme’s!

After the warm-up in the S2000 it was time to take the Civic Type-R around the track, with a Mondello track driver of course.

As I’m the furthest thing from a Car Reviewer I won’t attempt to bluff my way through this. I can simply and honestly say; it was an utter mind-blowing experience. The Type-R is quick, goes around corners, and with a trusty track guide it made me look like a far better driver than I am. Thank you Honda and Mondello!

Moving onto the stunning, striking NSX. Unfortunately, and understandably, the “lunatics” were not allowed to get behind the wheel of this track-animal. However, passenger laps were an option.

I don’t have first-hand experience from the passenger seat, but after talking to a few shocked and terrified people along the pit lane I came to only one conclusion… The NSX is truly special.

To sum up

We all want a Civic Type-R! Well, we want an NSX but we’re being reasonable.

It was a fantastic day. We can’t thank Honda Ireland enough for putting on such a spectacle and inviting us down to it!

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Why sponsor BATTLE FOR THE BAY?

We keep shouting about it… Cartell are far more than a Car History Check. That may be our flagship service, but we have grown exponentially since commencing business in 2006.

As well as being the market leader for Car History Checks and Vehicle Data Solutions. Cartell is a supporter of Irish sporting events. Beginning with the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes which celebrated a 40-year anniversary this month (May 2019), to the more diversified and less obvious Battle For The Bay.

What is BATTLE FOR THE BAY?

The idea of the event is to have as much fun as possible. Bring your friends and family to enjoy an amazing water show and have a great day on the beach!

Demonstrations of new “toys” will be organised thanks to visiting water sports experts. It could be the only chance you’ll have to experience these!

There will be the opportunity to learn about multiple aspects of water sports from qualified instructors. Also, there’ll be live bands and DJs playing all day long. You’ll find plenty to eat at the Food Village, and Funfair Attractions to keep the kids entertained (maybe wait an hour after eating!).

The Biodiversity Village is an exciting place to explore the wildlife of Dublin Bay. This is a highly recommended experience for the family.

So, pack your picnic basket, swimming trunks and suntan lotion (grab an umbrella as well) and come down to Dollymount Beach this weekend, the 25th & 26th of May.

What else is there to know?

To celebrate this new venture we have added a 20% promotion code “BFTB“. Enter this code at the checkout to avail the discount.

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Loans vs Leasing vs Hire Purchase vs Personal Contract Plans

Car finance has been on the increase in Ireland since 2015. In January 2019 the proportion of vehicles offered for sale (across all years) with finance outstanding was at 16.61% – the highest level Cartell.ie has ever recorded.

The increase in car finance could be directly related to the multiple options now available. New cars seem more affordable and/or manageable with dealers and garages promoting low interest PCP, PCH and HP schemes. Nearly-New and Used cars can be financed instantly (within an hour) from most garages. So, car finance options best suit and how do they differ from one another?

Car Loans

If you are considering buying a vehicle outright but you do not yet have the complete desired funds, a car loan is one option. You will receive the money from the bank which is often an unsecured loan which you then use to buy a car.

The car is yours as soon as you purchase it, but you obviously must repay the loan amount (plus interest). Repayments to the bank are generally made via monthly instalments over a 1 to 5-year term. The interest rate will often be more favourable with a credit-union and will differ depending on the length of the loan. However, the rates from dealerships and garages are becoming more and more competitive.

Considerations

When a loan is taken out the car does not have a financial interest listed against it, the loan is often unsecured, and the car loan is personal to the intended recipient – so a future purchaser may take title of the car even if the car loan was not paid off in its entirety by the original loan recipient.

In a case like this, where a loan is not paid back in full to the bank, the bank would ordinarily look to secure judgment against the loan recipient for the outstanding amount.

Obviously, the bank would look at the option of seeking an order to repossess the car, but, if the car has already been sold then the bank can seek judgment against another asset.

Personal Contract Hire (PCH) & Leasing

If your goal is to simply have use of a vehicle for a set period (generally 2 – 5 years) and you do not want ownership of said vehicle when the term concludes, then PCH is an option for you. This is generally a more popular option for Businesses which would lease a fleet of company cars, but it is also a valid option for public consumers also.

The payment procedure for PCH plans generally require an upfront payment (usually 3 months of the lease). The remaining costs are a static monthly fee. These monthly payments are normally higher than the equivalent vehicles leased through PCP, but over the entire contract you’ll typically pay less on a PCH.

On occasion a maintenance package will be included. This covers things like annual car tax and/or servicing.

There are strict terms and conditions to follow such as limits to the number of miles/kilometres you can do. You will also have to return the car exactly as you received it. Therefore, you must not make any modifications (e.g. tow bar) and it should be in “good repair and condition”.

Finally, if you are considering taking the vehicle abroad you may need written confirmation from the car finance company.

Considerations

You will not be able to purchase the car at the end of your contract – you will have to hand it back. Before signing the lease, you will have to agree on the number of kilometres you expect to cover throughout the term. If this limit is exceeded costs will be incurred. When the contract is signed, you’ll be tied into payments until it comes to a natural end. If you wish to stop at any time, there may be an additional cost.

Hire Purchase (HP)

If you wish to acquire and own a vehicle but you don’t have the adequate funds to purchase outright, Hire Purchase is an available option.

When signing a Hire Purchase agreement, there are 2 separate payment elements. Firstly, an upfront deposit is required, followed by; monthly instalments which cover the whole value of the car. Once you have successfully completed all the monthly payments required: the car is yours.

Typically, the payments are spread over 3 to 5 years, including the initial upfront fee. Generally, the upfront fee is in the range of 10% of the vehicles overall value.

The main benefit of Hire Purchase is, you can take ownership of a vehicle without “breaking the bank” initially. Also, as the vehicle will be completely yours you are not be tied to a mileage limit.

Considerations

With Hire Purchase contracts, the monthly instalments can be considerably higher than PCH or PCP. If you are thinking of taking out a HP contract it is worth comparing the monthly fees associated with all types of car finance to ensure you select the option which best suits your needs and budget.

If for some reason you decide to sell the car, you will be required to pay off the remaining balance. This may incur a fee depending on the financier.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

PCP finance is like an amalgamation of Leasing and HP contracts. You will have to pay a deposit and will have monthly payments to make. However, instead of the monthly payments paying off the value, these payments are contributing to the depreciation of the cars value. If you wish to keep the car at the end of the contract, you’ll be required to pay a final fee known as a balloon payment.

At the beginning of the PCP finance contract, there is a Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) determined. This sets out what the provider expects the car to be valued at when the contract comes to an end.

Essentially, what you’ll be paying is the value of the difference between what the car is when you take out the contract, compared to what the value of the car will be at the end – with the addition of interest. This is divided into chunks to be paid over a certain period, for example 3 years.

It is likely your monthly instalments will be lower than the same vehicle on HP.

Upon completion of the contract, you’ll have three options to consider:

1. You can pay the balloon payment and keep the car.
2. You can give the car back. There will be nothing left to pay as you’ve paid the Guaranteed Future Value.
3. You can use your car as a part exchange. Swapping it and paying the remaining balance of the car finance agreement.
   • Should you wish to pay your final balloon payment early, you’ll have to cover the cost of the depreciation between when you took out the contract and what the vehicle is worth now. It might be the case that you’re in positive equity, which will allow you to use this as a deposit on your new car.

If you desire a new car every few years, PCP is the contract that would suit best.

Considerations

If you unfortunately have an accident during your PCP contract, you will be liable for all required repairs. Also, before you sign your PCP contract, you will have to agree upon the term mileage limit. Any excess mileage could incur additional charges. If you decide to sell the car, you must first settle the final payment.
Finally, you’ll have to stay with the same dealer to be able to use any remaining equity as a deposit for a new car through PCP.

Summary

It is impossible to say which car finance option is the best choice as it depends on the individual. Each individual/family will have different budgets and requirements. What we can say is, when looking for a car finance option, make sure to consider all the available options. The only way to get the best option for you is to shop around.

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The post Financing a Car in Ireland? Here are your Options! appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes meets Michael Fassbender

On Saturday the 30th of March the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes got a huge boost when Michael Fassbender, event ambassador for this year’s rally came to visit. Michael had the opportunity to sample some of the different types of rallycars in a bid to decide which car he would like to drive throughout the event. A huge thank you is required to the KDMC for providing a range of cars including a Porsche 911, the iconic Ford Escort mk2 and a Ford Puma S1600.

Anniversaries All Around

As we know, this year is doubly special as it is not only the 40th Anniversary of the Rally of the Lakes but Cartell.ie’s 10-year anniversary as title sponsor.
In a bid to insure this is a memorable event for all, the classic Rally of the Lakes stages will be run with a twist… Three of the Saturday’s classic stages, Ardgroom, Cod’s Head and the Healy Pass, will be run in reverse.

New Additions

Also, a new addition for the 40th Anniversary will be the Lakes RallyFest, which introduces a pre-1990 section. This new and innovative section will bring a fresh dimension to the event. Clerk of the Course Dermot Healy explains the thinking behind Lakes RallyFest Ireland.

‘The rallying years leading up to 1990 included the “golden age” of rallying. Many of these iconic rally cars are alive and well, but remain out of view from the Irish rally fan.’

If you have ever considered going to the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes, this is the year to do it. We can as good as guarantee you’ll have a fantastic weekend. Get yourself sorted for May bank holiday weekend (3rd, 4th, 5th) asap!

For a full breakdown of what to expect at this years Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes check out https://rallyofthelakes.com

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Irish License Holders & BREXIT

Right now, your driver’s licence is a pan-European one, which means it is valid in any EU country. Post-BREXIT, that may change, and you may need to apply for an international driver’s permit to be allowed to drive in the UK on your Irish licence. International permits are available from the AA in Ireland, and it costs €15, but you’ll need to allow time as you have to send in your existing licence by post, along with a passport-style photo and a current household bill for proof of address.

UK License Holders & BREXIT

On the 29th of March, if the unmentionable happens and a no-deal BREXIT is the end result. UK drivers licence holders living here in Ireland will be significantly affected.

UK license holders in Ireland will be no longer “recognised” and the driver will not be able to continue to drive here on that licence.

Advice to such drivers, courtesy of NDLS.ie (National Drivers License Service), is that they should exchange their UK driving licence for an Irish driving licence before the 29 March 2019, which is set as the withdrawal date of the UK from the EU. Under current arrangements a UK licence holder resident here in Ireland has an entitlement to make such an exchange. In such a case the driver will have all valid licence categories on their driver licence included on the Irish licence. There are some limited exceptions where what are known as national licences categories cannot be transferred to the Irish licence. You may need to speak to the DVLA to find out if you have any national categories on your UK licence.

To exchange your licence you must complete a licence application form and present this, the correct fee and your UK licence at an NDLS centre.

Interested in buying a Used Car from Ireland or the UK? Make the most informed decision you can with a Cartell Car Check!

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Due to the resurgence of UK imports into the Irish car market in recent years, vehicle data expert Cartell.ie decided to drill down into the published statistics for the Irish NCT and UK equivalent MOT roadworthiness tests. To assess the Top 5 UK Imports into Ireland in 2018, based on their reliability and performance in their inaugural test, we hereby introduce our data-backed analysis of these five vehicles in a NCT vs MOT comparison to determine which test is stricter.

As it stands, UK imports represent roughly 24% of the entire Irish carpark, and the import drive shows no sign of slowing, with over 126,000 vehicles imported in 2018, which is an increase of nearly 6% compared to 2017. It will be an interesting comparison to see how each of the Top 5 UK Imports this year fared during their first NCT & MOT. How prevalent is the variance in pass standards?

Top 5

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf has consistently been a beloved car among the Irish car market in terms of reliability and practicality, and with more than 112,000 on our roads at present. With the release of the popular new Golf in 2013, we are going to round up the stats and review its performance in its first roadworthiness test in Ireland and the UK.

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf tops our list with a first-time pass rate of 85.9% based on 4,516 tests in 2017. But what did they fail their NCT on and what should you keep an eye on for the next one?

• 4.8% of fails were on wheels & tyres, tread depth/tyre condition.
• 3.6% of fails were on Lighting & Electric, misaligned headlamps and blown bulbs would make up most of these statistics.
• 3.3% of fails were Vehicle & Safety Equipment – seatbelts not working, airbag light on the dash etc.

In contrast;
The pass rate for the equivalent UK Import in its first MOT was 84.2% based on 62,933 MOT Tests for a 2013 Volkswagen Golf.

The top three reasons for the 15.8% of vehicles that failed are;

• 6.6% fail on Driver’s view of the road which involves Wipers, Windscreen washers and mirrors.
• 5.5% fail on Tyres – Tread depth, tyre condition.
• 3.5% fail on Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

Ford Focus

Next on our list is the ever-popular Ford Focus, with over 126,000 currently on Irish roads, and 38,000 being imports.

The 2013 Focus scored an above average 84.7% pass rate in its first NCT which is based on 4,397 tests.

• 5.3% of fails were on wheels & Tyres, tread depth/tyre condition.
• 4.3% of fails were on Lighting & Electric, misaligned headlamps and blown bulbs would make up most of these statistics.
• 3.2% of fails were Vehicle & Safety Equipment – seatbelts not working, airbag light on the dash etc.

Meanwhile;
The UK equivalent MOT for a 2013 Focus scored an impressive 87.3% first time pass rate based on 86,234 tests.

• 5.0% failed on Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment.
• 4.4% failed on Tyres
• 1.9% failed on Brakes

BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series has been a consistent class leader in the Irish premium segment, boasting a luxurious interior, robust engine and a luxurious driving experience. With a sharp increase in the number of BMW imports this year, the 5 Series ranks a solid third place on our list in terms of reliability in its first roadworthiness test. With the overall NCT pass rate for a 2013 5 Series clearing 83.3% based on 2,039 tests.

8.1% failed on Tyres
3.7% failed on Lighting & Electric
3.5% failed on Vehicle & Safety Equipment.

In the UK, the 5 Series boasts an 85.5% pass rate based on 18,735 MOT tests. With the top failure rate unsurprisingly being down to unsafe tyres, topping out at 6.3%.

Volkswagen Passat

Third on our list, is the Volkswagen Passat. This motorway munching mid-range masterpiece has always been a household name in Ireland, with 80,000 on our roads at present and 31,000 representing imports, it almost lines up with the average first time pass rate for all 2013 vehicles, scoring an 81.2% first time pass rate based on 2,887 tests.
The bulk of 2013 Passats fail on the same handful on reasons.

• 7.6% of fails were on wheels & tyres, tread depth/tyre condition – this is slightly above the average of 7% for all 2013 cars.
• 5.4% of fails were on Lighting & Electric.
• 3.9% of fails were Vehicle & Safety Equipment.

Likewise, the MOT equivalent for a 2013 Passat somewhat lined up with the pass rates for the NCT, coming in at a respectful 82.3% pass rate from 16,787 tests.

Nissan Qashqai

The family-oriented Nissan Qashqai has played a stormer in the Crossover SUV segment for since its initial release just over 11 years ago, and with the upmarket facelift in 2013 it gained further momentum among Irish buyers – many of which have been opting to import one from the UK, with almost 3,000 imported in 2018 alone.

Based on 3,629 NCT Tests in 2017 for a 2013 Nissan Qashqai, we saw an overall pass rate of 78.8%, placing it firmly at fifth place in our rankings.

Lining up with the other contenders in our lists;
8.9% failed on the usual Lighting & Electrics
5.4% failed on Vehicle & Safety Equipment
3.3% failed on tyres

In the UK, the Qashqai had an impressive pass rate of 82.8%, with the largest offender being the driver’s view of the road which involves Wipers, Windscreen washers and mirrors, this accounts for 7% of all fails along with 6.5% being Lighting and Electrics, which almost mirrors the highest failure rate in the NCT for the Qashqai.

If you’re in the market for a Qashqai, check those lights!

To round up the stats, each of our Top 5 UK Imports are all within the average of 81.8% for a first time pass in their initial NCT. These cars do have a lower pass rate in the NCT, than the equivalent MOT in the UK. This leads us to the question – is the NCT stricter than the MOT?

Results Summary

When we consider the sheer volume of cars tested in the MOT compared to the NCT, it can be assumed that the NCT is stricter, or could it be because the MOT is due on a car’s third anniversary rather than its fourth here in Ireland for the NCT? Cars in Ireland are going an extra year before they are tested.

Should the NCT adopt the same schedule as the MOT to increase road safety by testing cars more often?

The failure rates on unsafe tyres are a very worrying statistic either way – prevalent across the NCT and the MOT, and this is based on just a sample of five models tested in one year. Unsafe tyres that are overlooked by a motorist and instead, inspected and highlighted by an NCT/MOT technician, could possibly highlight a laidback attitude towards tyre safety among motorists, the data alone speaks for itself.

To put this in perspective, in 2017, there were 1,355,000 vehicles tested, and 175,000 failed due to unsafe tyres, just shy of 13%. Just over 1 in 10 cars had unsafe tyres on our roads.

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Budget changes are in full swing as of now. The main area of affect regarding the Automotive Industry is the 1% Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) surcharge which is being brought in for Diesel engine passenger vehicles registered in Ireland from today onwards (Native and Imported).

Director General of SIMI, Alan Nolan says the move could have some unintended consequences and is “poorly considered”.

“The real disappointment for businesses and jobs in our sector is that we were already facing an increase in VRT in January, only on the price of a new car, in the region of €450, due to the new EU Emissions test. This additional 1% surcharge is likely to add a further €400 on average to a new diesel car from January.”

Excise Duty & Carbon Tax

When the budget was being announced there was an expected increase in Excise Duty on diesels as well as an increase in Carbon Tax but the Minister decided against these.

The environmental coalition, Stop Climate Chaos, said the failure to introduce a carbon tax increase would make meeting Ireland’s climate commitments even harder to achieve.

Electric Vehicles & Hybrids

With regards Electric Vehicles (EVs) and regular Hybrids, the current €2,500 and €1,500 relief, respectively, has been extended.

More Information

Should you wish to better understand the Irish VRT system please click here to find information on the specific categories and how to calculate.

Read the full list of Budget changes here.

The post Increase in VRT Surcharge – Budget 2019 appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

The UK is now experiencing record numbers of clocked cars on their roads, according to data published by the LGA (Local Government Association). The LGA, who represents local authorities across Britain, have disclosed that more than two million vehicles contain fraudulently adjusted odometer/speedometer readings.

Amazingly, clocking is NOT currently illegal in the UK, although a proposed EU ban is in the pipeline. The ban was due to be in place by May this year but was never introduced, leaving mileage “correction” experts free to advertise their services.

The public can avail of such services for as little as £100, once they agree to disclose said mileage change if selling (we very much doubt this happens), polluting the used car market with clocked vehicles.

The Telegraph newspaper reported that one recent council prosecution found that a van sold with 89,000 miles on the clock was actually found to have traveled more than 243,000 miles.

The latest figures from the LGA show that instances of clocking have increased by 25% between 2014 and 2016, with the knock-on cost to motorists estimated at £800 million per year in the UK.

One in 16 vehicles checked now has a mileage discrepancy, The Telegraph reported, meaning that there could be 2.3 million clocked and “potentially dangerous cars” on UK roads.

Clocked UK Cars – Words from Cap HPI

Speaking to am-online.com Barry Shorto, head of industry relations at Cap HPI said: “The increase in mileage-related finance arrangements such as PCP and PCH may also be a contributing factor as motorists look to bring down their mileage count to within contracted levels and avoid paying penalties for excess mileage.”

Shorto added: “Our advice to dealers is not only should they make conducting mileage investigations an integral part of their business process to protect their reputation and their customers, but they must actively promote the fact that these checks have been done for customer peace of mind.”

“Proof of a mileage check needs to be a key part of a dealer’s sales strategy, promoting the quality of their stock, as well as highlighting the dangers of clocking for their customers.”

Avoid Clocked UK Cars – Check with Cartell

Cartell data has shown that 1 in 3 UK cars have a hidden history. In fact, below you can see the average number of Finance, Write-Off, and Mileage Alerts our UK Car Check provides to consumers, on a Monthly basis.

The above stats only prove the value of Cartell 3* Car Check, which examines the UK History as well as Irish.

Learn more about Three Star Check and make sure you don’t end up with a clocked UK car, get your Cartell Check here!

The post Record Number of Clocked UK Cars – Another Reason to get a Cartell Check appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

“Connected” – The ability through which a vehicle can share information with other vehicles and its environment.
“Autonomous Vehicles” – Vehicles capable of deciding on and taking a course of action, such as steering or braking, without the need for human intervention.
“Electric” – Vehicles propelled by one or more electric motors, using energy typically stored in rechargeable batteries.

CAVE Conference

MIT Mullingar are delighted to announce that Mr. Jeffery Aherne motoring expert on will be giving a presentation entitled “The CAVE Future – Connected Autonomous Vehicle Electric” on Tuesday 4th December in the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar at 7:30pm.

Conference Description

The motoring industry is going through a period of massive change. Plug-In Hybrid is replacing Diesel, Electric is replacing Hybrid. There is a massive convergence between IT and Automotive and vehicles are being fitted with ever more features to make them safer to drive. Lane departure, Collision Avoidance and Blind Spot detection have become common features in newer cars. We will see higher level features such as Autonomous Cruise Control being replaced by full Autonomy.
Before everyone can enjoy the technological improvements a number of key questions have to be addressed and answered.

• Are we as a country, positioned to take advantage of AVs to manage our road network more safely and efficiently than ever before while, at the same time, delivering superior customer service to the travelling public?
• Car manufacturers will have access to massive amounts of personal data, will this be monitored?
• Will the cars become too expensive with the addition of new technology, could this cause new car sales to drop significantly?
• Will insurance premiums increase because of increased car values, or, will the added safety features cause premiums to drop?
• How will this affect car ownership?
• What data between the vehicle and user is shared / owned?
• What services can be created through the sharing of data?
• Where will the data be stored and who is responsible for it?
• Will all collision data be stored, and, what responsibilities and ownership exist on the State’s part?

Speaker Profile

Jeff is the Director Engineer at Cartell.ie & CEO CarandUs.com. Working with Cartell he has changed the law with respect to Written Off Cars and make Clocking Illegal. He is the founding member of Electronomous, Ireland’s International Car Tech Summit and at the forefront of this new Automotive Technology.

Conference Information

Location:  Annebrook House Hotel.
Date / Time:  Tuesday 4th December, 7:30pm *sharp*

This is a FREE event however to accommodate all attendees comfortably registration is required.
This event is sponsored by Electronomous. Now in its third year, Electronomous is well established itself as a key Industry event with ambitions of becoming one of Europe’s leading AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY EVENTS over the coming years.

The Event is a ONE AND A HALF DAY International Conference with an Irish context bringing together top experts in the field of Electric Vehicles, Connected Car Technology, ADAS, Cyber Security and Autonomous Vehicles.
It also offers an unprecedented opportunity to Network with Industry leaders and leading experts in the fields mentioned above, while also providing a great platform to create new business relationships.

Additional Information

Email: mit@cookieweb.ie
MIT Mullingar: http://mitmullingar.com
Jeff Aherne: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/jeffaherne
Electronomous: www.Electronomous.com

The post What is C.A.V.E and how is it affecting the Automotive Industry? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Key Takeaway:

Irish motorists report an increase in car running cost in the last year

Insurance premiums and fuel costs key issues for car owners

Key findings

• 61% of motorists have reported an increase in running costs in the last year
• 1 in 3 (29%) spend over €250 on car running costs
• Insurance is still the top concern despite 32% seeing a decrease or no change in their premium
• Over half of parents spend more than two hours driving each day
• Cost and safety are the top concerns for parents when it comes to purchasing a family car
• Almost two thirds plan to buy an electric or hybrid car in the near future
• 38% plan to buy a car in the next year with almost half purchasing a car under two years old
• 39% prefer a number plate from the county they are from
• 38% would pay a deposit for a car online and 77% would pay a deposit online up to the value of €1k
• 55% feel that there should be a mandatory retest for everyone over 70

Irish motorists have seen an increase in their car running costs in the last year according to the latest Motoring Report from car buying experts Carzone.

The bi-annual report which examines trends in the Irish motoring market finds that 61% of motorists say their running costs have increased in the last 12 months with 29% stating they spend upwards of €250 per month on keeping their vehicle on the road.

The Carzone Motoring Report is compiled by analysing data from the 77 million+ searches carried out on Carzone from January to June of this year, as well as an in-depth survey of 1,600 Irish motorists.

Financial concerns

Insurance remains the top financial concern for 61% of Irish car owners. Almost 1 in 5 (19%) cite the cost of fuel as a worry while 9% say general maintenance of their car is a financial concern.

Although insurance comes out as the top concern, almost a third (32%) say their insurance premium has either decreased or remained the same in the last 12 months. 64% also say they have not switched insurance company in the last year opting to stay with their current provider.

Going green

The latest Motoring Report finds that motorists are now more open to switching to electric and hybrid cars. Almost two thirds claim they plan to purchase an electric or hybrid car in the near future with the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf being the most searched electric cars on Carzone site over the past six months. Awareness levels on the difference between electric and hybrid cars is high (84%) and 6 in 10 know where their nearest charging station is.

Given that many motorists are reporting a rise in running costs, it’s no surprise that 45% of those questioned say cheaper running costs is their number one incentive for making the switch from petrol or diesel.  Being kinder to the environment was the second most popular reason (40%).

Ireland’s favourite cars

BMW is the most popular car marque searched for on Carzone followed by Audi and Mercedes Benz indicating a strong interest in the premium segment of the market. The Volkswagen Golf is the most popular car model on the site followed by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A6. The most popular hybrid car is the Lexus IS300H.

What’s on your plate?

Although 69% of those polled would travel for more than two hours to purchase a car, it seems that where that car is from is important. Indicating that county pride is alive and well among Irish motorists, over a third (39%) say that they prefer to buy a car with a registration plate with the county they are from. In fact, so important is the registration plate to motorists that 46% claim that registration plates from different counties impact the value of the car! Interestingly those who lived in urban areas were more conscious of the county on their number plate (48%) compared to 42% of those living in the country.

The taxi of Mum & Dad

New to the report this year is a section on families and cars. Starting a family is often a key catalyst for changing a car. When asked what the most important factors are for parents choosing a car, cost and safety were the key decision factors (38% and 31%). 1 in 5 say that the size of the car impacts their choice.  When it comes to purchasing a family car, it’s a joint decision for over half of those questioned (58%).

The Carzone Motoring Report also finds that parents spend a lot of time in their car with 52% stating they spend more than two hours a day driving their family around.

Testing Times

The report reveals that over two thirds (68%) of respondents who sat their driving test over 10 years ago passed it first time around, while 58% of drivers who took the test within the past 5 years needed two or more attempts to succeed. The research also finds that 57% of those who have a provisional licence have renewed it more than three times. When it comes to elderly road users, the report finds that over half (55%) of those polled think there should be a mandatory retest for everyone over 70.

Buying a car

According to the Carzone Motoring Report, 38% intend to buy a car in the next year. Of those that are planning a purchase, 46% will buy a car under two years old. The key reasons for buying a new car are that they simply wanted a newer or more reliable car or they needed a larger car to accommodate their growing family.

Over half (55%) have considered buying a car from the UK and 59% would consider purchasing in the UK in the future because of the price. However, 46% say that the biggest deterrent to car shopping in the UK is that it’s too much hassle.

While most cars are still purchased in dealerships or private sale, motorists have become more open to buying a car outright online. Over three quarters (77%) say they would pay up to a €1,000 deposit online for a car while 13% would be open to paying for a car in full online.

The main reasons for not buying a car online include the risk involved and the desire to see and test drive the car before making a purchase.

Commenting on the latest report, Karl Connolly, Audience Manager Carzone said:

“Our latest Carzone Motoring Report is our tenth edition which looks at all aspects of Irish motoring. To mark our latest edition, we have added in some new topics such as family and cars, number plate snobbery and attitudes to buying cars online.

Insurance premiums which have been a top concern for a number of years are still the key issue impacting motorists despite the fact that many of those questioned have seen their premiums decrease or remain the same.

We are also seeing a shift in attitude towards electric and hybrid cars over the last few years as motorists get to grips with alternative fuels and the benefits they bring. Our latest report shows that 84% now know what electric and hybrid vehicles are and almost two thirds are planning to make the switch in the near future.”

Most Searched Cars

While you’re here why not check out Cartell’s new Personal Account:

• Save 20% on your future Cartell Checks
• View your past Cartell Checks
• Get a Cartell Price Guide (CPG) value for your car
• Rank your mileage against other identical cars with our Mileage Analysis tool
• Check the ABI Insurance Rating of any Irish car.

To register for your Cartell Personal Account please CLICK HERE.

Alternatively, If you would like to find out more Information CLICK HERE.

The post Carzone Motoring Report 2018 appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Overview:

The Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive (EVTI) Scheme commenced on July 1st 2018 and is expected to run until December 31st 2022. This allows EV and PHEV owners to now avail of toll discounts and refunds.

Commenting on the new scheme the Minister declared, “I am delighted to launch the new EV tolling scheme, this incentive is integral to the series of Governmental support measures aimed at promoting a low-carbon transport future”. He added “this new scheme will yield additional savings to EV motorists, with the potential for eligible private car owners to accumulate up to €500 in toll savings per annum, and up to €1,000 in savings for goods vehicles.”

In a final statement the Minister stated, “we are starting to see a steady rise in EV numbers; this can be attributed to improved technological developments and increased battery ranges alongside continued generous Government supports to reduce purchase and running costs. There are now over 5,000 electric vehicles in Ireland, over a 1,000 of which were registered in 2018 alone.”

How it works:

A 50% toll discount will be applied for battery electric vehicles, and a 25% toll discount will be applied to plug-in hybrid vehicles. Higher level discounts will be available across stated tolls during off-peak times/journeys.

To avail of the discount, motorists must sign up for an EV tag with an approved Toll Tag Provider. EV and PHEV Drivers, who are currently registered with a Toll Tag Provider, should be contacted with details on how to transfer to the scheme.

Vehicle Restrictions:

The new scheme applies to all Battery Electric Vehicles, and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles provided;

• CO2 emissions are 80gm per Kilometer or less.
• The vehicle must be registered in Ireland
• Goods vehicles must have a gross weight of 3,500kg or less to be eligible.

NOTE: Taxis, Hackneys and Limousines will be considered a private vehicle under this scheme and can avail of the same discounts.

New Toll Scheme Details and Refunds:

The following data is taken from the www.tii.ie (Transport Infrastructure Ireland).

While you’re here why not check out Cartell’s new Personal Account:

• Save 20% on your future Cartell Checks
• View your past Cartell Checks
• Get a Cartell Price Guide (CPG) value for your car
• Rank your mileage against other identical cars with our Mileage Analysis tool
• Check the ABI Insurance Rating of any Irish car.

To register for your Cartell Personal Account please CLICK HERE.

Alternatively, If you would like to find out more Information CLICK HERE.

The post New Toll Scheme; EVs & Plug-ins to Benefit appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

It’s official, Saudi women are now allowed behind the wheel after the decades long ban has been lifted.

Last September it was announced the ban would be lifted, and the first licences were issued to women this month. More than 120,000 women applied for a driver’s license Sunday, according to senior Ministry of Interior and Traffic Directorate officials.

“Demand for obtaining driving licenses is very high,” said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al Turki, official spokesman of the Ministry of Interior.

Saudi Arabia was the only country left in the world where women were unable to drive and families had to hire chauffeurs for female relatives.

It was the only country left in the world where women could not drive and families had to hire private chauffeurs for female relatives.

In 1990 dozens of Saudi women were arrested for driving in Riyadh, and from 2008 there were other cases of women posting videos of themselves behind the wheel.

Saudi television presenter Sabika al-Dosari told the AFP news agency, “It is a historic moment for every Saudi woman”.

Other Quotes:

“It feels weird, I am so happy. . . I’m just too proud to be doing this right now,”

“We are ready, and it will totally change our life,”

“Saudi Arabia has just entered the 21st century,”

While you’re here why not check out Cartell’s new Personal Account:

• Save 20% on your future Cartell Checks
• View your past Cartell Checks
• Get a Cartell Price Guide (CPG) value for your car
• Rank your mileage against other identical cars with our Mileage Analysis tool.

To register for your Cartell Personal Account please CLICK HERE.

Alternatively, If you would like to find out more Information CLICK HERE.

The post Saudi women to get behind the wheel! appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Introduced in 2009, labels give consumers important information on their tyre selection, including fuel consumption and environmental performance, noise levels, and how well they will handle wet weather breaking.

By law, when a consumer is buying a tyre the labels must be clearly presented, and the values/details listed must be included on the bill once the sale is complete.

The SEAI will be making sure each of the fitters and retailers they visit are following the above correctly, and are warning that those found in breach of these regulations will face a substantial fine.

Programme Manager with SEAI, Tim Stokes, commented on the importance of this regulation for both fitters/retailers and motorists: “Tyres are a driver’s only contact with the road and so are one of the most important parts of any car. It’s vital that motorists have reliable information regarding safety and fuel economy to allow them make an informed choice when buying tyres. Tyre retailers have an important role, as well as a legal obligation, in that regard.”

SEAI representatives will be focusing on the accuracy of the tyre labels as well as the fact that they must be displayed. Although the vast majority of tyre labels are accurate for the tyre they’re on, and are checked across Europe by several testing facilities, and through technical documentation checks. If a label is found to be displaying improper information, it will have to be changed, ASAP.

“SEAI has already distributed leaflets to all tyre retailers informing them of their obligations. SEAI is also working with industry representatives and other stakeholders, such as the Road Safety Authority, to increase awareness of tyre labels among motorists. SEAI will continue to regularly carry out inspections to ensure tyre suppliers and distributors are compliant, helping to protect consumers and the environment” said Stokes.

While you’re here why not check out Cartell’s new Personal Account.

• Save 20% on your future Cartell Checks
• View your past Cartell Checks
• Get a Cartell Price Guide (CPG) value for your car
• Rank your mileage against other identical cars with our Mileage Analysis tool.

To register for your Cartell Personal Account please CLICK HERE.

Alternatively, If you would like to find out more Information CLICK HERE.

The post Tyre fitters and retailers subject to inspection by the SEAI appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

This week we are celebrating Cartell’s 12th Birthday. It’s hard to believe two years have already passed since the big 10th celebration, time flies when you’re having fun as they say.

We’re delighted to be continuously helping people with one of the bigger and more difficult decisions they have to make, and at the same time, doing our best to make Irish and UK roads a safer place by providing damage and Write-Off categories in our Checks.

The last year has been a big one for us. We’ve been constantly growing since day dot, and in the last 12 months we’ve added even more highly qualified staff to our ranks.

We organised two very successful events in Killarney;

• The International Rally of the Lakes, which you can see highlights of HERE on our Facebook Page.
• Electronomous – The Car Tech Summit, which more than doubled in size since the previous year.

GDPR was a hurdle successfully cleared by our legal team et al. We can proudly say we are compliant.

The Cartell Trade App became available on the Apple Store and Android, and,

We also made new additions to the usability of Cartell.ie. Our world-class developers have created a Personal Account option which allows users to register with Cartell, receive discounts, and use our new tools.

This is only a sample of what we’ve been up to for the year, and we have plans, on plans, on plans for the future. I’d love to go on and on but as we know attention spans are….

…what was I saying?

Anyway, we’ve put together a short video highlighting some of our accomplishments and proudest moments over the last 12 years. Have a look, enjoy, and thank you very much for reading if you made it this far.

The post Last Year of the Preteens – Cartell’s 12th Birthday appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

At the end of a duel that lasted the entire weekend, Donegal pair Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett in their Subaru Impreza WRC took home their third International rally win when they added the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes to their previous two victories, which were both on home soil.

Once again, their success came at the last minute. They only took the lead three stages from the finish, when they went ahead of the Fiesta of long-time leaders Dubliner Rob Barrable and his Monaghan co-driver Damien Connolly.

Barrable and Connolly led from Saturday’s world famous opening stage, Moll’s Gap, and in damp early conditions, they pulled out an advantage of 36 seconds before the eventual winners began reducing this to 28 seconds by the end of day one.

The Donegal duo continued the pressure throughout day two, getting ever closer to the leaders. Then when Barrable began having clutch problems, he decided to play it safe as Kelly’s car was not eligible for the Irish Tarmac series, and second place would still bring maximum championship points.

By the end, Kelly finished 29 seconds in front, and such was the pace of the two leaders all weekend that third placed Desi Henry was never a serious challenger for top spot, even though he was just over half a minute behind Barrable.

Last year’s winner and defending Irish Tarmac champion Sam Moffett could only manage fourth this time, ahead of Jonny Greer and Josh Moffett.

International Results:

National Results:

The post Manus Kelly and Donall Barrett win the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes 2018 appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

The website will allow Lexus owners to enter the registration of their current vehicle, Cartell.ie then works instantaneously (in the background) to find the vehicle information for Lexus, who provide a listing of Service packages available.

The user will be able to select the closest and most convenient “Lexus Retailers/Authorised Repairers” and book a date that best suits.

Ian Corbett, Head of Lexus Ireland commented: “Lexus Ireland has always been committed to delivering the best customer service possible and we are delighted to now offer this new service which gives our customers accurate and immediate service quotes as well as the convenience of booking their service online. Once the driver’s car is with our retailer and authorised repairer, customers can be assured that it’s in good hands, as our technicians undergo intensive Lexus training as well has having years of experience in delivering the highest quality service.”

The Service service applies to all current and legacy models, and has been specifically tailored for the current Lexus hybrid lineup of CT, IS, NX, RX, GS, LS, RC, and LC hybrid models.

The post Lexus launch their Service service, powered by Cartell.ie! appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Killarney and District Motor Club held the official launch to the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes 2018 on Sunday 15th at Brehon Hotel Killarney. There were some beautiful rally cars on display and a large crowd in attendance. Officials, Organisers, Sponsors, distinguished guest speakers such as TD Brothers Michael & Danny Healy Rae, Councillor Michael Gleason, WRC Co Driver Paul Nagle and Dignitaries of Killarney town were on hand to support the event. MC on the night was non-other than Mike Marshall event COC of 25years, he introduced Paul O’Neill of Killarney’s Chamber of Tourism and Commerce who spoke of how important the rally of the Lakes is to Killarney Town, bringing a welcomed boost to the local economy. Niall Kelleher Mayor of Killarney also spoke on the commitment and dedication of the voluntary club members involved and their ability to host an event of this magnitude every year. Other guest speakers included John Byrne of Cartell.ie, Brian McArdle of Ordnance Survey Ireland, Kieran Healy of KC Print/Killarney Advertiser and Patrick O’Donoghue of the Gleneagle Hotel Group who have been involved since the rally’s first inception in 1979.

Killarney & District Motor Club, organisers of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes have announced details of this year’s event which will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend 4th – 6th May.

• Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
• PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship
• Kingdom of Kerry Rally Championship.

Killarney Businessman Dermot Healy has taken on the role of COC for his sixth year. Dermot, who is very much respected in the town of Killarney for his incredible voluntary and charity work, has put together a strong organising committee and operations are well under way. Dermot explains: the route stages are the most famous classic route of stages available and these demanding, technical and challenging stages should test each competitor to their full ability. While also maintaining the unique classic stages that the Rally of the Lakes holds worldwide, our main aim is to bring the Rally back in and around the Killarney town area and we have achieved this with our Sunday loop of stages.

Once again for their ninth consecutive year Ireland’s leading vehicle history record company Cartell.ie return’s as the main title sponsor of the Rally of the Lakes 2018. Including additional support from Killarney Advertiser, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Gleneagle Hotel Group, who have been supporters of the Rally of the Lakes for many years and continue as Associate Sponsors.

The three-day event will begin with a ceremonial start in Killarney’s town centre at 7pm on Friday 4th May. Plans are at an advanced stage to create a motorsport festival on the streets of Ireland’s most famous town.

The real action will commence early on Saturday morning with the iconic Molls Gap, followed by the Tim Healy Pass and centralised service in Castletownbere Pier. Then it’s time to head out on the famous stages of Cods Head and Ardgroom with a repeat run over the Healy Pass and into service for a well deserved break. Cods Head and Ardgroom are repeated and a blast through the Kilmakilloge harbour stage to finish off the day.

Sunday Morning starts with Molls Gap once again, followed by the mountainous Beallaghbeama Pass, Then into service at Liebherr Container cranes Killarney. This Loop is of Molls Gap and Beallaghbeama Pass is repeated with the inclusion of a new version of the fast flowing Shanera stage called Brook Hill. It’s into service once again before heading out to the Spectator friendly loop of Rossanean, Brook Hill and Rossanean again as the final stage. The crews will arrive back to the finishing ramp at the Rally Head Quarters – The Gleneagle Hotel at 17.30 for Celebrations and Champagne. The strength of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes 2018 is evident with entries only open a few hours, over 70 crews have entered and the stage is already set for battle royal in all classes and categories.

Heading the international Entry list is last year’s winner, Sam Moffett who is likely to start the event in the top slot. Local Co-driver Noel O’Sullivan takes up the hot seat alongside Sam for his first time and will be hopeful for his first overall win. Behind him comes a host of WRC machinery with two times Lakes winner Donagh Kelly, along with Roy White & Declan Boyle who have led this event in the past. Donegal man Manus Kelly has shown interest in this year’s event, he will be a great addition to the line up. Irish Tarmac Championship leader Josh Moffett arrives in Killarney on top form with recent back to back wins on both the West Cork and Easter stages Rallies. Other Top R5 competitors include Robert Barrable who was second overall last year, 5 times Irish Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly in his Hyundai I20 R5, Stephen Wright & Jonny Greer both in their Ford Fiesta’s along with Desi Henry in his new Skoda Fabia R5. Top Local crew Daniel Cronin/ Shane Buckley have had a great start to their Irish Tarmac Championship campaign, recently acquired the ultimate Ford Fiesta from M-Sport, he will be anxious to make his mark on the home event. While also including Killarney regulars Joe Connolly, Keith Lyons amongst the R5 cars.

In the National Rally all the big Escort brigade come out to play but perhaps the person who will cause them most bother is from Donegal, as last year’s Modified winner Kevin Eves returns in his Toyota Corolla 2.5, he has put in such an incredible drive & category win on both the West Cork Rally & Easter Stages rallies to lead the championship heading for Killarney. Local man Rob Duggan is fresh from a win in the Killarney Historic Rally in December, he has hired an ultimate 2.5 Escort and will be hard to beat over the classic stages. Barry Meade is a previous Modified winner and will be incredibly quick also. Past winner Wesley Patterson will also be a strong contender, as will the legendary Phil Collins who makes the trip from Herefordshire to the stages he loves so well and where he has enjoyed considerable success over the past 32 years. Other top entries include: Vincent McSweeney, Jack Newman, Gary Kiernan, Liam Howlett, John O’Donnell, Enda O’Brien, Eugene Megan.

The battle for the John Mullane Cup for the highest placed driver from Co Kerry will be as closely contested as it has been since the award was first introduced in the very early days of the Rally of the Lakes. Top crews include: Charlie Hickey, Kevin O’Donoghue, Denis Hickey, Tadgh O’Sullivan, Fergus O’Meara, John Hickey, Ed Murphy, Con Lucey, Noel O’Sullivan and Vincent O’Shea. A strong Historic & Junior Entry has already been received. The Historic’s will contest the whole event, while the juniors will contest the rally on Saturday.

The May bank holiday weekend is near and the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes is the place to be.

The post PRESS RELEASE – Cartell.ie Rally of The Lakes appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

In a nutshell, what are you going to be talking about at Electronomous 2018?

I look forward to introducing participants to some exciting work that the ITF has done, on shared mobility solutions for instance. Our modelling for cities like Lisbon, Helsinki or Auckland has demonstrated that if private vehicles were to be replaced by fleets of shared vehicle, only about 4% of cars would be needed to provide the same level of mobility as with private cars. This holds huge potential in terms of traffic congestion and also decarbonisation of transport, a topic on which we are also focussing at the ITF.

Can you tell us a little bit about your role and your involvement in the relevant space (Connected, ADAS, Transport, Autonomous or Electric Vehicles)?

The International Transport Forum at the OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 59 member countries. The ITF is the only global body that covers all transport modes. Our role is that of a think tank for transport policy, to provides advice to our countries and their ministers. We are also increasingly working with the private sector. In 2013, we created the ITF Corporate Partnership Board that comprises companies from transport and related sectors to work with us to look at emerging issues in transport. Businesses are at the cutting edge of developments in a rapidly changing sector, and their insights are extremely valuable for policy makers when it comes to understanding trends from shared mobility, to drones to blockchain to data-driven transport policy.

Are there any other speakers you are looking forward to hearing?

Several in fact! But if I just have to pick one I would say that I look forward to meeting and listening to Clare Jones, COO of what3words. I think this is an interesting company, and an application like this can be used very broadly across transport and other sectors. In fact, it is a good example of how innovation can be used to leapfrog in developing countries to going from having no address, to a quite sophisticated locationing and address system. Clare will also speak at ITF’s Annual Summit in Leipzig in May 23-25 May.

In your experience, what is the number one challenge currently being faced within the ITF in this new era of transport development?

Transport is facing a great transformation. Our challenge at ITF is to support our member countries in addressing new challenges that are an order of magnitude above what we have seen in the past, and  that are happening very fast. Policy makers need to have as much visibility as possible of what is coming in order to take decisions which will shape transport for decades to come.

How important is technology in paving the way towards a new era of personal mobility?

Technological innovation will change mobility in dramatic ways, by itself but also by enabling new business models. What we are seeing now with app-based ride services for instance is just the beginning.

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In a nutshell, what are you going to be talking about at Electronomous 2018?

Our presentation will discuss the future or transportation. New mobility services such as ridesharing and carsharing are poised to be the fastest growing market segment in the transportation industry. Add to that autonomous cars and the cost of offering a ride drops dramatically. This is the inflection point when mobility-as-a-service emerges as the preference over vehicle ownership. Our presentation addresses why and how companies in the automotive industry need to reinvent themselves as mobility operators today to best prepare for the autonomous future. The path from the driven, traditional vehicle ownership model to self-driven, shared model is not a linear path as many predict. We will delve into the economics of vehicle ownership vs using vehicles as a service. Through our expertise from powering carsharing, ridesharing, and autonomous services, we will share our insights on how the future will change, the challenges for mobility operators and how they can best prepare to be successful in the ridehailing autonomous future of tomorrow.

Can you tell us a little bit about your role and your involvement in the relevant space (Connected, ADAS, Autonomous or Electric Vehicles)?

Ridecell provides an intelligent software platform that empowers companies associated with automotive industry to become successful mobility operators—including OEMs, car rental companies, auto clubs, transit agencies, dealer groups, private fleet owners, and even cities. Our platform enables these organizations to launch and expand their own ridesharing, carsharing, and autonomous fleet services. Our platform is a production-ready solution that allows our customers to launch profitable new mobility services and prepare for the oncoming on-demand mobility revolution. With a team of more than 100 professionals in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia, we’ve already processed over 20 million rides and rentals for new mobility offerings, including ReachNow, a mobility service from the BMW Group, OMNI by Volkswagen, ZITY by Groupe Renault and Ferrovial, and GIG Carsharing service by AAA.

I am General Manager of Ridecell for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region and lead the development of all partnerships for autonomous and new mobility services, including carsharing and ridesharing.

Ridecell is the only platform that powers both carsharing and ridesharing—and now, autonomous ridehailing. Ridecell new mobility customers are able start with one service, knowing they can easily expand the types of business offerings as their mobility service grows and the market evolves. With multiple mobility services, all using one fleet of vehicles, service providers are seeing significantly higher utilization rates (and profits) than with a standalone carsharing service where utilization rates are highest during the day and lower in the evenings.

Any other speakers you are looking forward to hearing?

PIM VAN DER JAGT

Managing Director of the Ford Research Center Aachen, Executive Technical Leader Global Vehicle Dynamics

GARETH DUNSMORE

Electric Vehicle Director, Nissan Europe

MARCUS ROTHOFF

Autonomous Driving Program Director – VOLVO Cars

SIMON MORLEY

Lead Project Manager for Move_UK for Bosch

1 other speaker whose presentation you intend to catch – why?

Ridecell recently announced the launch of their autonomous operations platform designed to automate vehicle and operations management for autonomous fleets. Our platform gives autonomous vehicle fleets the intelligence to manage their own operational tasks, in both routine and emergency situations. And so, I am hoping to catch the autonomous presentations and hear about the progress and challenges that these operators might have as its directly linked to our business.

In your experience, what is the number one challenge currently being faced with developing your area of technology?

 The mobility as a service industry is still a relatively nascent industry that is evolving and growing. The number one challenge is ensuring that the current ecosystems associated with driven vehicles all evolve and collaborate to accelerate the adoption of new mobility services to make safer, more efficient autonomous transportation possible and strategically beneficial to all involved.

How important is technology in paving the way towards a new era of personal mobility?

Technology is already transforming the way commute today. The convenience of the app and the on-demand economy has given rise to an era of new mobility services such as ridesharing and carsharing that are impacting people’s transportation choices. For example, urban area dwellers—especially Millennials—are choosing to skip the car-owning experience altogether. In fact, on-demand mobility services are poised to be the fastest growing market segment in the transportation industry. And when you add autonomous vehicles to that mix, the cost structure of on-demand mobility services changes dramatically as the cost of the driver is removed from the equation – on-demand mobility becomes significantly less expensive than owning a car. Personal car ownership will begin to decrease with people choosing to pay for their transportation as they consume it. The future of mobility will be shared, on-demand and autonomous. And these changes will be driven by technological and social trends that will collectively transform how people and goods will move about in the future.

Have you been to Kerry/Ireland before, and what are you expecting?

I haven’t been to Kerry before. I am hoping to learn more about the place, the culture and its people. Also, from a business standpoint, I am looking forward to meeting with experts in the areas of connected car technology, electric vehicles and autonomous

About the speaker:

Armin Fendrich – General Manager Ridecell EMEA

Armin Fendrich is General Manager of Ridecell EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa). Based in Munich, Germany, Fendrich leads the development of partnerships in the region for autonomous and new mobility services, including carsharing and ridesharing.

Fendrich has a strong record of accomplishment for growing revenue in automotive and service companies including Nokia and most recently Panasonic/Aupeo, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer and Managing Director. He formerly held the position of Vice President of Sales Automotive

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Fast-forward 4 years and Cartell data continues to show the most popular day to buy a used car in Ireland remains as Tuesday.

Looking further into this, Cartell found similarities in dates as well with the first Tuesday in February topping the list in multiple years.

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