Over recent years, there’s been a shift in the focus of importing used cars into Ireland – with consumers’ preferred route no longer being to bring in vehicles just from the UK, but to instead look much further east to Japan.

Data published by Cartell.ie last year showed that buyers are increasingly turning to Japanese imports in a post-Brexit era, with UK imports dwindling significantly in the same period.

There are now notable cost benefits associated with bringing in a used car from Japan instead of the UK, as well as reliability benefits too – but there are also some potential drawbacks, specifically with tracing the history of these Japanese models.

However, now that Cartell.ie provides the first vehicle history reports service for Japanese import vehicles, there is more clarity in the process for Irish used-car buyers that should only see the popularity of importing vehicles from the Asian country increase.

Here, we look at the recent trend towards Japanese imports, the pros and cons of such vehicles, and which are some of the most popular models coming to these shores.

Why imports from Japan?

Principally, it’s one of the few countries in the world with left-hand traffic like ours, which in turn means cars where the driver sits on the right-hand side of the vehicle.

More than double the countries in the world (165) use right-hand traffic and left-hand drive, including all of Europe barring the UK (and its dependencies, like the Channel Islands), Malta and Cyprus, compared to the 75 which are set up like Ireland.

Of these left-hand traffic markets, Japan is easily the most important from an automotive perspective, given the number of manufacturers which herald from there and how important its car market is viewed in the global framework.

What are the numbers involved?

In the past decade, data from Cartell.ie shows Japanese imports have increased nearly tenfold, from 2,321 units in 2014 to 21,716 units in 2023.

In contrast, UK imports have significantly declined, from 44,939 in 2014 to just 14,904 in 2023.

Primarily, this is to do with the UK’s departure from the EU. UK imports to Ireland peaked in 2019 but then started the rapid decline the following year, due to the import costs and conditions (including increased paperwork and restrictions) of bringing a car from the UK changing for the worse in the wake of Brexit.

By 2024, figures showed there were double the number of Japanese imports as opposed to UK  imports coming to Ireland.

What are the pros and cons of Japanese imports?

Japan, despite a climate that includes the risk of plenty of snow and ice in various regions of the country, does not tend to salt its roads to anywhere near such a widespread degree as the UK does in cold weather – the Asian country instead relying on other, more innovative methods to combat frozen roads.

As a result, this means cars which have spent all their life in Japan are far more likely to be rust-free – especially in hidden areas, like underneath the vehicle and in the chassis structure – than cars from the UK, where the salt content can badly corrode steel.

Japan also has different rates of depreciation on used cars, which can mean better-quality vehicles are available at lower prices than they might be in equivalent specification in the UK.

Furthermore, Japanese owners are traditionally seen as more fastidious, so their vehicles are considered more reliable and well-maintained.

Another potential benefit with the Japanese market cars is that they tend to have higher specifications with more advanced technology, as well as better fuel efficiency ratings too (hybrids are very popular in Japan).

However, traditionally the main issue with a Japanese import was to do with ‘buying it blind’. This is because it was often hard to trace the history of a vehicle that had been driven in Japan, so it wasn’t always known if the car had been properly serviced according to the manufacturer’s criteria, nor if it had been previously crash-damaged and then repaired, or even stolen.

A survey of Japan’s fleet of used vehicles – no fewer than a staggering 130 million vehicles – showed that 600,000 of them had been damaged in accidents, 21,000 were reported as stolen, around 30 per cent (39 million) had reported mileage discrepancies (i.e., their odometers were showing fewer total kilometres travelled than the true figure), and bizarrely, fully 1,400 of them failed a radioactive contamination test.

One continuing drawback of Japanese-market vehicles, either from manufacturers based there or cars from European manufacturers sent as exports to the country, is that they can use unusual parts that might not be available through European dealers and garages. This is particularly prevalent on Japan-made vehicles that were never exported from their home country, such as unusual people carriers, SUVs and hybrids from the likes of Toyota, Honda, Nissan and so on.

The Car VX Report from Cartell.ie

Thankfully, a lot of the risks listed above can now be mitigated by Irish consumers looking to import a Japanese vehicle, thanks to the Car VX Report.

For just €25.50 (depending on exchange rates – whatever the euro is worth compared to ¥3,500 Japanese yen), Car VX Limited has access to data from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) which includes comprehensive vehicle history reports for second-hand cars in the country.

This not only covers whether the car has ever suffered a form of accident damage (including floods, fires and other natural disasters) or whether its mileage is accurate, but also whether it has ever been recalled, stolen, used as a service vehicle (police, taxi etc), or presents a risk of radioactive contamination.

The most popular models to import

While it might seem obvious to assume that the most popular cars to import from Japan are vehicles from its own domestic manufacturers that were never sold overseas, in actual fact the strongest trade is in European models heading back this way from Asia.

Used Volkswagens from Japan are the most popular make for imports to Ireland, with particular emphasis on the Polo supermini and Golf hatchback. Related to the latter, the Audi A3 is also one of the most-imported vehicles from Japan to Ireland, while other premium German and Swedish marques (BMW, Mercedes, Volvo) feature highly.

Having said that, Japanese brands such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan are increasing in popularity. If the cars coming from Japan are from Japanese manufacturers, typically they’re between six and ten years old, with the majority of them in 2024 having petrol engines. The remainder are typically petrol-electric hybrids, a popular type of vehicle in Japan in general.

The post Japanese Imports: Trends, Benefits and Buyer Beware appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Get ready to feel the wind in your hair! Irish drivers are increasingly opting for open-air motoring, with convertible sales consistently surging each summer. Cartell.ie, Ireland’s leading and most trusted source for comprehensive vehicle history checks, has analyzed this exciting trend, supported by recent data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

Our latest findings show a clear and consistent spike in convertible registrations over the past decade during the warmer months. This isn’t just a fleeting fancy – it’s a recurring trend reflecting a growing desire among Irish motorists to make the most of those sunny days.

Summer is Convertible Season!

The data speaks for itself: nearly 20% of all convertible sales over the last ten years happened in July alone! This strong seasonal preference is a stark contrast to the colder months, with a mere 0.45% of convertibles finding new homes in December. It’s clear that when the sun shines, Irish drivers want their convertibles.

Where are Ireland’s Convertible Capitals?

SIMI data also reveals which counties are leading the charge in open-air motoring. In 2024, Dublin took the top spot, accounting for a staggering 70.65% of all convertible registrations. While the capital certainly loves its drop-tops, the passion extends beyond, with Cork following at 7.61% and Meath at 4.35%. So, whether you’re cruising through the city or taking in the scenic routes, the love for convertibles is undeniable across the country.

Top Convertibles on Irish Roads

Cartell.ie’s extensive database also reveals the most popular convertibles gracing Irish roads:

1. Mazda MX-5: Taking the top spot with just over 1,000 units.
2. Mini Convertible
3. Mercedes-Benz SLK Series

A Shift in Driving Culture

Wesley Littleford, Commercial Operations Manager at Cartell.ie, commented on these findings:

“This trend highlights a real shift in Irish driving culture. We’re seeing motorists invest in vehicles that reflect lifestyle and experience, not just practicality. The data shows that, year after year, Irish drivers are increasingly willing to embrace the convertible as a seasonal choice. It’s a strong signal that, even in an unpredictable climate, there’s a growing appetite for fun, freedom, and driving enjoyment.”

Looking to buy your own slice of summer motoring freedom? Make sure you get a Cartell.ie car history check to ensure you’re making a smart, informed purchase.

The post Convertible Sales on the up appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

For nearly 19 years, Cartell.ie has been at the forefront of vehicle history reporting, equipping consumers with essential data to make informed decisions. The company has long advocated for enhanced data sharing across the industry to protect buyers from purchasing unsafe or previously damaged vehicles.

“The CCPC’s findings reaffirm the importance of transparency in the used car market,” said Ger Toher, Chief Operating Officer at Cartell.ie. “We have always championed consumers’ right to clear, accurate, and comprehensive vehicle history information. Greater access to critical data, especially write-off records, will help ensure buyers are protected from hidden risks. Our commitment remains to provide the most reliable vehicle history insights, empowering motorists to purchase with confidence and trust.”

As Ireland’s first and original vehicle history check provider, Cartell.ie’s reports include a wealth of information, such as:

• Write-off history – Including damage severity and category classification where available.
• Outstanding finance – Ensuring the vehicle is free from financial encumbrance.
• Previous mileage readings – Detecting odometer fraud.
• Ownership history – Checking the number of previous owners.
• Imports and previous country of registration – Highlighting cross-border risks.
• Taxi or fleet use – Flagging vehicles that may have high mileage or wear.
• CO₂ emissions and road tax information – Helping buyers understand running costs.
• NCT history verification – Confirming past NCT test dates and certificate legitimacy. While specific test results or pass/fail status are not disclosed, this verification provides added confidence for buyers. For UK vehicles and imports, full MOT history, including test results, is available.
• Insurance claims and stolen vehicle records – Offering insights into past insurance claims and theft status where available. While stolen vehicle checks apply to UK reports, the depth of claim history depends on insurer submissions.

In addition to its consumer-focused services, Cartell.ie offers trade sellers on its sister platforms, Carzone.ie and CarsIreland.ie, a free vehicle history check for each ad placed ensuring this data is available to buyers. Buyers can also filter search results to display only vehicles with a history check, ensuring maximum transparency throughout the purchasing process.

Cartell.ie believes a collaborative approach, combining industry expertise with government oversight, is key to improving data accessibility. The company continues to advocate for broader access to vital vehicle history data, particularly category C and D write-off records, to support safer, more informed car purchases.

Cartell.ie looks forward to further engaging with the CCPC, the Department of Transport, and other stakeholders to drive meaningful improvements in data transparency within the used car market.

The post Cartell.ie Supports CCPC’s Call for Greater Transparency in the Used Car Market appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

This years event will be the 17th Ted’s Opel Vauxhall Run, and will take place on Saturday August 10th 2024.

Based at The Mills Inn, Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, the Scenic route will pass through some of the Lee Valley’s beautiful scenery along with some historic motorsport sections and former rally stages. It takes in Ballyvourney, Farnanes, Coachford, Dripsey Model village, Berrings, Donoghmore, Rylane, Millstreet and returning to the Mills Inn for a BBQ and prizegiving. 

Registration takes place on Saturday morning from 9am with a €20 fee per car. Each driver will receive a starter pack containing a special run Mug and Keyring and other goodies. The first Award of the day will be presented at 10am and the cars will depart at 10.30am. 

The event will raise money in association with the Dogs For the Disabled, a very worthwhile Charity, for dogs that make a unmeasurable difference for people in need.

This years event sponsors will be Opel Ireland, Cartell.ie. and Casey Caravan Services.

You can get down to support by giving a wave even if you don’t have a vehicle. Or follow the event on Facebook, Ted’s Opel Vauxhall Run 2024 .

The post Cartell Sponsors Ted’s Opel Vauxhall Run 2024 appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Now, a history check won’t verify the condition of the car as it is today — you still need to do that yourself with a thorough inspection and a test drive — but it will tell you things that can be even more significant. After all, a component that breaks can be fixed, but if a car still has outstanding finance owed on it, that’s a whole other ballgame.

Essentially, a history check digitally delves back into the history of a car and verifies — or sometimes denies — anything that’s been told you by the seller. It goes back and checks for any history of insurance write-offs, of the car having been stolen and recovered, and will also check the identity of the car itself, to help in the fight against vehicle cloning.

Why is it so important now to get a history check?

Simply because the second-hand car market has seen the values of many cars massively inflated in the past few years, especially since the pandemic. Now, those values are starting to correct, and cars are becoming a little cheaper in many cases, but whenever there’s a change in the market there’s an opportunity for unscrupulous sellers to try and turn some extra profit.

The big issue right now is outstanding finance. With more cars being sold on the basis of a loan or a PCP deal, Cartell has estimated that two-year-old, second-hand cars have a 35 per cent chance of still having finance owing, while the rate for three-year-old cars is 32 per cent. That’s a one-in-three chance that any second-hand car at which you might look to buy is still, technically, the property of a finance provider, as ownership does not transfer until the final payment has been made.

In some cases, this may well not be an issue — a seller may be selling their car in order to pay off that debt, but in some cases, there are darker forces at work, and a less scrupulous person can sell you a car that they don’t technically own. Once they stop making their repayments, the finance company will come looking for that car, and it’s theirs to repossess — you will have no legal comeback and will be both out of pocket and without a car. So, it’s really important to know that before making the buying leap.

There are other significant issues, not least that of written-off cars

Cars can be potentially written off by insurers for relatively minor damage, and it’s certainly not unknown for such cars to be properly repaired, returned to road-worthiness and sold on. However, it’s hugely important that the seller tells you this, and prices the car accordingly — a written-off car, no matter how well repaired, will always be worth a little less than a pristine equivalent. So again, it’s important to be armed with knowledge, not least because you’ll want to inspect the quality of any repair work.

That becomes even more serious when you consider the higher categories of write-offs. Categories C and D, in Ireland, can be legally and safely repaired and resold. However, if a car has been so severely damaged that it is declared Category B, then it can only be broken down for parts, and then only the undamaged parts may be sold and reused. If a car is damaged to the point of being a Category A, then it’s a legal requirement that it is to be crushed, and not even used for spares.

This becomes a little more confusing when cars that come in from the UK are involved, as UK write-offs are filed under different categories. Thankfully, the most serious categories — A and B — are the same, but the UK uses Categories S and N as the equivalents of the Irish C and D.

It’s good to know this given that we are seeing an increasing number of used imports from the UK this year, with the number of cars crossing the Irish sea increasing by 32 per cent to the end of February, compared to the same time last year. That’s 10,270 extra used cars on Irish roads, and it’s been previously estimated that as many as ten per cent of those might be previously written-off, so once again it’s vital to keep your wits about you.

The simple version of all this advice? Get it checked; don’t regret it.

The post Why getting a car history check is more important than ever. appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Toyota, Ford, and Volkswagen dominate

One thing is abundantly clear from the figures: three brands are dominant in the Irish car market — Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen. As per Cartell.ie’s research, it’s actually two brands and two models that dominate.

In terms of manufacturers, it’s between Toyota and Volkswagen. Toyota is the most-registered brand in ten counties — Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, May, Offaly and Tipperary. Volkswagen, meanwhile, is top dog in the other 16, taking Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Meath, Roscommon, Monaghan, Sligo, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

It’s tempting to see an east-west divide between the two brands, with reliable and solid Toyota taking the more rural western half of the country, and Volkswagen the (arguably) more cosmopolitan east, but then with Volkswagen top in Sligo, and Toyota taking Cavan, that mostly puts that theory to bed.

Some will be surprised to learn that Ford does not take a top brand ranking in any county, but when it comes to individual models, it’s a different story. And in spite of Toyota’s impressive sales performance in Ireland in the past decade, the big-selling Corolla can only take a series of second places — in Clare, Cork, Kerry and Roscommon.

In all counties, the dominant pairing is the Volkswagen Golf and the Ford Focus, and it’s honours-even between these two titans, which take 13 counties each. The Golf is the most-registered car in Carlow, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Sligo, Westmeath and Wicklow. The Focus takes top spot in Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Mayo, Roscommon, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford.

Considering that the Ford Focus has not been a best-selling car in the new car market for some time now, it’s testament to both how well the Focus sold in the years prior, and to the fact that Irish car buyers tend to keep cars for longer and longer these days. Indeed, drill down into the lists of most-registered models and you’ll find that many out-of-production cars are still rolling around, such as the 662 examples of the Toyota Auris still registered in Cavan, with another 6,200 of those in Cork. There are also 1,089 Toyota Avensis still registered in Kilkenny, and another 869 in Laois.

SUVs and crossovers not dominant yet

For all that SUVs and crossovers currently dominate the new-car sales lists, the fact that those new sales have been relatively low since the mid-2000s, and the fact of buyers holding onto cars for longer means that only two have really put down a mark on Irish roads. Unsurprisingly, these are the Nissan Qashqai and the Hyundai Tucson.

In new car terms, both have been sales giants in the past decade, and while they don’t dominate the overall registrations to the same extent, they are starting to creep up the rankings. The Qashqai, for example, is the fifth-most registered car in Cavan, Clare, Dublin, Kerry, Limerick, Meath, Waterford and Wicklow, while it takes third place in Louth and Wexford. The Hyundai Tucson tends to be down in the lower half of each county’s league tables, but given its stellar sales performance since 2016, that surely cannot last.

County tastes

Clearly, given that the best-selling cars nationally will reappear locally, the top tens in each county are broadly predictable. The Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla tend to dominate the top three, while the rest of the top ten is generally taken up by the Volkswagen Passat, the Nissan Qashqai, the Skoda Octavia, the Ford Fiesta and the Toyota Yaris.

However, that does leave some space for individual tastes to shine through in each county. In Donegal, for example, it’s clear that many are shopping cross-border for their cars, as Vauxhall is the ninth-most registered brand. Meanwhile, the rise and rise of the premium car marques has left its fingerprints on Ireland’s registration stats — the Audi A4 breaks into the top ten in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford. Meanwhile, the BMW 520 gets top-ten placings in Dublin and Kildare, perhaps unsurprisingly so.

Where luxury brands are concerned, it’s probably equally unsurprising that Dublin rules — there’s clearly money about as BMW, Audi and Mercedes occupy sixth, seventh and eighth places in the brands list.

There are other little regional variations, too. The Opel Astra, once a huge-seller in Ireland but a car whose sales tailed off in recent years, still takes seventh spot in Leitrim, tenth spot in Donegal, Sligo and Waterford, and ninth in Roscommon. The Volkswagen Polo is popular in Dublin and Louth, taking seventh and eighth spots in the registration charts, respectively, while Monaghan seems to be an outlier — the Opel Insignia is the tenth-most registered car there, yet it does not appear in the top ten anywhere else, while the SEAT Leon is the sixth-most registered, and again does not appear in any other county’s top ten.

Peugeot and Renault also do well overall, breaking into the top ten brands in many counties, but without managing to get a single model from either brand into the top ten most registered individual models in any county.

Long turnover times

What these lists of registrations most clearly show, however, is the length of time it takes to make a major impression on the national car park. The Hyundai Tucson, for example, has generally been the best-selling new car in Ireland for eight years now, but it’s — as noted — always in the lower half of county top tens for total registrations. There are no electric models on the list as yet, either, and the Qashqai and Tucson are the only SUVs that break into any county’s top ten. So for all the fuss and furore over both SUVs and electric cars, they still make up only a very small proportion of the cars most of us drive in most parts of Ireland. That will change, of course, but these numbers show it will take time.

The post Which cars are more common on each of our county’s roads? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

This is a complex issue, but it’s an increasingly prevalent one. According to history checking service Cartell.ie, the number of cars being offered for sale with outstanding finance remaining is on the rise. If a car on sale is two years old, according to Cartell’s figures, it has a 35 per cent chance of still having money owed on it. For three-year-old cars, the rate is still 32 per cent. 

The chance of a car having outstanding finance on it then tails off — at four years old it falls to 20 per cent, which is obviously less but it still means that one in five cars on sale at that age are still subject to a finance agreement. When you consider how many cars you might look at in the course of shopping for a second-hand car, it becomes pretty obvious just how significant an issue it is. 

But why is it an issue? Well, simply put, a seller is not supposed to sell you a car with outstanding finance owed. Whether it’s a PCP deal, or Hire Purchase, until the final payment has been made, the car is not legally the property of the person using it, and therefore they have no right to sell it. In fact, the only time it’s legal to sell on a car for which you still owe money is if that finance was in the form of an unsecured personal loan from a bank or credit union — in that instance the person selling the car does own it, and the car isn’t specifically legally tied to the outstanding amount.

In all other cases, though, technically the real owner of the car is the finance company providing the loan (which is really what a PCP or HP deal is) for the car’s purchase, and if you’ve bought that car — and the previous owner doesn’t clear the amount owing — then that finance company can come looking for the car and can seize it.

At that point, you essentially have no legal comeback — the car was and still is the property of the finance company, and therefore whether you have a receipt or invoice for the purchase, technically the sale was illegal and invalid, and therefore the finance company is simply taking back what’s rightfully theirs. Your money, the cash you spent on the car, is then forfeit — you’ve no legal right to the car, so no-one else is liable for the money you spent on it. It’s the ultimate, and most painful, form of caveat emptor — buyer beware. 

What can you do if this happens? Well, you can appeal to the finance company in the first instance. If you can show that you bought the car in good faith, then they may act with some leniency. Equally, if you can track down the person who sold you the car, you should demand your money back from them — preferably via your solicitor rather than getting into any personal confrontation — as they never had the legal right to sell the car in the first place. If neither of those appeals work, then it’s time to lawyer-up and get ready to bring the person who sold you the car, whether they’re a private individual or a dealer, to court.

Obviously, that’s a hugely stressful process and it’s better not to find yourself in that situation in the first place. It’s definitely a good idea to use a history checking service, such as Cartell’s, to look into the background of any car you want to buy before you actually write the cheque. Those history checking services will usually uncover whether a specific car is still the subject of a finance agreement. 

Clearly, there are some people selling cars who, for whatever reason, are doing so to raise the funds to honestly and diligently clear the outstanding amount, but even if that is the case they are in a very legally grey area where they are technically selling a car that does not belong to them yet. If they are honest, upstanding people and immediately clear off their debt once they’ve sold the car to you, then all is well but it’s far better not to get yourself into that kind of setup in the first place, as you are ultimately then relying on the good will of others when a substantial amount of money is at stake. 

Make sure you carry out a Car History Check on every used car you are thinking of buying to see if it has outstanding finance. Simply enter the registration number below to get started!

The post What happens if you buy a car with outstanding finance? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

In the case of four-year-old vehicles checked in 2021 there was a 20% chance of a vehicle from that year being offered for sale with finance outstanding based on checks on Cartell.ie in the year gone by, but, like other key years the four-year- old-car level of finance has increased – to 21% this year.

Older vehicles are also showing relatively high levels of finance: a six-year-old vehicle, for example, shows 16% with outstanding finance in 2022 whereas the comparable figure last year, in 2021, was lower – 15%.

Ross Conlon, CEO CarsIreland.ie and Group Director New Business at Mediahuis Ireland, says: “We are witnessing a market correction: the overall percentages of vehicles offered for sale with finance outstanding in key registration years has risen again since the declines recorded in 2020. Buyers should we aware that there is now a one-in-three chance that a vehicle three-years-old or less is for sale with outstanding finance.”

“Buyers are strongly advised to be cautious in the market as you cannot take good title in the asset until the final payment has been paid to the financial institution. This means you may be buying a huge problem.”

The reasons for the increase seen between 2021 and 2022 is likely due to increased market activity, opening up of markets since the pandemic shut down.

The post Number of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance on the Rise appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Taking a sample size of 5,000 vehicles Cartell looked at the retail price of each vehicle, assuming average mileage, in November 2020, and used this as a control to test the value of each of the same vehicles in 2021 and in 2022 by running all three years through the Cartell Price Guide (CPG) a vehicle valuation service available to users of its service.

Among the results was a 161 Volkswagen Passat diesel, which was worth €14,900 in 2020 and is now worth €19,500 and a 181 Renault Captur worth €16,950 in 2021 which is now worth €18,400.

The results show that, on average, the year-over-year increase stands at 7.78 per cent. This is a decline on the rate of increase between the years 2020 and 2021 which stood at 15.2%. It should be noted this is the price difference between the various vehicles today compared with the same price for each respective vehicle in the previous two years. Cartell used actual vehicles which, although they were one year older, or, two years older, actually appreciated over their equivalent 2020 value.

Ross Conlon, CEO CarsIreland.ie and Group Director New Business at Mediahuis Ireland says:

“These results show that vehicle values in the used market have continued to push upwards since we last published results in 2021. While the rate of increase has declined it is still a significant event that values have risen – cars are considered a depreciating asset after all. While microchip shortages appear to be levelling out there are still issues around availability of new vehicles and this is consequently pushing values up in the residual market. We expect to see the rate of increase decline further over the next 12 months.”

The post Average Car Worth 8% More Now Than Last Year appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Hyundai Electric Cars Most Popular

Cartell.ie looked at the numbers of EVs sold by manufacturer in the year to date and the results show Hyundai has outsold its rivals, with Kia in second position and Volkswagen (the leader in our equivalent analysis last year) now in third. Tesla, the premium brand, has sold 800 vehicles during the period under review, leaving them in fifth overall.

Table 1 Numbers of EVs sold by manufacturer Jan to April* 2022 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

*April figure is for an incomplete month

Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV model making a big impression

The top selling EV model is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 , making a huge impression with buyers. Cartell.ie looked at the total number of EVs sold by model in the year to date and found the top best-selling model so far this year is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 followed by the Nissan Leaf and VW ID 4. The Tesla Model 3 is currently in 4^th position.

It is worth bearing in mind though that supply issues may be having an effect on manufacturer market share and the related number of electric cars sold in Ireland. Consumers can only purchase what electric cars are available to them at a specific moment in time and some manufacturers may be impacted more by global supply chain issues than others.

Table 2 Numbers of EVs sold by model Jan to April* 2022 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

*April figure is for an incomplete month

EVs Change of ownership

Cartell.ie also report that compared with their petrol and diesel counterparts, owners of EVs tend to hold onto their vehicle longer. Cartell looked at all private cars in the fleet, all fuel types, to consider ownership changes. The company found that 75 per cent of EVs registered are still on their first owner – this contrasts with a figure of 29 per cent for the private fleet as a whole.

Overall numbers of EVs

Finally Cartell.ie looked at the overall number of EVs sold in Ireland between January and March each year for the last 4 years. In 2022, 7078 EVs were sold in the period under consideration: more than treble the equivalent figure for last year over the same period.

Table 3 Overall Numbers of EVs sold in Ireland Jan to March 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

John Byrne, Cartell says:

“EV sales are definitely taking off: we have seen a trebling of new electric car sales in Ireland so far in 2022 over last year’s numbers. In terms of models the Ioniq 5 is proving the most popular with consumers so far this year. Hyundai lead the way with Kia close behind. Volkswagen, which was on top when we ran the equivalent analysis last year, are still close to the summit with over 1,000 EV sales in 2022. Tesla has sold 800 EVs in the period under consideration with the Model 3 proving their most popular model constituting 592 of those new car sales.”

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. 

CarsIreland.ie in an online classified marketplace for the motor industry in Ireland. The site is a must for users looking to purchase a new or used car with more motor dealers than any other platform. It specialises in providing top class websites and infrastructure to facilitate seamless online shopping and selling with a focus on excellent customer service to both consumers and traders.

The post Hyundai Lead The Market In Sales of Electric Cars in Ireland appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

However the fact remains that Ireland has still not yet regulated for written-off vehicles. As far back as July 2016 it was reported in the media that the then Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, brought legislation to cabinet which would compel insurers to notify his Department of Category A and Category B write-offs.

John Byrne Legal & Public Relations Manager with Cartell.ie said at the time:

It’s welcoming to see how seriously the ABI are taking the issue of write-offs which are deemed repairable and can return to the roads in the UK: they are moving the focus away from the Pre-Accident Value of the vehicle and looking instead at the damage caused: whether its structural or non-structural. In Ireland there are currently moves to regulate for the more serious write-off categories, Category A and Category B, which can never return to the roads, but we should be looking at these UK moves. Always do a car history check when importing a used car.”

The 2022 Prime Time programme confirmed that Cartell’s data managed to identify the three vehicles with a UK write-off history highlighted in the broadcast and that our report would have flagged the problem. Therefore worried motorists are advised to take out a full car history check should they be concerned about this issue as a first step in mitigating the risk associated with imports of potentially defective vehicles.

In May 2016, in the wake of a previous RTE Prime Time investigates programme, Cartell.ie released figures which showed that 10.75% of all UK imports into Ireland in a 6-month period in 2015 had been written-off in the UK prior to import and taxation of the vehicle in Ireland. Of those 1,545 vehicles (59.42%) had been categorised as Cat D in the UK and 980 as Category C (37.69%).

At present a voluntary system of notification is in place but for years Cartell.ie has called for regulation which will place the procedure on a statutory footing.

Cartell set up the Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) which records written-off vehicles. You can check MIAFTR via a Cartell Car Check.

The current ABI system divides insurance write-offs essentially into 4 categories:

Category A: Scrap only – The vehicle has not been repaired following extreme damage. It was deemed too damaged to be repairable with little or no salvageable parts.

Category B: The bodyshell should have been crushed.  The vehicle has not been repaired following significant damage. It was deemed too damaged to be repairable however did have salvageable parts.

Category C: This vehicle was repairable, but the repair costs exceeded the Pre-Accident Value (PAV) of the vehicle. The insurer chose not to repair for economic reasons.

Category D: This vehicle was repairable, but while the repair costs were significant compared to the PAV of the vehicle the costs did not exceed the PAV. The insurer chose not to repair for economic reasons.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage (COP) was introduced in March 2007 as a voluntary code to assess whether a damaged car can be repaired or salvaged for parts, or whether it should be destroyed.

In 2015 an extensive review of the COP was initiated involving multiple stakeholders including insurers, vehicle manufacturers, affected government departments and agencies, the Police, the vehicle leasing industry and the salvage industry.

The new Code of Practice for the Categorisation of Motor Vehicle Salvage came into being on 1^st October 2017.

Cartell would like to see similar regulation come info force in Ireland and we will continue to draw attention to this issue until the necessary legal protections for Irish motorists are put in place.

Importing A Used Car? Write-Off Category Changes Explained

Vehicle History experts Cartell.ie reported that as of Wednesday 21^st June 2017 the Association of British Insurers (ABI) in the UK are no longer using Category C and Category D vehicle write-off categories in their new Voluntary Code of Practice (COP) for the industry.

Following a long review the new system will retain the same Category A and Category B categorisations. However Category C and Category D designations will no longer be used. The new system will focus on first establishing the level of damage to a vehicle from a technical perspective, before making any commercial decision relating to the Pre-Accident Value (PAV) of the vehicle. This has huge consequences for an Irish buyer as the level of damage sustained will now be more evident. The new categorisation system will be as follows:

Category A Scrap– This vehicle is deemed not suitable to be repaired. Must be crushed without any parts being removed.

Category B Break – The vehicle is deemed not suitable to be repaired. Usable parts can be recycled.

Category S: Structural Repairable – Repairable vehicle which has sustained damage to any part of the structural frame or chassis and the insurer/ self-insured owner has decided not to repair the vehicle.

Category N: Non-Structural Repairable – Repairable vehicle which has not sustained damage to the structural frame or chassis and the insurer/ self-insured owner has decided not to repair the vehicle.

These changes have been made to standardise the codes by the level of damage sustained rather than by repair cost. Structural damage is described as repairable damage to the vehicle that affects the main welded or otherwise permanently assembled vehicle body.

Further, from October 2019, salvaged vehicles can only be categorised by an Appropriately Qualified Person (AQP).

The post UK Write-Offs on Irish Roads – What Write-off categories are affected? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

1) Volkswagen Golf

Fast approaching its 50^th year of production, the Volkswagen Golf has been a firm favourite on Irish roads ever since it took over from the iconic Beetle as the ‘people’s car’ of choice. With a wide choice of body types, fuel types, and eight different generations to choose from, there’s a Volkswagen Golf out there for everyone. Available as a three or five door version over the years, as well as an estate and even a convertible, the Golf can suit all sorts of lifestyles. The choice of powertrains is equally impressive with a huge range of reliable petrol and diesel engines including the iconic GTI and GTD performance models. There’s also the more recent e-Golf and Plug-In Hybrid GTE for those looking for a more environmentally friendly option. You can search for a Volkswagen Golf here and watch a review of the Mk7 model here.

2) Ford Focus

Like the Volkswagen Golf, the Ford Focus is another versatile family hatchback that has become somewhat of an institution on Irish roads. Around since 1998, it’s now in its fourth generation and still one of the most stylish designs in its class. The striking good looks, spacious interior and solid reputation for reliability has ensured the Ford Focus remains a household name and one of the first to come to mind when searching for a good value family runabout. Available in several different body styles from the popular hatchback to the practical estate and more recently a sporty new saloon, there’s a Focus out there to suit most lifestyles and budgets. Whether you go for petrol, diesel, or the new mild hybrid model, the Focus is one of the most enjoyable hatchbacks to drive.  You can search for a Ford Focus here and watch a review of the newest model here.

3) BMW 5-Series

The BMW 5-Series is one of the most desirable vehicles on the road and so it’s no surprise that it’s is the third most searched used car on the Irish market. The luxury saloon has been around in various guises since the early seventies and has long been admired for its sporty yet executive image and vast selection of powerful engines. The superb chassis and rear wheel drive makes it a fun and engaging car to drive with all the comfort and luxurious features you would expect from the BMW badge. Now in its seventh generation, the older models have become collectors’ items, with the M5 performance models in particular demand. There’s a vast range of diesel and petrol options to choose from for the everyday driver too, as well as a greener new Plug-In hybrid model. You can find a 5-series here and watch a review of the most recent model here.

4) Nissan Qashqai

Often credited with igniting the SUV craze in Ireland, Nissan burst on to the scene with their high-riding hatchback back in 2006 and the market was suddenly changed forever. With a name that many struggled to get their tongues around, the Nissan Qashqai offered customers the looks and desirability of an SUV, without the high running costs. The sensible diesel and petrol engines on offer made it no more expensive to run than its low riding competitors at the time. People adored the higher ride height and extra space the Qashqai offered and it quickly became one of the most popular cars on Irish roads. Three generations (and many, many imitations) later, it remains the go-to family car for many with a rock solid reputation for reliability and fuss-free motoring. You can find a Qashqai here and watch a review of the Mk2 model here.

5) Hyundai Tucson

The success of the Hyundai Tucson in Ireland has been nothing short of remarkable. The original Hyundai Tucson enjoyed modest sales in the early noughties before being rebadged as the ix35. The nameplate returned on an all new SUV in 2016, knocking the Volkswagen Golf off the top spot to become the bestselling car in the country, a feat unheard of for a brand new model. The crossover craze was in full swing by now and the combination of the Tucson’s sharp good looks, spacious cabin and fuel efficient engines made it a seemingly irresistible package. It remains one of Ireland’s favourite cars, topping the sales charts almost every year since and is back with a new look and all new powertrains for 2022 including a hybrid and plug-in Hybrid option. You can find a Tucson here and watch a review of the most recent model here.

6) Audi A4

The Audi A4 is another firm favourite on Irish roads. As a country we love our executive saloons, and the Audi’s sleek silhouette alongside that famous ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ build quality ensures the A4 stays close to the top of many a wish list. Now in its fifth generation, the A4 also comes in a variety of styles including an ‘Avant’ estate version, a convertible ‘Cabrio’, and a powerful ‘Quattro’ all-wheel drive version. The high performance S4 and RS4 models are also in huge demand on the used market. Diesel has traditionally been the most popular powertrain in the A4 but there’s a new model on the way next year with a Plug-In Hybrid option. You can find an Audi A4 here and watch a review of the most recent model here.

7) Audi A6

The Audi A6 is another luxury saloon we are very fond of on these shores. With its premium interior and high tech cabin, it’s not hard to see why it’s in such constant demand. Often cited as a rival to BMW’s 5-Series, the Audi offers slightly more boot space and rear legroom. Some could argue that the BMW is better to drive, but if you can get your hands on a Quattro all-wheel drive model, the A6 can be every bit as fun. Like the A4, the A6 was primarily a diesel car but petrol and Plug-In Hybrid models have been slowly rising in popularity in recent years. You can find an Audi A6 here and watch a review of the most recent model here.

8) Volkswagen Passat

Saloons might be losing ground to SUVs on the new car market here but the trusty Volkswagen Passat is still a hugely popular choice of second hand car. In the almost 50 years it’s been around, the Passat has built itself a loyal fan base here with its unassuming persona and solid build quality.  Available as a saloon or an estate, as well as the popular ‘CC’ Coupé model, the Volkswagen Passat’s combination of looks and practicality continues to appeal to those in the market for a reliable motorway cruiser. The spacious boot and generous legroom in the back make it a sensible choice of family car too. While diesel was initially the most popular option, the latest models come with a choice of petrol and Plug-In Hybrid powertrains. You can find a Volkswagen Passat here and watch a review of the most recent model here.

9) Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The E-Class is Ireland’s favourite Mercedes. The first generation landed here in 1993, and it’s been amongst the top three executive saloons ever since. Just like the Audi A6 and BMW 5-Series, it’s as much a statement as it is a mode of transport. The stunning interior and excellent ride quality make it a worthy investment and there really is no luxury like driving (or being driven) around in the cabin of a Mercedes E-Class. There’s a good variety of body and engine types to choose from, including a rare and interesting new diesel Plug-In Hybrid option on the latest model. You can watch a review of that model here or find an E-Class for sale here.

10) Volkswagen Polo

There are few processes more exciting in life than choosing your first car, and we can’t think of a more perfect option than the Volkswagen Polo. In fact, the Polo is a great option for anyone who doesn’t need a huge amount of space and wants to keep their running costs low. Available in both three and five door versions, the Volkswagen Polo can still be a very practical little runabout with a surprisingly roomy boot and plenty of room for two children in the back. The mainly small petrol engines on offer make it affordable to tax, insure and run. The neat dimensions make it easy to live with and park. You can watch a review of the latest model here or find one for sale here.

The post What Cars are you Searching for the most? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Our latest data reveals a rise in CO₂ emissions in the Irish fleet. In 2021, Cartell looked at the state of CO₂ emissions in the private transport sector for the first 10 months of the year and compared the results to the first ten months of the year for each year since 2003. In November the international GOP26 stressed the urgent need for Governments to introduce measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including in the private transport sector.

Unfortunately Cartell can report that the situation has deteriorated over the last 12 months and the gains which we noted were recorded in 2020 have not been consolidated in respect of our emission of CO₂. In a development for Government there has been an upturn in the average CO₂ emissions of new vehicles sold in Ireland: in 2021 average emissions increased recording a reading of 112g CO₂ /km*. This is a level equivalent to what was recorded in 2018 and far above the level of 105g CO₂ /km that Cartell observed for the equivalent period last year.

Graph 1: Average CO₂   of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2021 for first ten months of the year in each case – Jan to October (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 1: Average CO₂  of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2021 for  first ten months of the year in each case – Jan to October (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Why has there been an increase this year?

Cartell.ie considered the data further for each of the various vehicle price segments to see which segment is performing the best and which the worst. Surprisingly, the best segment, showing the lowest CO₂ emissions, was the most expensive segment considered – vehicles over €60,000 in value. This segment brought in average emissions of just 90 CO₂ /km down from 127 CO₂ /km for the equivalent period last year. The worst performing segment for emissions were those vehicles at the other end of the scale – vehicles priced at €20,000 or less recorded a figure of 122 CO₂ /km. The segment breakdown was as follows:

Table 2: Average CO₂  of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2021 for  first ten months of the year in each case – Jan to October by price segment (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Jeff Aherne, Innovation Lead Cartell.ie, says:

“We are looking exclusively at new vehicles sold in Ireland and not at imported vehicles. It is unfortunate that the figures for CO₂ /km in the private transport sector are increasing, just when we thought things had shifted in a favourable direction. The Government will have to seriously consider these results which show that it is the cheaper new cars which are doing the damage – CO₂ /km for new cars priced less than €20,000 are the highest of any segment. The reason for this is pretty straightforward: Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles are bringing down the overall level of emissions in the more expensive segments. Until the price of these vehicle types reduces we face an uphill battle in bringing down fleet CO₂ /km any further. At the other end of the market, these results show that those with cash to splurge on an expensive car are thinking about the environment: this is one good thing to come out of these findings.”

*WLTP

The post Cartell Data Reveals Rise in C02 Emissions appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Volkswagen in top position

With the relatively late arrival to the EV scene, Volkswagen have had a phenomenal start to its electrification goals. Cartell.ie looked at the numbers of EVs sold by manufacturer in the year to the end of May 2021 and the results show Volkswagen has outsold its rivals, more than doubling the number of the incumbent Nissan.

Table 1 Numbers of EVs sold by manufacturer Jan to May 2021 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

Volkswagen EV models making a big impression

The top selling EV models are also Volkswagen with the impressive ID3 and ID4 making a huge impression with buyers. Cartell.ie looked at the total number of EVs sold by model in the year to the end of May and found the top-two best-selling models so far this year have both been Volkswagen models: the ID 4 and the ID 3 took the top-two places followed by the Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro.

Table 2 Numbers of EVs sold by model Jan to May 2021 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

EVs Change of ownership

Cartell.ie also report that compared with their petrol and diesel counterparts, owners of EVs tend to hold onto their vehicle longer. Cartell looked at all private cars registered between 2013 and 2019 to consider ownership changes. The company found that 65 per cent of EVs registered during that period are still on their first owner – this contrasts with a figure of 40 per cent for the private fleet as a whole for the same period.

Overall numbers of EVs

Finally Cartell.ie looked at the overall number of EVs sold in Ireland in the year to the end of May 2021. While 2020 was a record year for EV sales the tally set last year looks like it will be surpassed by some margin this year: already over 4,000 EVs have been sold this year.

Table 3 Overall Numbers of EVs sold in Ireland Jan to May 2021 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

Jeff Aherne, Innovation Lead, Cartell.ie says:

“While EVs are gaining traction in the market they are still growing from a relatively low base – so exponential growth is to be expected in the coming years. There is no doubt, with the manufacturer investment and Government incentives, vehicles of this type are going to continue to grow in the market and, ultimately, they will replace the fossil-fuel-aspirated engines. The rise of Volkswagen in this category is a story in itself – the buyer clearly likes the options they are providing.”

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Since the inception of the End-of-life regime, 775,000 vehicles have been disposed of within the remit of the Regulations. This amounts to over 1 million tonnes of waste, or, put another way, 1,000 cars per week disposed.

The Regulations were originally enacted pursuant to the provisions of Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and Council on end-of-life vehicles. As originally stated the aim of the Regulations was to facilitate the achievement of the 85% reuse/recovery with 80% reuse/recycling by average weight per vehicle and year from their commencement and 95% reuse/recovery with 85% reuse/recycling by average weight per vehicle and year by 1^st January 2015. The original 2006 Regulations were revoked and updated by the European Union (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2014. 

The current total number of vehicles, up to the end of April 2021, on the Department of Transport National Vehicle and Drivers File (NVDF) which have been registered as End-of-Life is 774,729 – up from 772,850 the previous week – an increase of 1879 over a seven-day-period at the end of April.

An additional 390,876 vehicles have been issued as Scrapped on the NVDF giving a total of over 1 million vehicles recorded as either End-of-Life or Scrapped (1,165,605).

The rate of vehicles going End-of-Life appears to be increasing and while the average rate of disposal is 1,000 cars per week, over the lifetime of the Regulations the total number disposed of in the week considered for the study, the last week of April, was 1,879, and, in the last week in March, the total disposed of amounted to 2,013 vehicles – both weeks well above the average.

Jeff Aherne, Innovation Lead, Cartell.ie says:

“In terms of waste management these Regulations have resulted in the disposal of an estimated 1 million tonnes of old vehicles: this is a significant amount of waste within the context of environmental protection. The other significant thing comes with the reporting of these vehicles as End-of-Life meaning they cannot return to the road – from a road safety perspective this is important. Cartell reports can identify if a vehicle is scrapped or End-of-Life just in case unscrupulous individuals try and use a cloned vehicle.”

Note: The Waste Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations 2006 were commenced on 8^th June 2006 which amounts to 778 weeks between the period 8^th June 2006 to 30^th April 2021 yielding an average of 996 vehicles per week as 774,729 vehicles went End-of-Life during that period.

The estimated tonnage is found by multiplying the total number of vehicles by the estimated weight of a vehicle at 1.5 tonnes giving a figure of 1,162,093 tonnes.

Vehicle manufacturers, distributors and importers have obligations to meet the ELV Directive targets. An ELV producer compliance scheme, ELV Environmental Services (ELVES), was launched in 2017. It works on behalf of vehicle manufacturers, distributors and importers to improve the ELV processing in Ireland and enable its members to meet their regulatory responsibilities. 

The post Almost One Million Vehicles go End-of-Life since Inception appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Table 1: Most Popular Models Searched on CarsIreland (February 2021)(Source: CarsIreland intelligence)

The results show that the top two models, on both lists, were the VW Golf and the Ford Focus. This highlights the popularity of those models end-to-end in the sales cycle from initial search by the potential buyer through to a completed transaction for the vehicle.

Interestingly, the results also showed that the third-most-popular-model searched on CarsIreland.ie in February was the BMW 5 Series, while, on the other list, the corresponding ranking for that vehicle found the vehicle was the eleventh most popular car sold so far in 2021 – falling outside the top-ten altogether. This highlights that significant volumes of searches early-on in the buying cycle may be aspirational or may be indicative of the prospective buyer starting off his or her search in the marketplace by focusing on the higher-end of the market, considering values, before ultimately deciding to purchase in a different segment. Evidence of this trend can be seen further down the list where both the Mercedes Benz E Class, the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A6 appear in the top-10 on the list of most-searched vehicles on CarsIreland.ie in February while those same vehicles do not appear at all in the list of most popular vehicles by numbers of transactions so far in 2021.

Table 2: Most Popular Models in the Irish fleet (Private Used and Imported YTD 2021) (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Ross Conlon, CEO CarsIreland.ie and Group Director New Business at Independent News and Media, says:

“These results are an eye opener for us, as they show that while the searches carried out on the site can tally with the overall level of popularity for that particular vehicle in the used market in Ireland, they also show that search popularity can be an indicator of preference for the particular look of a vehicle without necessarily representing any commitment to purchase it.

They may also be indicative of a desire to search the higher-end of the market first before ultimately seeing better value in purchasing in a different segment.”

The post Irish Used Car Market: What you are searching for and what you are buying appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Fortunately Cartell reports today the situation has improved in respect of our emission of CO₂. In an encouraging development for Government there has been a downturn in the average CO₂ emissions of new vehicles sold in Ireland: in 2020 average emissions decreased recording a reading of 105g CO₂ /km. This is the lowest level that Cartell has observed since recording these figures. More encouraging still is the fact that CO₂ /km had actually been going in the wrong direction until this year: the figure for 2019 of 114 CO₂ /km was higher than the figures for both 2018 (113 CO₂ /km) and 2017 (112 CO₂ /km)

Graph 1: Average CO₂   of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2020 for first ten months of the year in each case – Jan to October (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 1: Average CO₂  of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2020 for  first ten months of the year in each case – Jan to October (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Why has there been a fall this year?

One of the reasons for the fall may be the increase in Electric Vehicles (+21%) and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (+16%) relative to the overall numbers of new vehicles purchased. Unfortunately new car sales overall are down in 2020 (-26%) so the impact of the purchase of more EVs and PHEVs in 2020 has had a correspondingly higher impact on the overall level of CO_2.

Jeff Aherne, Innovation Lead Cartell.ie, says:

“We are looking exclusively at new cars sold in Ireland and not at imported vehicles. It is timely that the figures for CO₂ /km in the private transport sector are dropping. The fall between 2019 and 2020 is significant and the Government will be encouraged by these results. To put that fall in perspective we have to go back to 2010 to find a 12-month-drop as large as what these results have yielded. However, there is a caveat to this: new car sales are well down this year for obvious reasons and so the purchase of EVs and PHEVs are having a larger positive impact than we might otherwise expect in a normal year. It isn’t all bad news though: if EVs and PHEVs continue their upward trajectory we may see the reductions in CO₂ consolidated in 2021.”

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. 

The post CO2 Emissions Drop Significantly appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Of those 17,166 vehicles with 10 or more owners, 3,598 are located in Dublin, 1,883 in Cork, 988 in Galway, and 856 in Limerick.

Chart: Location by county of vehicle’s with 10 or more owners

The majority of vehicles in Ireland are on their first, second or third owners. The graph below documents the number of ownership changes per vehicle in Ireland. It clearly shows the importance of establishing the number of owners when buying a used vehicle. The graph also shows that people do not change their vehicle on a whim as the results show the bulk of vehicle’s are still on their first, second, or third owner.

Graph 1: Number of ownership changes per vehicle – 1 to 10 owners (Source: Cartell.ie Carstat)

Table 1: Number of ownership changes per vehicle (Source: Cartell.ie Carstat)

The average age of a vehicle in the Irish fleet (all vehicle types) is currently 8.60 years and the average number of owners is 2.54 owners per vehicle. This means the average sales cycle in Ireland is 3.39 years between ownership changes. When buying a vehicle the consumer should use this rule of thumb. Any less than 3 years between owner changes and a higher number of owners than 3 owners should impact on the selling price when buying a vehicle.

Innovation Lead Cartell.ie, Jeff Aherne says:

“Obviously counting the number of previous owners and the dates of sale are a very important part of the history of a vehicle. The higher the number of owners the more important a car history check becomes. If the car has a higher number of owners, and, if it changed hands recently, then you have to question whether the vehicle has mechanical issues. Consumers can check the number of previous owners with us as part of the many checks we provide. If a car already has three owners then it is above average and this should impact on the selling price.”

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. 

The post 17,166 vehicles in Ireland have 10 owners or more appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

The company advises that only 27 have been registered so far in 2020 and a mere 167 were registered with a 2019 plate. The numbers peak with 2186 registered to 2007 and 1838 registered to 2006.

Graph 1 – Convertibles in the Irish fleet 1990 to 2020 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

In total there are 15,738 convertibles in the Irish fleet and approximately one third of those (5325) have been imported.

The most popular model is the Mazda MX5 with 953 registered. The next most popular is the Renault Megane with 812 registered.

Cartell considered why the popularity of convertibles has fallen away:

Convertibles may have been seen as a sign of affluence: they are more popular in the “boom years” – 2003 to 2008

Even though the numbers have fallen convertibles are more popular now than they were in the early 1990s

Other body type choices: the rise in popularity of body types like the SUV may have taken the gloss away from convertible sales as the buyer opts for something more practical yet stylish.

John Byrne, Cartell.ie says:

“The convertible may have been seen as a sign of the times during the boom years when open-topped driving was at its most popular. The fall off since then could be due to a variety of factors – obviously the weather is not always kind in Ireland and buyers often opt for more practical options but there has been a shift in the market away from this type of car.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Irish Buyer Rejects Convertibles appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie reports today (22^nd April) on the numbers of Porsche, Maserati, Bentley, Ferrari and Aston Martins in the live fleet. In total there are 1,184 high-end luxury vehicles from these marques currently in the Irish fleet.

The company notes the decline in vehicles at this end of the market for the registration year 2019 compared with the previous year with only 91 vehicles registered against 135 for the registration year 2018. The height of the market is to be found in 2015 with 228 luxury cars registered to that year.

Graph 1: Number of Porsche, Maserati, Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin in Irish Live Fleet 2010 to 2020 (Source: Cartell Cartstat)

Imports

More than 50% of those vehicles have been imported: 667 imports against 517 indigenous Irish vehicles.

Models

The top model among the marques was the Porsche Panamera with 276 units followed by the Porsche Cayenne with 258 and the Porsche Macan with 197. The Porsche 911 also features with 104 examples of this model live in the current Irish fleet. The top Ferrari in Ireland is the California with 6 models. According to the Government data, there is one Ferrari Testarossa. Aston Martin peaks with the DB11 – there are 7 in the country.

John Byrne, Cartell.ie says:
“With so much uncertainty in the current market, it is interesting to see how many top-end luxury cars are in the country. Porsche leads the way with a variety of models and the avid car spotter has the chance to see a Ferrari Testarossa and a Ferrari 458 Italia among other super-luxe vehicles in Ireland.”

Table 2 The top models from the marques Porsche, Maserati, Bentley, Ferrari, Aston Martin in Irish Live Fleet 2010 to 2020 (Source: Cartell Cartstat)

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Porsche Panamera is Top Luxury Car in Ireland appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

In some ways, cars are like people in that sitting around and doing nothing for extended periods is quite unhealthy for them. So while you probably have enough to worry about as things are, the last thing you need on top of everything else is waking up some morning to find out your battery is dead and you can’t drive to the local shop or pharmacy.  And of course if you are faced with a mechanical issue there is the additional concern of finding a mechanic to fix it (assuming you are not qualified to do so yourself).

Therefore we would like to present you with some advice on how to keep your car in good order during the Coronavirus outbreak. We don’t want to overwhelm you with information so we’ll keep it simple and to the point and assume your ability when it comes to repairing cars is moderate at best.

Now let’s dive into it; here are five healthchecks you can carry out to keep your vehicle in good condition during lockdown:

1. Battery

Take the car for a spin now and then. Like taking a dog for a walk, it will do your car good even if it’s just a quick run around the neighbourhood. You will get the engine up to operating temperature and ensure fluids are circulared around the vehicle. Many newer vehicles have systems and technology that are always on and they absord energy so if the car is simply sitting there and not recharging, the battery could be dead within two weaks. A simple five minute drive will mitigate against this risk, and is especially recommended for second cars that have been idle for longer.

2. Fuel

Not too much to worry about here but worth keeping an eye on, particularly if your car is going to be sitting idle for a number of weeks. It’s a known fact that fuel will degrade over time but modern fuel systems are prepared for this and are well-sealed to limit the impact of oxidation and extend fuel life. A full tank is an additional bulwark against condensation so worth filling it next time you venture out to the petrol-station.

Another recommendation if you want to be extra cautious and if lockdown restrictions continue indefinitely is a fuel stabizer to prevent the fuel deteriorating and doing any damage to the tank, pump or lines and injectors.

3. Tyres/Brakes

Problems in both of these areas can be easily alleviated if you take the car for a short drive occassionally. If you don’t however then rust can form on the brake rotors especially if the vehicle is parked outside, and this can happen in a matter of days. The rust wull then enter the brake-pad lining and lead to noise, erratic braking and issues with the brake-pedal sensitivity.

Tyre pressure is another area that will be adversely affected by long-term inertia and as well as that if a car is static for a long period, flat spots can develop on the tyre. Get it inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure levels once a month or you will have go through the painful process of jacking up the car while it’s in storage.

The good news is that the solution to preventing the majority of tyre and brake damage is a simple one – drive the car!

4. Storage and Oil

With sunnier weather finally coming our way it is worth noting that leaving the car in the sun for lengthy periods is going to have negative consequences for the paintwork and any rubber trim. Similarly the interior can suffer from excessive exposure to the sun in the form of damaged upholstery.

The ideal here is to store the vehicle in a garage or anywhere relatively dry and indoors with a concrete floor.

And don’t forget about the need for an oil change as the oil will downgrade quickly due to temperature fluctuations if ithe vehicle is not being driven. And while you’re at it you may as well check the transmissions and gear fluids – it’s not like you have a busy social schedule so why not attend to the little jobs you always forget about or put off, right?

5. Anything else?

Clean the car, it’s more important than ever to do that now, for more information on that see here

Don’t park under a tree for the simple reason that in Spring a lot of leaves, twigs, branches and other material can get caught in the car’s ductwork and harm your blower motor.

Remember if you are charging the battery to also turn on the air-conditioning system and leave the recirculation control in the open position so the car can air out.

Oh and finally check for any nesting animals under the bonnet – once all that is done you’re good to go, or in this case stay put most of the time!

The post 5 Healthchecks to Help Maintain Your Unused Car appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle data expert CARTELL.IE reports today (11^th March) that more new vehicles are being sold with automatic transmission, and the gap between manual and automatic transmission has narrowed considerably in the last 5 years for new car purchases.

For native Irish cars automatic transmission has grown from 18,831 of new cars purchased in 2015 to 36,286 vehicles in 2019 – almost doubling in numbers. By contrast, manual transmission vehicles have declined from 106,837 to 77,183 over the same period.

The ratio of manual to automatic transmission vehicles so far in 2020 now comes in at less than 2:1 –

25,474 manuals compared with 14,166 automatics.

Graph and Chart showing transmission types for new cars purchased in Ireland 2015 to 2020

Reasons for the increase in automatic transmission may simply be owing to manufacturers including automatic as standard in many new luxury cars. Automatic transmission vehicles, often a relatively expensive additional option, are considered by most drivers as easier to drive. There are also now negligible differences in terms of emissions between the two types meaning environmental considerations generally do not factor in the buyers decision between the two.

Most electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) have automatic transmission as standard. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) which are early precursors to autonomous vehicles of the future now include an advancement called predictive transmission which enables the vehicle to automatically shift to the optimal gear after identifying the road and traffic conditions ahead.

John Byrne, Cartell.ie says:

“It’s interesting to see how popular automatic transmissions have become. Automatics are easier to function and many current variants are incredibly intuitive and add positively to the driving experience. The days of the manual are not gone but remember that Electric Vehicles (EVs) generally require automatic transmission so as we phase towards EVs we can expect the growth in automatics to continue.”

For imports the manual is more popular: 319,951 of all imports (cars only) into Ireland are manual transmission while 104,323 are automatics. The whole fleet currently shows 2,624,504 manuals as against 489,414 automatics.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Automatic Transmission on the Rise appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Category A The vehicle must be scrapped and no parts or components can be sold other than for scrap. Amounts vary but the scrap value rarely covers the cost of recovery and delivery to a scrap yard. Category A is severely damaged, total burnout or flood damage with no serviceable parts, or already a stripped out shell. In the UK the DVLA will require a “Notification of Destruction”. In Ireland this vehicle would have to be disposed of in an authorised treatment facility and have a death certificate issued and the vehicle then becomes End of Life (ELV).

Category B The vehicle must not be used again but non- structural and roadworthy parts and components may be recovered for use in other vehicles. Care must be taken to ensure that they are not critical components with important safety functions. A Category B will have been damaged beyond economical repair, usually with major structural damage. In the UK the DVLA will require “Notification of Destruction” but parts can be removed and sold on. In Ireland this vehicle would have to be disposed of in an authorised treatment facility and have a death certificate issued and the vehicle then becomes End of Life (ELV).

Category C The vehicle is repairable but the parts and labour would exceed the value of the car. A Category C insurance write-off is repairable salvage. It usually applies to vehicles with significant damage and where the cost of repairs exceeds the book value. The Motor Insurers Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) defines Cat C as repairable total loss vehicles where repair costs including VAT exceed the vehicle’s pre-accident value (PAV).

Category D The vehicle is economically repairable but other factors are involved that cause the insurer to declare the vehicle a write off. Perhaps the replacement car hire is too costly or it will take too long for a specialist part to be delivered. A Cat D is repairable salvage. The Motor Insurers Anti-Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) defines Cat D as repairable total loss vehicles where repair costs including VAT do nor exceed the vehicle’s pre-accident value (PAV).

The post Insurance Write-Off Categories: Category C Write-Off Explained appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Limitations of NCT

Imagine going to your local GP for a quick check-up. Maybe she listens to your breathing and heart with a stethoscope, then you jump on some scales, a brief chat,  and perhaps finally a blood pressure reading before being sent on your way. Does this mean you can rule out all possible medical conditions? Of course not, the GP is limited by a lack of time, diagnostic tools and resources to detect some underlying conditions, and the check-up is simply a quick screening process to rule out any obvious problems. The NCT is similar in that it can detect if the vehicle, at the time of the NCT, is in a roadworthy condition, but when buying a used car it is essential that further reassurance is provided.

Think of the logic of it for moment, if all cars were as roadworthy as their most recent NCT suggested then they would never fail the test but we know that in 2019 50% of cars failed enabling us to draw the simple conclusion that a car can become “unroadworthy” at any time after an NCT.

The certificate is not a guarantee that a few months or even weeks down the line, there will not be sudden mechanical issues, or urgent maintenance needed on parts such as brakes, lights, tyre depth etc. Buyers of used cars would be well-advised not to regard the pass cert as continuing proof of the quality of the vehicle.

Court Case

A Cork woman Paula Murphy recently concluded a lengthy civil action for negligence against Applus Car Testing Service (which operates the NCT). Her daughter, Amanda O’Flaherty, 26, bought a 95D-registered Mazda 121 from a roadside dealer in mid-2012 for €600. The seller had arranged for it to undergo an NCT on May 31, 2012, and a certificate was issued.

But Amanda suffered fatal injuries in a car crash near Fota, Co Cork, on December 29, 2012. An inquest later heard that her vehicle was not roadworthy at the time of the accident, with defects found in its rear suspension which would have made it unstable before and during cornering.

In December 2018, at Cork Circuit Court, Judge Brian O’Callaghan held that Applus was negligent in passing a defective car it had examined, and allowing it back on the road.

Moyagh Murdock, the Road Safety Authority’s CEO, herself has stated that the NCT system is not a guarantee of a vehicle’s road-worthiness

She said: “It’s a check at a moment in time on a range of safety critical items set out by the EU, it is not a service, it is not a guarantee.

“It is a minimum check of the vehicle at that time and it can only check what is actually visible to the inspector.”

Additional Measures

There is no substitute for regular servicing of a vehicle and ongoing maintenance is the key factor in determining the ongoing road-worthiness of the vehicle.

If you are buying and believe an NCT is sufficient reassurance as to the reliability of the vehicle then you are taking a massive risk. Unfortunately there is no motor-obsessed psychic available to us who can predict the future prospects for you vehicle, but you can get a Cartell car check when deciding on a possible used car purchase to allow you to make a much more informed decision on your investment. An NCT is simply not enough – get the data that will tell the real story of your desired vehicle, warts and all, so that your investment is ultimately a wise one.

The post Is the NCT enough reassurance for buyers of used cars? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

New Car Sales

Onto the hard facts as sales of new cars in 2019 (up to December 1) amount to 113,526. This is a 6.5% decrease on 2018’s figure of 121,130 for the same period. In fact, each of the last 3 years has seen a dip in sales of new cars in Ireland as savvy buyers shop around for value, taking advantage of more favourable exchange rates to source high-spec imports, or simply waiting for a shiny new 20 plate.

The title of most popular new car in 2019 (January – November) goes to the Toyota Corolla recording 4,212 sales, placing it ahead of previous winners like the Hyundai Tucson (second with 3,877 sales and biggest seller in 2016) and the Golf (top seller in 2018 and 2017). When it comes to the most popular brand however it is Volkswagen who come out on top ahead of Toyota (13,382 vs. 11,524 sales). Almost all of the car manufacturers experienced the same slight decline in sales (between 5 and 10%) as reflected in the overall figure, with just a few brands outperforming their sales figures in 2018 (including Skoda, Seat, Peugeot and Opel).

Engine Types

Moving on to one of the more interesting market trends for 2019, we see the perennial favourite that is the diesel engine take a significant hit. Only 53,402 new cars were diesel fuelled, a drop of 19.18% on the 2018 figure of 66,075. This could be attributed to both a stronger push of the green agenda generally and the financial considerations associated with the WLTP and the newly announced NOx tax.

Petrol power didn’t fluctuate too much from 2018 and seemed relatively unaffected by larger market trends with 45,782 new cars sold in 2019, less than 1,000 down on the 2018 figure for the same period. The big movers in the market were Hybrids and EVs, particularly the latter. EVs almost trebled in sales since 2018’s figure of 1,234 sales, standing at 3,409 in 2019 so far. Hybrids also experienced a remarkable increase of almost a half (48.45%), with 2019 producing 10,969 sales to date (compared with 7,389 in 2018). And while both hybrids and EVs still represent a small portion of the overall market, there is little doubt they are on a strong upward trend. Whether it’s the improved battery-life and range, increasingly favourable price-points, government incentives, or eco-consciousness, this looks like the beginning of the end for the “dirty diesel” era as the public slowly but surely starts to embrace alternative choices.

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”] Cartell originated back in 2006 to fight back against fraud and dishonesty in the motor industry and protect consumers. Cartell have assisted countless motor dealers, insurers, financiers, parts suppliers and others in the automotive industry to access the most accurate and comprehensive data available. 13 years later we are doing the same. Protect yourself and your investment or offer your buyer reassurance. If you are buying or selling a used car, always get a Cartell Check.[/box]

The post Review of the 2019 Motor Industry appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle data expert CARTELL.IE reports today (08^th January) that the proportion of vehicles offered for sale (across all years) with finance outstanding is 18.3% – up from 16.6% in December 2018 and 11.5% in January 2017. These are the highest levels that Cartell has recorded. Cartell.ie also reports that more vehicles for certain key registration years are being offered for sale with finance outstanding than in 2018. From a sample of over 5,906 vehicles offered for sale and checked via the Cartell.ie website in 2019, the figures show that more than forty percent of two-year-old vehicles are offered for sale with finance outstanding.

In the case of one-year-old vehicles (2018) the levels of vehicles offered for sale with finance outstanding has risen from 35.9% for the equivalent period in 2018 to 39.4% in 2019. This means there is now a two-in-five chance of a one-year-old vehicle being offered for sale with finance outstanding.

Similarly in the case of three-year-old vehicles (2017) checked last year there was a 36.8% chance of a vehicle being offered for sale with finance outstanding based on checks on Cartell.ie in the year gone by.

Graph 1: Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance by Registration Year checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

Graph 2: Historic Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

Even older vehicles are regularly offered for sale with finance outstanding – 22.3% of all four-year-old vehicles offered for sale in 2019 had outstanding finance against them and the rates of finance are going up for older cars too: four-year old to ten-year-old cars all showed respective increases over the corresponding levels recorded last year.

John Byrne, Cartell.ie, says:

Not only are finance levels the highest we have ever recorded but the increases can be seen right across the board. We are seeing gains in virtually every year-segment indicating that more and more people are financing their second-hand car purchase. There could be many reasons for this including new entrants in the finance market, better availability of finance, or, in the case of PCP, buyers may be increasingly financing the balloon payment that falls due at the end of the initial PCP term.”

What’s really concerning is that finance levels are up across nearly all the years and the headline figure of 18.3% overall is particularly concerning. Buyers are strongly advised to be cautious in the market as you cannot take good title in the asset until the final payment has been paid to the financial institution. This means you may be buying a huge problem.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Table 1: Historic Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Finance Levels Surpass Boom Levels appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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).

Stay up to date

Make sure you’re following Cartell on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked In for the latest news and Cartell.ie promotions.

The post Budget 2020 & Motoring – Cartell.ie appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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.

Stay up to date

Make sure you’re following Cartell on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked In for the latest news and Cartell.ie promotions.

The post Toyota Recall 12,000 Irish Vehicles appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

16th September 2019 – London, UK: Audatex, global provider of market-leading solutions for bodyshops, service providers, insurers and customers, and Cartell, Ireland’s leading car checking and automotive data solutions company have today announced the launch of an automated Total Loss Registration solution to help Ireland’s insurers to comply with the upcoming commencement of Part 2 of the Road Traffic Act 2016.

Coming into force later this year, Part 2 requires vehicle insurers to notify the National Vehicle Driver File, Department of Transport when a vehicle is written off. Audatex and Cartell will deliver an automated service which notifies of the Category A (scrap only) or Category B (some parts salvageable) inspection, to support insurers with the new provisions shortly coming into force.

The Total Loss Registration solution works using Audatex’s AudaEnterpriseGold (AEG) solution, generating a ‘Daily Total Loss Report’ to Cartell to conduct a check of each vehicle. Once verified, a summary of all Category A and B cases will be delivered automatically to the Department of Transport on the same day, to achieve fast vehicle categorisation in line with the regulation changes. Any vehicles requiring further verification will be sent directly to the insurer to correct records on the Audatex system and re-processed by Cartell accordingly.

Fast, Seamless and secure.

Commenting on the partnership, Tom Hart, Head of Client Relationships at Audatex said:

We pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking company that creates solutions to mitigate problems for our customers before they arise. Working closely with Cartell, we have created a sophisticated solution, powered by data from vehicle assessments to fully automate the category identification process. The solution will minimise downtime in the communication of vehicle data from the Engineer to the Department of Transport, ensuring continued compliance for insurers in the market.”

Jeff Aherne, Director of Cartell commented:

Our vehicle database expertise, combined with Audatex’s innovative insurance and bodyshop solutions made for a great partnership for this system. We have worked well with Audatex to deliver the solution before the law changes take place later this year. We understand just how important it is for our customers to operate within regulations, and we’re dedicated to support them with the tools to remain both compliant and efficient when such changes occur.”

-ENDS-

Issued by Jargon PR on behalf of Audatex. For more information, contact Paige McArdle at audatexPR@jargonpr.com or 01189 739 370 or for Cartell.ie John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information..

About Audatex

Trusted the world over, Audatex UK has redefined global knowledge and data insight in risk and asset management since 1987. Through unrivalled integrated technology, we connect people, insurers and suppliers, empowering all to make quicker, smarter decisions. Part of the Solera group, we consistently challenge expectations through continuous investment and digital innovation.

About Cartell

Cartell is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. Cartell supplies data for the following European countries, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands and Malta.

The post Audatex and Cartell support Ireland’s insurers with automated Total Loss Registration solution appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle data expert CARTELL.IE reports today (11th September) that the proportion of vehicles offered for sale (across all years) with finance outstanding is 17.5% – up from 16.6% in December 2018 and 11.5% in January 2017. Cartell.ie also reports that more vehicles for certain key registration years are being offered for sale with finance outstanding than in 2018. From a sample of over 5,906 vehicles offered for sale and checked via the Cartell.ie website in the first 6 months of 2019, the figures show that more than forty percent (41.55%) of three-year-old vehicles are offered for sale with finance outstanding.

In the case of one-year-old vehicles (2018) the levels of vehicles offered for sale with finance outstanding has risen from 33.3% for the equivalent period last year 2018 to 40.78% so far in 2019 – representing an increase of 22.46%. This means there is now more than a two-in-five chance of a one-year-old vehicle being offered for sale with finance outstanding.

Similarly in the case of two-year-old vehicles (2017) there is a 38.31% chance of a vehicle being offered for sale with finance outstanding based on checks on Cartell.ie in the first 6 months of 2019.

Graph 1: Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance by Registration Year checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

Graph 2: Historic Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

Statistics published by Cartell.ie indicate that buyers have more than a two-in-five chance (41.55%) of purchasing a three-year-old vehicle (2016) with finance outstanding. Even older vehicles are regularly offered for sale with finance outstanding – 16.43% of all 2013 registered vehicles offered for sale in 2019 had outstanding finance against them. 

John Byrne, Cartell.ie, says:

Forty-two per cent of all three-year-old vehicles (2016) checked in the first 6 months of 2019 on Cartell.ie have finance outstanding. This is up from 38.57% of three-year-old vehicles (2015) checked last year on the site over the equivalent period. The rise is possibly attributable in some cases to expiring PCPs where owners are testing the market to see if they can return a higher price than the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV) guaranteed by the dealer. What’s really concerning is that finance levels are up all across the years and the headline figure of 17.5% overall is particularly worrying. Buyers are strongly advised to be cautious in the market as you cannot take good title in the asset until the final payment has been paid to the financial institution. This means you may be buying a huge problem.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Table 1: Historic Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Finance Levels Continue to Rise – Now 17.5% appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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).

Stay up to date

Make sure you’re following Cartell on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked In for the latest news and Cartell.ie promotions.

The post Ford Recall on over 7,700 Irish Cars! appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie announce today (21^st August) on the findings from the latest state of the market report in conjunction with BAC Auto Consulting. Used car sales for the first seven months of 2019 are down 4.2% including imports and down 4.4% excluding imports.

Used car sales have fallen every month this year over the same period in 2018 except for March, where the fall in used car sales in March 2018 helped deliver a 9% increase in total used car sales in March 2019, 6.3% increase excluding imports.

Total used car imports hit 22.9% of all used car sales to the end of July 2019. This is up from 21.9% of all used car sales in 2018. The figure of 22.9% constitutes a record since Cartell has started recording this figure. This increase of imports impacting used car sales is expected to continue whilst the UK border stays open and the euro remains strong against the pound.

The report states:

While the issue of an open or closed border between Ireland and the UK is seen as the biggest issue facing Brexit, there is some irony that a closed border could actually be a good thing for parts of Ireland’s automotive industry according to the latest data from Cartell.ie Carstat database. Back in 2013, with a relatively strong euro against the British pound imports were flooding in at a rate of 2 for every 3 new cars sold. The collapse of the Euro in 2015 saw this drop to a ratio of 1:3 before rising again to a record of almost 4 imports for every 5 new cars sold in 2018. However, the UK stumbling over Brexit saw UK businesses stockpiling in the run-up to the original March 2019 Brexit data which boosted UK GDP growth and strengthened the pound against the euro.”

Despite the pound weakening since March total imports remain 5.4% down over the first six months of last year.

The UK car market fell by 4.3% for the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year. Both markets are also seeing the introduction of the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test. This could see some UK dealers and manufacturers pushing new car sales in the run-up to September to clear out stock before the new regulations are mandated and to recover some lost sales. The political brinkmanship over Brexit could also keep the pound weak adding to the attractiveness of importing.

ENDS

The report was written by auto consultants BAC using Cartell.ie data.

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Used Car Sales Down 4.2% appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

AudiCheck.ie launched to provide vehicle history transparency

[14/08/2019]: Audi Ireland has launched an innovative joint promotion with vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie to provide vehicle condition transparency to all Audi drivers. Recognising the risks faced by potential purchasers of imported Audi vehicles, a new user-friendly website AudiCheck.ie is now operational. The new website will allow customers check their Audi vehicle (imported or domestic) for any software update or product enhancements requirements. By simply entering their registration number, customers will be notified of any software updates or product enhancement requirements which can be rectified free of charge at their local authorised Audi dealer.

Cartell.ie tracked the ‘imported’ fleet in 2019 (cars only, all makes & models) between January 1st and June 30th. From a sample of over 5,906 vehicles offered for sale on their UK registration plate and checked via the Cartell.ie website in 2019 it was found that the percentage of vehicles checked by consumers returning discrepancies on their mileage stood at 23%.

The percentage of vehicles checked by the consumer returning an outstanding finance marker stood at 14.4% and the comparable figure for vehicles returning a damage alert stood at 16.4%.

Jason Mallon, Head of Aftersales, Audi Ireland said

“The Audi network has a comprehensive used car offering for Audi customers. We acknowledge that customers purchase used cars via private sales or through other channels. This new partnership is giving used Audi drivers the opportunity to get the care and attention their car requires from the experts. Peace of mind is crucial for customers when purchasing an Audi.  All cars sold via our dealer network come with a car history check along with a comprehensive 110 point check. Our partnership with Cartell.ie encourages customers who don’t buy from the Audi network to get a history check when buying a used Audi. If they get a Cartell.ie history check, we offer the value of the Cartell History Check back in the form of a voucher. This voucher can be redeemed against Audi services or accessories with Audi Authorised Service Dealers in the Republic of Ireland.

Jeff Aherne, Director, Cartell.ie says:

“These figures are startling and show how cautious a buyer has to be in the market. More than 50% of all the cars in the sample of vehicles checked on their UK registration plate in 2019 returned a significant alert on the vehicle. A buyer shopping abroad can avail of some excellent value however with the high number of discrepancies in vehicles checked it is always wise to carry out a check prior to purchase.”

Cartell.ie looked at the overall make-up of the imported fleet in 2019 and found that the Audi A4 and Audi A6 featured prominently in the list occupying the fourth and fifth slots respectively. In terms of the overall make-up of the brands Audi places third in 2019.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

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Table 1: The Most Popular imported models year to date 2019

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Table 2: The Most Popular imported brands year to date 2019

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About Cartell.ie

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The promotion is applicable with Audi Authorised Service Dealers in the Republic of Ireland. A minimum spend of €50 is required and the voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of the Cartell history check.

The post Half of ‘imports’ checked in 2019 showed alerts appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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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The post Cartell.ie to extend Rally of the Lakes sponsorship agreement appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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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The post What is the Average Age of US Cars? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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!”

Stay up to date

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

“We are clearly committed to the goals of the Paris climate protection agreement. For this purpose, it will be necessary to make mobility entirely CO₂-free.”

Maik Stephan, Executive Director Corporate Strategy, Volkswagen AG

Killarney, Co. Kerry – Electronomous in partnership with Mobility X report on the International Car Tech & Mobility Summit currently taking place (May 2^nd and May 3rd) in Killarney. World Class speakers from the tech world together with the auto industry, research community and stakeholders in Connected Cars, Autonomous Vehicles, Alternative Power Trains & Mobility are in Kerry for the event.

The event is hosted by the original Top Gear presenter and motoring rights campaigner Quentin Willson.

Jeff Aherne, Electronomous co-founder and Director Engineer, Cartell.ie says:

“The discussion has moved to mobility, in its various forms, and how technology is shaping the changes we are already seeing around us in this sector. This requires the involvement and attention of Governments around the world. We really are looking at the future here and Cartell.ie is delighted to be driving this discussion.”

Already the Leading Car Technology Event in Europe the event attracts C-level Industry executives, Engineers operating with OEMs, owners and operators of lease or rental fleets, regulatory bodies, insurance companies, technology providers, product developers, telecommunication operators, car sharing and automotive mobility solutions providers.

Maik Stephan, Executive Director Corporate Strategy, Volkswagen AG, says today in Killarney:

Our mission is e-mobility for everyone, with attractive vehicles at affordable prices. Volkswagen wants to make a substantial contribution to climate protection with e-mobility. We are clearly committed to the goals of the Paris climate protection agreement. For this purpose, it will be necessary to make mobility entirely CO₂-free.”

In 2019 Electronomous is delighted to announce a New Stage – curated by our partners at Mobility X Conference. The MobilityX Stage runs parallel to the Main Stage at Electronomous. The Mobility X stage will host some of the World’s leading figures in self-driving cars and mobility. It is a gathering of global autonomous vehicle leaders featuring executive level automotive professionals from across a range of industries.

Xavier Collins, Managing Director Turo UK says:

 The world of mobility is dramatically changing, and the rise of the sharing economy has a big part to play in giving people more autonomy and freedom. Through Turo’s peer-to-peer marketplace we’re redefining the economics of car ownership to support this, and put the world’s one billion cars to better use. I’m looking forward to bringing this to life as a discussion at Electronomous.”

Monika Mikac, Chief Business Officer, QEV Tech says:

I think the answer electric or gas powered is already decided. World is going electric but the bigger change is happening in a way how we use vehicles. At QEV Technologies we are focused on innovation through Formula E and we have a goal to electrify mass transport in emerging countries, area that most manufacturers don’t see as a potential market and actually those areas have the biggest pollution.”

The event provides a unique glimpse at how technology will affect the Automotive Industry, Insurance industry, Car Finance Industry, Car Sales, Motoring and Mobility into the future. 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.

Sara Hill, SVP Advanced Technologies, Enterprise Ireland says:

Enterprise Ireland is excited to support this event which showcases the future of mobility and innovations from globally leading companies. Ireland is in a unique position to excel in the connected and autonomous vehicle sector through a diverse cluster of companies, universities and research centres offering technical, industrial and engineering expertise and solutions. We have over 20 Irish companies in attendance at the conference, and welcome our group of 15 international delegates of industry experts from Silicon Valley, Germany and Dubai.”

Amer Akhtar, newly appointed Chief Revenue Officer of DeepMap, says:

The future of autonomous mobility is dependent on safety, and an accurate HD map is the blueprint of that safety. DeepMap’s HD mapping and localization solutions provide a critical component to the future of mobility by enabling AVs to create and consume an HD map that’s highly accurate, reliable, and up-to-date. I look forward to driving discussions around mapping and localization at Electronomous and the Mobility X stage.”

Hollywood Star and Racing Driver Michael Fassbender will lead the gathering when he speaks Friday in a fireside chat with Quentin Willson.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Electronomous is one of Europe’s leading AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY EVENTS. This International Summit brings together World Class speakers, exhibitors and delegates in the field of Electric Vehicles, Connected Car Technology, ADAS, Cyber Security, Autonomous Vehicles and all in the beautiful setting of Killarney, Ireland.

It provides a unique glimpse at how technology will affect the Automotive Industry, Insurance industry, Car Finance Industry, Car Sales and Motoring into the future. 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.

The MobilityX VIP Weekend Package 

Kicking off right after the conference, on Friday 3rd at 12pm. Designed for Executives, Policy makers, and Transportation Authorities, this weekend will be a private event designed to help you get to know some of the most innovative executives in the self-driving industry. Places on this event are limited to a small number of VPs, Founders, Investors, CEOs and other invited guests from the Industry. It is an opportunity to get to know some of the best people in the industry, while also relaxing in the beautiful Killarney.

For more information about the event see:

http://www.electronomous.com

For more information on Mobility X see: www.mobilityx.co

For further media information/press accreditation/images and interview requests please contact:

John Byrne, 087 4199018 or john at cartell.ie

The post Electronomous – The International Car Tech & Mobility Summit appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes Preview

By: Sean Moriarty

Vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie announce today (April 29th) on the preview for the 40th edition of the Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes.

The biggest sporting occasion in the country this weekend will be the 40th running of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes which gets underway from Killarney on Friday night (May 3rd).

Killarney and District Motor Club have pulled out all the stops to mark the event’s ruby anniversary in style.

A star-studded and capacity entry, a new and challenging route a host of side events and celebrity guests from a range of spectrums will make it a weekend to remember in Killarney.

Friday night ceremonial start

The celebrations get underway on Friday evening with the traditional ceremonial start in the Fair Hill Car Park in the town.

This will give fans their first opportunity to meet the 150 contestants and see the cars for the first time. Each competitor will go over the start ramp at the College St exit of the car park, led by the Ford Fiesta R5 of Craig Breen and local co-driver Paul Nagle.

Each competitor will be interviewed on the ramp by former RTE broadcasting legend and rally enthusiast Michael Lyster, to the backdrop of traditional music, led by local star Liam O’Connor.

Members of the Killarney Valley Vintage and Classic Car Club will display some of their classic machinery and several rally cars of historical importance will also be on static display.

It will also be the public’s first opportunity to meet event ambassadors, Hollywood A-lister and local man Michael Fassbender and Formula 1 Grand Prix legend Tommy Byrne.

“This is a huge family occasion,” said clerk of the course Dermot Healy “Come down, see the cars and meet the stars.”

Activity in Fair Hill Car park will start around 5pm and will run until around 8pm when the action shifts to the Scott’s Gardens auditorium in the same area.

Here, Lyster and other well-known motoring and motorsport broadcasters will interview some of the top drivers contesting this year’s rally.

This event is also free and open to the public but is likely to fill fast so early arrival is advised.

Sporting contest and entry

The sporting element of the rally gets underway bright and early Saturday morning with the first of three runs over the iconic Moll’s Gap stage which is set to get underway at just after 9am.

Leading the field is the Waterford/Kerry pairing of Craig Breen and Paul Nagle in their Ford Fiesta R5. They arrive in Killarney as leaders of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship following victories on the Galway, West Cork and Easter International rallies. Aghadoe man Nagle, the winner of five rounds of the World Rally Championship and almost every major rally in Ireland has never won his home event.

“This is the one to win,” he said, “It was nice to get my hands on the famous Circuit of Ireland trophy [for winning the Easter Stages] but this is the big one.”

Last year’s champion Manus Kelly with Rory Kennedy on the notes starts at number two in his new for 2019 Hyundai Accent R5.

Letterkenny man Kelly has won his home rally, the Donegal International on three occasions but his secret weapon this weekend could Kennedy who has won the Rally of the Lakes on seven different occasions (six with the late Bertie Fisher and once alongside Stephen Finlay), a record that is unlikely to be surpassed.

Alistair Fisher and Gordon Noble are next up in another Fiesta, followed by Josh Moffett and Keith Moriarty in a similar car.

Last year’s second placed crew, Robert Barrable and Damian Connolly field a Skoda Fabia R5 ahead of the second of the Moffett brothers Sam and co-driver James Fulton in another Fiesta.

One of the dark horses for a surprise result is Desi Henry and Liam Moynihan in their Skoda. They were third here last year and finished a strong second on the Easter Stages two weeks ago.

Daniel Cronin and JJ Cremin will be hoping for a reversal of their recent misfortune, they retired their Ford Fiesta on Cod’s Head last year with an electrical problem and an engine failure on the St Patrick’s weekend West Cork Rally forced early retirement.

Lack of seat time since Cork, aspirations to contest both the Circuit of Kerry and the Easter Stages, failed to materialise as they waited for their engine to be rebuilt, will go against them in the early stages.

Callum Devine and Brain Hoy are newcomers to the top ten in Killarney, but they finished sixth in West Cork and fourth on the Easter Stages already this year. On his last visit to County Kerry in 2016 he put his small Opel Adam into tenth place. Now armed with an R5 Fiesta like most of his rivals, he is another capable of springing a surprise.

The top ten is rounded off by Johnny Greer and Kristy Riddick who were fifth last year in their Fiesta and by Welsh crew Merion Evans and Jonathon Jackson who are on their first visit to the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes aboard a Hyundai Accent R5.

Route

Killarney and District Motor Club have laid on one of the most difficult routes in the rally’s 40-year history.

Clerk of the course Dermot Healy really wanted to do something very different to mark the special occasion.

Reversing old favourites like Cod’s Head and Ardgroom, something that has not been done in over 30 years was only the start of it.

The Healy Pass has been run from the Cork side in the past but running the stage finish passed the doorstep of the Sibin pub in Lauragh is a new departure.

Sunday will feature two runs over Moll’s Gap, the return of the Sheen River Stage, not used in the Rally of the Lakes for a long time, a new stage near Rathmore and the full- length Gortnagane stage from Ballydaly to Headford to give a total of 230kms of competitive action, making it one of the longest rallies in recent years.

The first car leaves Parc Ferme on the Lewis Road at 830am on Saturday morning and at 720am on Sunday. The first car is due back on the finish ramp at the Gleneagle Hotel just after 5pm on Sunday evening.

Locals

The top local seed is defending national rally champion, Rob Duggan. Reunited with former co-driver Mikie Galvin, it is their first time working together in six years but a defence of last year’s national title is the only target in their hired Ford Escort Mk2.

Kevin O’Donoghue and Timmy Kelly are next up their gloriously sounding BMW M3 E30 and are the current leaders of the two-wheel-drive class in the Southern 4 Rally Championship.

Dave Slattery and Ger Somers will share a rally car for the first time in years. Strong contenders for the Kingdom of Kerry title, they won’t have an easy time with local father and son team Charlie and Johnny Hickey right behind. Adding to the local battle Tadgh O’Sullivan and John McCarthy start one place behind the Hickeys, all three crews in nearly identical Ford Escorts.

“It is going to be some craic,” said middle man Charlie Hickey.

Defending junior champion Colin O’Donoghue steps up to the full two-day rally for the first in a newly built Ford Escort.

“This is a big step,” he said,”This is my first two-day rally and there is a lot more preparation needed.”

Shane McCarthy from Kenmare will be one of the contenders for class 11F honours in his Honda Civic and will face the similar car of Steven O’Connor and Christy Nagle.

Kevin O’Sullivan and Sean Nolan are contenders for class 12 in their Escort.

Local co-driver Denis Coffey will navigate for Raymond Spence from County Down in their Escort. Tommy Moynihan is another local co-driver, alongside Laois’s Patrick O’Connor in a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Class 9 is nearly an all Kerry affair. Limerick’s Roland Doherty is the top seed in his Vauxhall Nova, but he will face locals like Denis Nagle/John Falvey (Nissan Micra), Noel O’Sullivan/Nicky Burke (Ford Escort) and Charles O’Neil/ Tony McCarthy (Honda Civic).

It is a huge occasion for O’Sullivan and Burke, as the rally celebrates its 40th anniversary, Noel lines up for his 37th attempt and Nicky will partner him for the 23rd time.

Killarney’s Con Lucey has entered in another Ford Escort and he will face class 11R competition from Donal Flynn and Niall Myers in their Toyota Corolla.

Shane Doyle and William Kelleher will be looking forward to the latter half of Sunday in their BMW E30 as the stages pass close to their Barraduff base.

Pat Sheahan and Denny O’Riordan will contest the rally in their unusual left-hand drive Renault Clio.

Kerry Motor Club’s Mike Dowling will start his fourth rally in his Ford Escort Mk1 while Anthony Sheahan brings up the rear in his Honda Civic.

Moriarty’s Centra Kingdom of Kerry championship

Defending Moriarty’s Kingdom of Kerry co-driving champion Damien Fleming returns alongside Monaghan-based Raymond Conlon in their Toyota Corolla. The pair are not enjoying the best of seasons so far and have retired from several recent rallies, including the Rose Hotel Circuit of Kerry where a faulty engine sensor put them out.

Darren Young arrives in Killarney as the second placed driver in the Kingdom of Kerry championship and will be hoping to add to his class win on the event last year.

Sean Hickey and Noel Fleming were third in this championship last season and they currently occupy joint-third in the series, just two points off the leader Tom Relihan who won’t start.

Locals in historic rally

Local driver Alan Ring has placed surprise entry in the Historic section of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes.

It will be his first appearance on his home rally since 2016 when he finished fifth overall in a Ford Fiesta R5

PJ O’Dowd and John Young from Tralee ran their new Talbot Sunbeam for the first time on the Circuit of Kerry and overcame brake issues to finish fourth on that event.

Southern 4 championship

The Southern Four Rally Championship is currently being led by the Cork team of David Guest and Jonathan McGrath in their Skoda Fabia S2000

Family affairs

Father and son team Charlie and Johnny Hickey will be joined on the rally by Charlie’s brother John and John’s daughter Michelle. It will be Michelle’s first rally, she celebrated her 16th birthday in early April and this is her present. Both John and Charlie have over 30 starts each on the rally.

“There are not too many brothers who can say they have 70 starts on the one rally between them,” said John.

Rob Duggan’s brother and sister Andrew and Tara are contesting the rally in a Ford Escort Mk2.

Dave Slattery’s son Dean makes his rally debut in a Honda Civic.

Junior

Peter Falvey, fresh from his Junior rally win on the West Cork Rally is the top seed in the junior section of the rally in his Toyota Starlet.

Conor Murphy and Keith McCarthy are next up in a Honda Civic, but a continuous engine problem has prevented them from starting several recent rallies in their Honda Civic. Kieran Reen will be another local frontrunner in this class, as will Donagh Crowley who won the category on the recent Circuit of Kerry

There are 24 juniors entered, with nine of them from Kerry.

Overseas interest

The rally lives up to its international status with visitors from England, Wales, Germany and the USA entered in the event.

Herefordshire-based Phil Collins, who first came to Killarney in 1981 is a local favourite and will be a serious contender for national rally honours in his Ford Escort.

Welsh visitor Sacha Kakad is on his first visit to Killarney in his new for 2019 Ford Fiesta R5 while Duncan Williams from England is another regular in a historic-spec Ford Escort.

Galway native Liam Egan is another regular and returns from his New York-base in a Ford Fiesta R5.

Declan Jackson represents the Isle of Man in his historic Escort.

Andy Davies is another Welsh driver on the entry list in his Subaru Impreza.  Andrew Felgate from England is on his first visit to the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes in a BMW M3.

Sean Kenny makes the trip home from Germany in his Honda Civic.  Scotland is also represented on the entry list, Jonny Greer’s co-driver Kirsty Riddick hails from the Haugh of Urr.

Home for the rally

Several Kerry competitors have returned home from their overseas bases specially to contest this year’s Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes.

Cousin’s Aidan and Shane Buckley from Listry are based in Bristol and London respectively and will compete in Aidan’s newly built Ford Escort.

Ronald O’Riordan works for Liebherr Container Cranes in Fossa but is often sent on overseas assignments. He has just returned to Kerry after an extended period in Brazil where he was installing container cranes in an inland port on the banks of the River Amazon.

London-based Ray Hilliard and his North Kerry co-driver Conor Walsh make their World Rally Car debut in a Subaru Impreza WRC.

Killarney native and London Irish Motor Club chairman Mick Smith has entered the Rally Fest section in his Chrysler Avenger.

Celebrities in town

Michael Fassbender, the Hollywood A-lister and Fossa native is no stranger to motorsport having contested several Ferrari and Porsche one-make races in the United States in the past, but this is his first attempt at a rally and he will drive a Ford Escort in the Rally Fest section. Local co-driver Barry Goodman will guide him around.

Fassbender will also be in attendance at the start ramp on Friday night and the awards presentation on Sunday night in the Gleneagle Hotel.

Formula One Grand Prix legend Tommy Byrne from Dundalk is also in town, he will attend a book signing in Eason’s on Main St on Saturday as well as being at the finish celebrations on Sunday.

Rally Fest

New for 2019 is a special exhibition class that features cars from the pre-1990 era of rallying, often referred to as at glory days of the sport.

There are some incredibly beautiful rally cars, many with an interesting history, contesting this section of the rally.

Leading this field away is Denis Cronin and his Kilgarvan co-driver Helen O’Sullivan in their BMW M3 E30. This pair won the international rally in 2010 driving a Subaru Impreza.

Conor Falvey and Fearghal Pattwell will drive an ex-works Porsche 911.

This rally was won by Ger Buckley and Demi Fitzgerald in 1980 and 1981 respectively and the Vauxhall Chevette HSR they drove to their victories returns to Killarney in the hands of Mick Dunnion.

Michael Buckley, who appeared on the entry list of the very first Rally of the Lakes as a co-driver, will debut his newly restored Audi quattro this weekend.

Other cars of interest include an MG Metro 6R4 in the hands of Frank O’Mahony, a rear-wheel-drive Peugeot 205 driven by Brendan Brosnan, a Subaru Impreza 555 driven by Paul Ahern and an ex-works Chrysler Avenger driven by Killarney native and London Irish Motor Club chairman Mick Smith.

Programme

Killarney and District Motor Club will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes by producing a special rally magazine focusing on the history of the rally.

The official programme for this year’s rally will be a real collector’s item with articles and photos, some of which have never appeared in print before, spanning the rally’s four decades.

Produced by KC Print in Killarney, a sister company to the Killarney Advertiser, the special 120-page book went on sale in Killarney and other local towns last week.

As well as a look back on the history of the rally, the programme includes the most up-to-date entry list and maps of this year’s route.

It is priced at €15 and the rally-pack includes a free rally-style bobble hat and a voucher for a free membership to Motorsport Ireland’s loyalty membership scheme – valued at €10.

It can also be purchased online via https://www.killarneyadvertiser.ie/product/rally-of-the-lakes-programme-2019/

ENDS

Note to Editor:

For further information please contact Sean Moriarty on 087 6771019 or check out https://rallyofthelakes.com/  for further information.

The post Cartell.ie International Rally of the Lakes 2019 celebrates its Ruby Anniversary appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

The International Car Tech and Mobility Summit organisers Electronomous and Mobility X report today (April 23) on a sharp consumer shift towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) and a healthy growth in the numbers of hybrid vehicles: EV numbers are up 6 times on last year and the hybrid market has advanced 20 per cent.

In stats provided by Cartell.ie the organisers note that the price-point for hybrid vehicles has risen in the first two months of 2019 compared with previous years indicating a consumer preference towards higher specification vehicles in this corner of the market. The overall numbers of hybrids sold in the first 2 months of 2019 displays a healthy annualised increase of 20 per cent. This growth weighs against the backdrop of a decline in diesel sales – down 23 per cent. Self-charging Hybrids are expected to grow to 12% or 1 in 8 of new cars sold in 2020.

Table 1: Value and units of Hybrid Vehicles sold first two months of the year 2017 to 2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

In additional stats provided by Cartell.ie the organisers note that the price-point for the Electric Vehicle has settled just above €33,000. Combined with a growth in the numbers of people buying new cars in this price bracket – where prices are over €30,000 – and the recent consumer trend towards buying an EV the market could be prime for EV sales in 2020/21. This argument applies equally to hybrid vehicles.

The organisers would expect to see very healthy growth in EVs in 2020 – more than 3,000 units for the first 2 months of next year is easily achievable and 5,000 units is not impossible. This anticipates EVs being sold at a value in the low €30,000s and the continuing consumer advance towards buying cars in the €30,000 to €40,000 bracket. As Electronomous expect this to be the most popular bracket for new car sales within the next two years this could yield significant growth in EVs over that period as consumers are faced with a like-for-like choice in terms of price knowing that EVs can yield savings down in the line in terms of running costs.

Table 2: Value and units of Electric Vehicles sold first two months of the year 2017 to 2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

One thing that is open to interpretation however is the future market demand outcome – whether demand will move more towards Electric Vehicles or towards their hybrid equivalents. Self-charging Hybrids now make up 7.7 per cent of the car market against 2.2 per cent for EVs. In volume terms, Hybrid growth continues on an equivalent level to EVs.

The advantage with the hybrid is that it is much closer to what the average consumer is already familiar with and it fends off so-called range anxiety. The case for the EV turns more on the additional environmental benefits a car of this type delivers (in terms of its day-to-day performance) and the fact that range anxiety will also become less of an issue as additional battery capacity coming on stream pushes vehicles of this type to deliver more range in the future.

Michael Gaynor, Marketing Director, Toyota Ireland says:

We continue to see consumers make the shift from diesel to self-charging hybrids where 80% of all our car sales in 2019 will be hybrids. Our next generation hybrid engines can now deliver up to 60 per cent zero emissions driving, giving consumers much of the benefit of a pure electrified car without the compromise of re-recharging or range anxiety. It’s why we expect self-charging hybrids to account for 12 per cent of private car sales in 2020, growing to 20 per cent by 2021.”

ENDS

Editors Notes:

Electronomous is one of Europe’s leading AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY EVENTS. This International Summit brings together World Class speakers, exhibitors and delegates in the field of Electric Vehicles, Connected Car Technology, ADAS, Cyber Security, Autonomous Vehicles and all in the beautiful setting of Killarney, Ireland.

It provides a unique glimpse at how technology will affect the Automotive Industry, Insurance industry, Car Finance Industry, Car Sales and Motoring into the future. 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.

Notes for Editors – The MobilityX VIP Weekend Package 

Kicking off right after the conference, on Friday 3rd at 12pm. Designed for Executives, Policy makers, and Transportation Authorities, this weekend will be a private event designed to help you get to know some of the most innovative executives in the self-driving industry. Places on this event are limited to a small number of VPs, Founders, Investors, CEOs and other invited guests from the Industry. It is an opportunity to get to know some of the best people in the industry, while also relaxing in the beautiful Killarney.

The Summit is taking place May 2^nd and May 3^rd. 

Tickets for Electronomous are available by logging on to http://www.electronomous.com

For more information on Mobility X see: www.mobilityx.co 

For further media information/press accreditation/images and interview requests please contact:

John Byrne, 087 4199018 or john at cartell.ie

Graph 1: Value of New Vehicles purchased in Ireland by price bracket 2003-2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

The post Consumer Shift towards Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrids appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

PRESS RELEASE

Electronomous – The International Car Tech & Mobility Summit

  Electronomous in partnership with Mobility X announces today (April 18) the latest instalment of the exciting International Car Tech and Mobility Summit- Electronomous.

Hollywood Star and Racing Driver Michael Fassbender will lead the gathering with a fireside chat with former Top Gear host  and motoring journalist – Quentin Willson.

Electronomous welcomes Silicon Valley to Ireland for our 2019 event as part of a new and exciting partnership with Mobility X. With the assistance of Enterprise Ireland and IDA, this year’s event will bring disruptors and World Class speakers from the tech world together with the auto industry, research community and stakeholders in Connected Cars, Autonomous Vehicles, Alternative Power Trains & Mobility and all in the beautiful setting of Killarney, Ireland.

The event provides a unique glimpse at how technology will affect the Automotive Industry, Insurance industry, Car Finance Industry, Car Sales, Motoring & Mobility into the future. 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.

Already the Leading Car Technology Event in Europe the event attracts C-level Industry executives, Engineers operating with OEMs, owners and operators of lease or rental fleets, regulatory bodies, insurance companies, technology providers, product developers, telecommunication operators, car sharing and automotive mobility solutions providers

Confirmed speakers include:

Hollywood Movie Star, Michael Fassbender

Danny Shapiro, Senior Director of Automotive, NVIDIA

Xavier Collins, Managing Director UK, Turo

Caroline Hazlehurst, Director of EMEA Operations, Bird

Luc Vincent, VP Engineering, Lyft

Maik Stephan, Executive Director,  E-Mobility, Volkswagen Group AG.

Stefan Deix, Director of EUCAR, the European Council for Automotive R&D

Robert Hambrick, CEO, AutonomouStuff

And many more to be announced.

Keith Whelan, Event Manager for Electronomous says:

It’s completely unique to have such a world class line up of speakers and delegates from the Automotive and tech worlds coming together outside of one of Europe’s major automotive capitals.  With our new partnership with Mobility X, this year will see a large contingent of exciting companies attend from Silicon Valley, so it’s a real opportunity for Irish and European companies to connect with global players in the beautiful setting of Killarney, Ireland.”

The MobilityX Conference

For the 2019 Electronomous,  we are delighted to announce a New Stage –  curated by our partners at Mobility X Conference. The MobilityX Stage will run parallel to the Main Stage at Electronomous. The Mobility X stage will host some of the World’s leading figures in self driving cars and mobility. It is a gathering of global autonomous vehicle leaders featuring executive level automotive professionals from across a range of industries.

The year the MobilityX weekend which follows on from Electronomous will be an action-packed VIP weekend (3rd-5th May) for speakers and invited guests from the World’s Automotive Industry. The VIP weekend will transport you to the most scenic spots on the West Coast of Ireland and will include activities such as kitesurfing, mountain biking and Stand Up Paddle-boarding.

This is a unique opportunity for those with an interest or working in the Self-Driving Vehicle industry to meet leading companies, CEO, founders and executives from the autonomous vehicle and mobility industry.

Tickets are limited and are available  for purchase at https://www.electronomous.com/.

More information on the Mobility X weekend can be found at http://www.mobilityx.co/

ENDS

Editors Notes:

Electronomous is one of Europe’s leading AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY EVENTS. This International Summit brings together World Class speakers, exhibitors and delegates in the field of Electric Vehicles, Connected Car Technology, ADAS, Cyber Security, Autonomous Vehicles and all in the beautiful setting of Killarney, Ireland.

It provides a unique glimpse at how technology will affect the Automotive Industry, Insurance industry, Car Finance Industry, Car Sales and Motoring into the future. 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.

Notes for Editors – The MobilityX VIP Weekend Package 

Kicking off right after the conference, on Friday 3rd at 12pm. Designed for Executives, Policy makers, and Transportation Authorities, this weekend will be a private event designed to help you get to know some of the most innovative executives in the self-driving industry. Places on this event are limited to a small number of VPs, Founders, Investors, CEOs and other invited guests from the Industry. It is an opportunity to get to know some of the best people in the industry, while also relaxing in the beautiful Killarney.

The Summit is taking place May 2^nd and May 3^rd. 

Tickets for Electronomous are available by logging on:

to http://www.electronomous.com

For more information on Mobility X see: www.mobilityx.co

For further media information/press accreditation/images and interview requests please contact:

John Byrne, 087 4199018 or john at cartell.ie

The post Silicon Valley comes to Kerry appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

 Vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie report today (10^th April) on a concerning increase in CO₂ emissions. In 2018, Cartell looked at the state of CO₂ emissions in the private transport sector. It had been then reported that Ireland faced a significant fine in 2020 for a “serious rise in Irish greenhouse gas emissions” – which had been partly attributed to the transport sector where emissions increased by 3.7 per cent in 2016.

Unfortunately Cartell reports today the situation has actually worsened in respect of our emission of CO₂. In a worrying development for Government there has been an upturn in the average CO₂ emissions of new vehicles sold in Ireland: in 2018 average emissions increased for the first time since 2004 recording a reading of 113g CO₂ /km. More concerning is that the trend is now upwards – the reading recorded for the first two months of 2019 is 115g CO₂ /km.

Graph 2: Average CO₂   of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 2: Average CO₂  of new private vehicles bought in Ireland 2003-2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

John Byrne, Cartell.ie, says:

Remember, we are looking exclusively at new cars sold in Ireland so any arguments with respect to imported vehicles can be entirely discounted. We considered whether the average emissions are possibly increasing in line with a buying trend towards purchase of more expensive vehicles, meaning these results are correlative with the general increase in the value of new vehicles sold. However, this wouldn’t really explain the increase in emissions per se as manufacturers have invested considerable amounts of money to reduce emissions in their fleet in-line with overarching concerns for the environment globally.”

The reason for the increase may simply be the buying trend towards larger more practical vehicles like SUVs in favour of saloons.

ENDS

Cartell.ie is Ireland’s first and most comprehensive automotive data supplier providing Car History Checks to consumers and dealers. Launched in 2006, Cartell.ie is the automotive data expert providing tailored vehicle intelligence data to insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, and all sectors of the automotive industry. We supply data for multiple European countries such as, UK & Ireland, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Malta and more. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post CO2 Emissions – the trend is unfortunately upwards appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle history and data expert Cartell.ie announce today (April 3^rd) on the findings from the latest state of the market report in conjunction with auto consultants BAC. Used car sales for the first two months of 2019 are 6,765 units down – a decline of 3.8%. However, used imports rose 4.6% in 2018 and this may have weighed on used car sales.

Used car sales have now been falling for more than 2 years. In 2018 despite strong used car sales volume growth in April and October it wasn’t enough to outweigh the fall in used car sales seen in 8 of the 12 months resulting in total used car sales for 2018 dropping 1.8% against 2017 which was itself 1.8% down against 2016.

Some of this is due to the WLTP impacts which saw a lot of new cars registered in the run up to September which were then sold as used vehicles the following month resulting in used car sales rising 8.8% in October 2018 over the same period the previous year.

Total used car imports hit 21.9% of all used car sales last year up from 20.6% the previous year. 2019 has seen that market share follow the trend seen in new and nearly new imports with January and February 2019 imports accounting for just 20.8% of used car sales.

The Bank of England’s decision to increase the base rate to 0.75% in August 2018 has had a little downward impact on sterling although not as much as many had anticipated and whilst the prospect of a no deal Brexit looms there is unlikely to be much which will see sterling rally against the euro in the immediate future.

In total terms used car sales for the first two months of 2019 are 6,765 units down which is a total fall of 3.8%. With 2016 seeing a peak of 945,000 used cars sold which has declined by 1.8% for each of the two successive years there is little to inspire confidence that anything but a continuation of that decline with used car sales expect to be down around 3.5% for the full year.

ENDS

The report was written in conjunction with auto consultants BAC.

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

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The post Used Car Sales Down appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

The Rally of the Lakes organised by the Killarney and District Motor Club and title sponsor Vehicle History and Data Expert Cartell.ie are delighted to announce today (27^th February) that this year’s Cartell.ie Rally of the Lakes will feature the participation of a Hollywood A-lister.

Michael Fassbender, the Oscar-nominated-star of 12 Years A Slave, X-Men and Steve Jobs, will compete in the event. Michael grew up in Killarney, Co. Kerry and is an avid participant of motorsport, successfully competing in the North American Ferrari Challenge series and the Ferrari Challenge series at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. He is currently contracted to drive for Porsche in the Porsche Cup series.

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the Rally of the Lakes. It also marks the 10^th year that Cartell has marked the event as title sponsor.

To celebrate the 40^th anniversary this year’s event will feature “Lakes RallyFest Ireland” – a rallying festival to coincide with the addition of a pre-1990 section to the annual programme.

Clerk of the Course Dermot Healy says:

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

ENDS

About Cartell.ie: Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Keep an eye on www.rallyofthelakes.com for updates.

The post Michael Fassbender to feature in Rally of the Lakes appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle history and data expert CARTELL.IE reports today (February 13^th) that the age of the imported fleet is now at its lowest level since May 2010 and the native fleet age is now at its lowest level since September 2013. The overall picture shows the age of the private fleet, both native and imported, has returned to a level last seen in August 2013.

Cartell.ie tracked the age of the fleet (both native fleet and imported fleet) on the first day of each month between February 1999 and February 2019. Between February 2018 and February 2019 the imported fleet has declined in age from an average of 9.0 years to 8.76 years (-88 days). For the equivalent period the native fleet has declined from 8.57 years to 8.48 years (-32 days).

Graph 1: Age and Size of Private Fleet, Native fleet, Imports 1999 to 2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

The age of the fleet oscillates throughout the year as vehicles leave the fleet and others enter. However the drop in age of the imported fleet since February 2017 (-209 days) has been particularly notable. In February 2018 the difference in age between the (older) imported fleet and the (younger) native fleet was 158 days while today the difference in age has narrowed to 102 days.

John Byrne, General Counsel, Cartell.ie, says:

“A lot has been said lately about imported vehicles. The results of this analysis show the average Irish buyer importing a vehicle is evidently opting for a younger vehicle than before and this is bringing down the age of both the imported fleet and the combined fleet, native and imported.

In January 2015 Cartell released data which showed the age of the private fleet in Ireland had levelled-off significantly for the first time in over 10 years – supporting our view the market was then going into recovery.”

In November 2017 Cartell reported the age of the native fleet stood at 8.62 years while the age of the imported fleet stood at 9.02 years: which was the youngest recorded age for the imported fleet since July 2011. The overall age of the private fleet in Ireland (native and imported) stood at 8.7 years: representing a decline of 80 days since January 2017. That equivalent figure now stands at 8.55 years representing a decline of 68 days since those figures were released.

The imported fleet is now at its youngest level since 1^st May 2010.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Table 1: Age of Native Fleet and Imported Fleet – 2018 to 2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 2: Age of Native Fleet and Imported Fleet – February 1999 to February 2019 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

References:

https://www.cartell.ie/2015/01/age-of-fleet-levels-off-as-car-industry-in-recovery/

https://www.cartell.ie/2017/11/age-fleet-falls-imports-time-high/

https://www.cartell.ie/2018/10/age-private-fleet-drops-younger-imports/

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

The post Age of Private Fleet Drops on Younger Import appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

Vehicle data expert CARTELL.IE reports today (January 9) that the proportion of vehicles offered for sale (across all years) with finance outstanding is at 16.61% – back to the highest levels Cartell.ie has ever recorded. This figure is up from 14.3% in December 2017 and 12.5% in July 2017. From a sample of over 5,906 vehicles offered for sale and checked via the Cartell.ie website in 2018 it was found that overall levels of finance have increased 16.15% in 12 months since December 2017 and 75% since June 2016 when the rate recorded was 9.5%.

Graph 1: Historic Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

Jeff Aherne, Director, Cartell.ie, says:

We have now returned to the highest levels ever recorded by Cartell.ie for vehicles offered for sale with outstanding finance. In December 2014 we saw levels of finance outstanding at 7%: so in 4 years the rate has more than doubled. A buyer is advised to check a vehicle for outstanding finance as the finance company owns the vehicle until the last payment has been made – the bottom line is that you can lose the vehicle.”

ENDS

About Cartell.ie: Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Notes to Editor

Table 1: Historic Percentages of Vehicles with Outstanding Finance checked on Cartell.ie (Source: Carstat, Cartell.ie)

The post Finance Levels Rise Again – now 16.6% appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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.

The post NCT vs MOT – Are they the same? appeared first on Cartell Car Check.

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.

Vehicle history and data expert CARTELL.IE reports today (October 24th) on the profile of vehicles being imported into Ireland in 2018 and reports that Irish buyers are importing diesel vehicles in significant numbers.

Cartell.ie tracked the imported fleet in 2018 (all vehicles) between January 1^st and September 30^th (3 quarters) and found that the vast majority (76%) of vehicles currently imported into Ireland are diesel aspirated.  There has also been a significant jump in the numbers of Petrol/Electric Vehicles (+193%) and Electric Vehicles (+148%) over the past 12 months indicating these vehicles are finding their feet in the Irish market.

Graph 1: 2018 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Fuel Type (All vehicles) (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 1: 2018 and 2017 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Fuel Type (All vehicles) (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Makes and Models Imported

In terms of the manufacturer breakdown Ford returns the most numbers of vehicles (all types) imported in 2018. Ford is followed by Volkswagen and Audi with Toyota occupying fourth positon.

Table 2: 2018 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Manufacturer (All vehicles) (Source: Cartell Carstat)

The most popular model imported year-to-date is the VW Golf ahead of the Ford Focus.

Table 3: 2018 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Model (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Registration Year Imported and Segment

In 2018 the most popular year of import is a 4 year-old-vehicle (2014) neck and neck with a three-year-old vehicle (2015). These ages were also the most popular in 2017 although a three-year-old vehicle was more popular that year.  The most popular vehicle segment for imports is the C segment followed by the D segment – the same as for 2017.

Table 4: 2018 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Registration Year (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 5: 2018 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Segment (Source: Cartell Carstat)

John Byrne, General Counsel, Cartell.ie says:

This snapshot of the Irish market shows the Irish buyer is especially keen to import a diesel vehicle, usually a three or four-year-old and often a Focus, Golf, or Qashqai – models which have been consistently popular in the domestic market. The jump in the numbers of Electric Vehicles and Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles being imported shows that buyers of those types of vehicles can see the value of importing and also points to a growth in the market for those vehicle types. Overall we would see imports remaining strong until at least the due date for Brexit in March 2019.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Graph 2: 2017 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Fuel Type (All vehicles) (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 6: 2017 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Manufacturer (All vehicles) (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 7: 2017 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Model (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 8: 2017 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Registration Year (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 9: 2017 (Jan to Sep) Imports by Segment (Source: Cartell Carstat)

For further information please contact John Byrne on 087 4199018 or at john at cartell.ie or check out www.cartell.ie  for further information.

Cartell.ie was set up in 2006 to help buyers make an informed choice when buying a used vehicle – including imported vehicles – by providing a user-friendly and cost-effective vehicle data checking service. Cartell.ie is a totally independent company and fully Irish owned.

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