Irish direct distributor sold

[Cian]

Thought this might be newsworthy...

Fiat sold their cars directly in Ireland, one of a few brands that has done so since the start (Irish Free State began in 1922, Fiat Ireland founded in 1923 - Ford are the only others around that long); but realistically despite being a direct division of the parent company it hasn't been well run for decades. Market share of >10% in the 80s and 90s to absolutely nothing recently - 0.2% for 2021, 203 vehicles sold to date.

Behind Mitsubishi who are leaving the market, behind MG who are only back a few months, barely twice the sales of Ssangyong.

The very long standing Peugeot distributor, Gowan Group bought the PSA-owned Opel distributor off them last year, has just taken back Citroen (used to do it) and has now been approved to buy FCA Ireland.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2021/1001/1250151-gowan-group-announces-acquisition-of-fca-ireland/

I would hope this does something to shore up the dying dealer network as a priority, coupled with doing a relaunch of the entire lineup - FCA Ireland didn't advertise much for the last decade for starters.

 

[portland_bill]

With PSA having merged with Fiat, they must have some idea that there is something of a future with the brand, or they would have ignored it and let it die. There is hope, therefore, that PSA will find a market segment for Fiat brand, and promote it well.

Hope for the brand, but sadly, probably just more PSA clones, like the Vauxhall/Opels, so goodbye ownership enjoyment.

 

[Cian]

So, in a "what?" moment, the FCA brands are to be managed by the sub-division of Gowan that looks after Honda; not the bit that handles the PSA brands.