SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry)

Congratulations to the 2024 graduates of the SIMI Skillnet Automotive Retail Management Programme! 🎓

Today, our graduates received their QQI Certificates at the Killashee Hotel, presented by SIMI President Jonathan Meade.

We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone and wish our graduates great success in their future careers within the Motor Industry.

A special thank you to our dedicated trainers for delivering this course and to our graduates for their commitment and hard work.

Today we released our official 242 July new vehicle registrations statistics.

New car registrations for July show a 5.9% decrease when compared to July 2023, with registrations year to date down by 0.3% (104,652) on the same period last year (104,938). New Electric Vehicle (EV) registrations for July decreased by 24.7% on the same month last year. While EV registrations year to date are down by 25%. Budget 2025 will require decisive actions to support the EV Market.

Despite the decline in registrations of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) in July, both light and heavy commercial fleet activity remains strong and sales are ahead of last year for both the light and heavy commercial fleet.

Check out the full report 👉https://bit.ly/August24release
For insights and updates on the automotive industry in Ireland.
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Sabrina Forsyth (SIMI) stopped in to TU Bolton Street this afternoon to catch up with Jamie Connick & Michael O Connor.

Jamie, the 2023 WorldSkills Ireland Automotive Technology Winner, was chosen to be one of 17 competitors representing Team Ireland 🇮🇪 at this year's WorldSkills International in Lyon, France taking place later this year!

Jamie and Michael are currently in a rigorous training program in preparation for the skills competition in September

SIMI is proud to support Jamie & the team!

Best of luck with the competition 🍀

Our second speaker of the day, Aoife O'Grady, Head of ZEVI, end our day with one final note

Our first guest speaker of the day Sharon O'Buachall, Managing Director of Ayvens, shares her valuable insights & advice as an industry leader.

John Feeney, Head of Property, Project, and Asset-backed Finance, Corporate and Commercial Banking, addressed the attendees.

The atmosphere at The Alex Hotel for our 9th Annual Women@SIMI event, in partnership with is fantastic! Our MC Mary Kennedy gave a warm welcome to our attendees.

Women@SIMI is one of our favourite events of the year! It's a wonderful day for networking and learning about the journeys of other women in the motor industry.

We are delighted to announce that Jonathan Meade, Direct of was elected President of the SIMI at our recent AGM, held in the Killashee Hotel, Naas.

Speaking at the event, Jonathan Meade, President of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry commented “It is an honour to serve as President for the coming year. This is an industry where everything is possible. Opportunity exists where a young apprentice can become a dealer principal. It’s our time to throw down the ladder, bringing new blood into our industry. Creating opportunities for school leavers and other professionals to join our industry.”

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We have our Computer for School Competition Winners 🎉🖥

Congratulations to the 3 students from
CBS Thurles, and

Each student has won a pair of Beats Studio Buds & a €1,000 Computer voucher for their school! 🎉

Thank you to all our members & speakers who attended our Franchise Network Event in partnership with AIB Finance & Leasing last Thursday, the 18th of April.

It was a great afternoon discussing a number of industry topics from EVs, cyber security, AI, to the future market outlook, only to name just a few!

More to come soon

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SIMI is running a competition to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships in the motor Industry.

We're offering 3 lucky secondary school students the chance to win a pair of Beats Studio buds worth €180 and €1000 worth of computer vouchers for their school!
Know a student?

Make sure they head over to our website for their chance to win.

The competition is open to all secondary school students so let your local school know.
Closing Date: 1st May 2024

Today we released our official 241 February new vehicle registrations statistics. New car registrations for the month of February increased 25% (16,455) when compared to February 2023 (13,122). Registrations year to date are up 18.3% (47,882) on the same period last year (40,466).

Check out the full report 👉https://bit.ly/Feb24release
For insights and updates on the automotive industry in Ireland.
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Our fantastic MC for the evening!!!

On hosting duties tonight at the SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) Motor Industry Awards 2024, held here Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge.

🥁Here are your 2024 SIMI Motor Industry Awards Winners!!

Congratulations to Denning’s Cars Ltd winners of Bodyshop of the Year 🏆

Congratulations to Toyota Naas Franchise Aftersales Operation of the Year 🏆

Congratulations to Western Motors Drogheda, winners of Franchise Sales Operation of the Year 🏆

Congratulations to Autopoint Motor Group is the winner of the Independent Retailer Operation of the Year 🏆 Congratulations.

Congratulations to Hamill Rental Ltd is the Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year 🏆

Congratulations to all the outstanding winners and runners-up tonight.

Thank you to our partners

We’re looking forward to seeing you all again next year! 🌟

⌛ Time is ticking away, the deadline to submit your entries for the 2024 SIMI Motor Industry Awards, in partnership with Bank of Ireland is January 9th is fast approaching.

Seize this opportunity for your company to stand out and showcase the remarkable contributions and innovations that establish you as the driving force in the motor industry. Let your brilliance shine!

Here are the exciting categories you can participate in:

- Franchise Sales Operation of the Year

- Independent Aftersales Operation of the Year

- Commercial Vehicle Operation of the Year

- Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year

- Motor Factor of the Year

- Independent Sales Operation of the Year

- Franchise Aftersales Operation of the Year

- Bodyshop of the Year

Entering is a breeze:

1. Visit https://members.simi.ie/

2. Complete the entry form!

It's that simple! Don't let this opportunity slip away! 🏆

Today we released our official new vehicle registrations statistics for 2023.

Total new car registrations for 2023, finished at 121,850 +16% on 2022 (105,398). A total of 22,789 new electric cars were registered in 2023, an increase on the 15,678 registrations seen in 2022 (+45.4%). While the commercial vehicle sector both light and heavy vehicles also delivered a solid performance in 2023. Light commercial vehicles finished 25% ahead of last year and Heavy Goods Vehicles saw a 20% increase on 2022.

Further stats info visit 👉https://bit.ly/SIMIReleaseJan
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Today is .
Commemorative events are taking place around the country to remember those who have been killed, those who have been injured and all families,friends and many others who have been touched by road trauma. We take a moment to remember everyone who has been affected by collisions on our roads and we acknowledge the work of the emergency services who deal first-hand with road traffic collisions.
See list of remembrance services taking place around the country: https://bit.ly/3QyDD42

The SIMI welcomes the announcement of the development of a dedicated national centre for electric vehicle skills by Minister Harris.

This positive development is a result of the collaborative approach that is being taken by the Government, SOLAS, ETBs, the Industry and Stakeholders to address the current and future skills needed across the Sector.

Electric Vehicles (EVs) may look similar to Petrol and Diesel vehicles from the outside, under the bonnet they are very different and require a further developed skillset and much greater safety awareness. SOLAS and the Industry currently offer comprehensive Electric Vehicle training. The development of a national centre will accelerate the number of qualified technicians available to work safely on Electric Vehicles, which will go a long way to meet the skills needs for e-mobility into the future.

The 13th Annual Drogheda Motor Show "Brand New Drive 241" takes place Saturday 21st October at Laurence Street in the heart of Drogheda’s town centre from 10am to 5pm.

Best of luck to the motor dealerships taking part. With over 70 new cars and commercial vehicles on display representing 20 leading motor brands, the show offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the latest innovations in the automotive world. Visit www.BrandNewDrive.ie for more details. 🚗

Best of lucky ☘ to to all the participating Motor Dealers taking part in the inaugural Letterkenny Motor Show, Saturday 14th October from 10am until 5pm, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny Co. Donegal. This free to attend one day only family-friendly event, will showcase the new vehicle range from local franchise motor dealerships, comprising of 20 marques. For more details, visit www.letterkennymotorshow.ie
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Best of luck ☘️to all our Wexford Motor Retailers taking part in the annual Wexford Motor Show today, Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd September from 10.00am to 5.00pm on the Quays in Wexford Town.

The two-day event showcases the new electric vehicle range from local franchise motor dealerships, comprising of 27 marques, with over 120 different vehicle models all displayed in the one location.

The show is a free event which provides a great opportunity to see the large range of new vehicles available in the Irish market on one single visit, while also enjoying a family fun day.🚗🔌

Operation 'Slow Down' day began this morning

We are inviting Government Departments, Local Authorities, Public and private sector fleet operators to participate and highlight to employees that whether driving for business or private purposes, to always drive within the speed limit

An Garda Síochána carries out a number of high profile ‘Slow Down’ days each year, in support of daily speed enforcement operations.

The aim of aim of "Slow Down day” is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed.

Today we released our official 232 new vehicle registrations statistics for August and have called on the Government to invest now, extend the current Electric Vehicle incentives and invest in the charging infrastructure in the upcoming Budget.

💬"EVs registered for the first eight months of the year have broken the 20,000 barrier. This should only be viewed as a start. We have yet to return to new car sales levels that will reduce the age of the national fleet. We need to see an even greater levels of EV sales, both new and used, if we want to get close to the Government’s Climate Action ambitions."

👉https://bit.ly/SIMIrelease_september

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