MG further expands its reach with a new Northern Ireland Dealership opening to boost sales.

MG Motor UK has made another significant step forward in its national dealer development strategy, with the appointment of Greg Mitchell MG. 

Established in 2006, the Strabane-based dealership provides vehicle servicing, MOT provision, body repair and computerised diagnostics for motorists nationwide. Renowned for delivering excellent customer service and aftersales, the dealership boasts a highly-loyal customer base. 

Joining the MG network will see Greg Mitchell MG further expand its site at Victoria Bridge, opening a brand-new dealership and forecourt dedicated to the sale of MG’s latest model range. From the stylish MG3 Supermini (OTR from just £8,695) to the family-friendly SUV, the MG GS (starting from £15,095), there’s a perfect model for every driver. 

The deal is further evidence of MG’s emergence as a serious player in the competitive volume car market, a claim supported by impressive recent sales volumes and the company’s best quarter ever for new vehicle registrations.* 

Recent statistics from The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) name MG as one of the UK’s fastest-growing automotive brands, a title gained through the ongoing development of an affordable model range and dedicated dealer network. 

Greg Mitchell, Owner of Greg Mitchell MG, commented: “Joining the MG dealer network is a big step forward for our business. As a household name, we’re confident that drivers across Northern Ireland will be impressed with the latest MG model range. 

“Affordable, practical and family-friendly, modern MGs blend style and performance to deliver an impressive drive. Each model is fitted with the latest driving technology and infotainment equipment, yet remains surprisingly affordable.” 

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, added: “With an excellent local reputation for friendly service and expert advice, we’re pleased to welcome Greg Mitchell MG to the MG dealer network. 

“The partnership will provide motorists across Northern Ireland with even greater access to our latest model range, helping to deliver further business growth for both parties.” 

Greg Mitchell MG will officially open its MG dealership on Friday 26th May, alongside exclusively unveiling MG’s new compact SUV – the MG XS – which was revealed at the London Motor Show earlier this month. Rory Best, the Ireland rugby captain, will also attend the launch. 

White remains the UK's best selling colour for the fourth year running.

• White UK’s favourite new car colour for fourth consecutive year, but demand falls for the first time since 2005 – down -2.1%.
• 2016 sees highest number of black cars registered in the UK since 2007 – 542,862.
• Yellow back in top 10, with 12,431 cars registered – double the figure from five years ago.

White maintained its position as the UK’s most popular new car colour for the fourth year in a row in 2016, according to data published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 

More than half a million new car buyers chose the colour last year – a fifth of all registrations – although figures show its popularity is starting to fade with demand falling -2.1%, the first drop since 2005.

White and black are the nation’s two favourite car colours – of the 2.69 million new cars registered in 2016, white (552,329) and black (542,862) took more than 40% market share. 

While white maintained its lead in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in England it was overtaken by black as the new car colour of choice.

Nationally, the third and fourth most popular colours were grey and blue, both gaining market share. Meanwhile, yellow cars appeared in the top 10 for the first time since 2013 at the expense of mauve, which dropped to 11th place.

Regionally, black topped the chart in the South East while also overtaking white as the favourite new car colour in East Anglia and the West Midlands. 

However, white continued to be most popular across the rest of the country, with buyers in the South West, East Anglia, East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North all following the national trend.

Car colours: Biggest winners and losers in 2016

Going up

• Pink may still be a niche colour choice, but last year demand grew 82.7% to 3,527 units.
• A 44% rise in demand for Bronze cars saw a record 8,902 people spec the colour in 2016.
• Turquoise’s popularity grew fourfold last year, from just 792 registrations in 2015 to 2,718.

Going down

• Is brown’s time in the top 10 coming to an end? Demand fell -40.1%, dropping it one place to ninth.
• Appetite for beige fell -27.6% to under 10,000 for the first time since 2000 with 8,426 cars registered.
• Silver saw the biggest volume decline, falling 22,209, with 273,220 buyers choosing it compared with 843,870 in its heyday back in 2004.

NORTHERN IRELAND - New Infiniti dealership to be opened in Belfast, the first in the country.

• New Centre in Belfast begins operations
• Mervyn Stewart Limited partners with INFINITI

INFINITI has opened its first-ever retail store in Northern Ireland. From 4^th November 2016, the centre in Belfast starts to begin business operations, opening up a new era for INFINITI with the full European product range available to customers in Northern Ireland. The opening of this new centre demonstrates the continuous growth of the brand in the UK and across Europe.

The introduction of INFINITI Centre Belfast brings with it a new partner to the brand: Mervyn Stewart Limited invests in an all new site on Boucher Crescent. The family-run business, which has been operating in Northern Ireland for over 50 years will carry out a design redevelopment to the premises to meet with INFINITI’s customer experience standards known as IREDI – INFINITI Retail Environment Design Initiative. The new site is expected to be completed in early 2017 but will initially operate from one of INFINITI’s unique temporary retail sales environments, specifically designed to accommodate this development phase.

Managing Director Stephen Stewart from Mervyn Stewart Limited said: “We are very pleased to introduce the premium brand of Infiniti to Northern Ireland. I am sure our customers will enjoy not only the exciting range of products on offer but also the environment and experience we will provide.”

Since the introduction of the British built Q30 earlier this year and the more recent QX30, new car registrations in the UK have been dramatically increasing month on month. Sales so far in 2016 have increased by nearly 150%. 

Barry Beeston, Regional Director for INFINITI in the UK commented: “Infiniti is now well on its way to establishing itself within the UK automotive industry as a challenger brand. Increased sales has placed the company as one of the fastest growing automotive brands in the UK. Expansion of the centre network is an important part of our growth strategy and now with the opening of INFINITI Centre Belfast it allows our brand reach to go further than ever before.”   

INFINITI is currently introducing a new range of products to its portfolio and this continues with the imminent introduction of the new 2-door coupe Q60 which has a starting price of £33,990.   

A Northern Ireland car dealer with over 100 year’s history is the latest to join the MG Motor UK franchise.

A Northern Ireland car dealer with over 100 year’s history is the latest to join the MG Motor UK franchise.

T.M. Martin & Son is a well-known dealership in Killyleagh, County Down with years of history. Back in 1907, the family-run business was first established as a cycle manufacturer. 

Since then, the business has been loyal to selling Longbridge-built vehicles; so it seemed fitting for the family to bring in the latest range of MGs.

John Martin, Dealer Principal of T.M. Martin & Son, said: “We’ve had an association with cars built in Longbridge for many years, so to keep the tradition going we wanted to get MG into our showroom again after all this time.

“I’ve been working for the family business since 1961; which at the time made up three generations in the business. We have always prided ourselves on giving our customers the best customer service, for which we have been awarded Masters of Quality many times, and we look forward to extending this out to our new customers.”

Matthew Cheyne, MG’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “We are really pleased to welcome T.M. Martin & Son to the network; it’s great to welcome onboard a dealer with such a rich history.

“With this dealer becoming our third in Northern Ireland, we’re glad to see our presence is growing in this area and we hope to do the same with others areas in the UK.”

Based in Northern Ireland, SERE Ltd sold the most units making it the Ssangyong Dealer of the year.

• SERE Ltd of Belfast has been named SsangYong Dealer of the Year.

Presented with their award at a glittering gala dinner held on board the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, the dealership was congratulated on selling more cars than any other in the SsangYong UK dealer network.

Their achievement was made all the more significant having only held the franchise since September 2014.

Paul Williams, CEO of SsangYong Motor UK said: “Sincere congratulations to everyone at SERE - sales, aftersales and management. This is a great achievement, and a beacon to all our dealers to demonstrate what can be achieved.”

“We are naturally delighted,” commented Stanley Edgar, managing director of SERE Ltd, which is based in Boucher Road, Belfast. “This is a great accolade for the whole team who have worked so hard.  Getting a new franchise bedded into a dealership inevitably takes some time and effort.  Everyone has pulled together and the results we have achieved with SsangYong in just over a year are a credit to them all.”

Added SERE general manager, Bernard McCotter who accepted the award, “The SsangYong franchise has done extremely well since we launched just over a year ago.  We are very pleased to have received the Dealer of the Year award and are confident the franchise will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”

IRELAND - Hyundai is awarded the 2016 Car Of The Year, for the New Generation i20 Supermini.

• First time a Hyundai model has received top award in Northern Ireland
• New Generation i20 recognised for its sophisticated styling, high quality interior and stable and secure handling combined with unbeatable value
• Judged by members of the Ulster Motoring Writers’ Association
• New Generation i20 is Hyundai’s third best-selling model in the region

Hyundai Motor UK is celebrating yet another award victory after its New Generation i20 was named 2016 NIIB Northern Ireland ‘Car of the Year’ – the first time a Hyundai model has received this top award from the Ulster Motoring Writers’ Association (UMWA).

The ultra-stylish supermini was praised by Jim McCauley, Chairman of the UMWA: “The i20 has immediate appeal in terms of its sophisticated styling and high quality interior.  And the admiration continues as you take to the road with its stable and secure handling and an excellent choice of engines.  The final surprise is its competitive pricing for what is overall a quality package that represents excellent value for money, and is underwritten by a 5 Year unlimited mileage warranty.”

Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO: “We are delighted to receive this award from the Ulster Motoring Writers’ Association. The i20 has been and continues to be a very important car for the Hyundai brand. With the i20 Active and a new 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo engine joining the New Generation i20 5-door and Coupe range in early 2016, we believe it will continue to offer customers stylish, practical, economical and value for money alternatives in Britain’s most popular car sector.”

The New Generation i20 is a strong competitor in the popular B-segment and since its launch in January 2015, we have sold nearly 12,000 units across the UK. It is also the 3^rd biggest seller in Northern Ireland behind the ix35 and i10.

IRELAND - Mazda takes two awards at this years UMWA, Car Of The Year Awards with teh Mazda 2 and 6 Tourer.

• The all-new Mazda2 named Best Supermini by the Ulster Motoring Writers Association.
• The Mazda6 Tourer takes the sought-after Best Executive Car award.
• Mazda’s fully SKYACTIV range available from five dealers across Northern Ireland.

With awards for both the all-new Mazda2 and the Mazda6 Tourer, Mazda has been honoured twice by the Ulster Motoring Writers Association at the annual Northern Ireland Car of the Year Awards.

In a year that has seen the debut of three all-new models, plus substantially revised versions of the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6, Mazda’s line-up is now one of the youngest in the industry.

Launched in March, the all-new Mazda2 is priced from £11,995 to £17,395 on-the-road (OTR) with a five level grade structure – SE, SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport and Sport Nav. Bringing new levels of technical sophistication, driving pleasure and active safety to the B-Segment, attractive finance offers ensure the all-new Mazda2 is also a great value proposition in the ultra-competitive supermini marketplace. Since the 1^st September, the range has been boosted by the all-new Mazda2 Sport Black special edition, which offers extra standard equipment and enhanced personalisation in a stylish and great value package.

Recognising the all-round appeal of the all-new Mazda2, leading Northern Irish motoring writer Jim McCauley commented: “The Mazda2 triumphed in the hotly contested Supermini category by providing increased passenger accommodation, and in the case of the featured car, its delightfully willing 90PS petrol engine.”

The judging panel also handed the coveted Best Executive Car title to the Mazda6 Tourer, “fighting off stiff competition from the prestige German marques, the Mazda6 was lauded as an exceptionally fine driving car with a powerful yet economical diesel engine, well balanced suspension and excellent steering response. Overall styling, load carrying capacity and quality finish clinched the decision,” commented the judges.

Across the 28-strong Saloon and Tourer range, the Mazda6 features improved standard equipment and refreshed styling. Upgraded cabin design and enhanced refinement ensure it continues to be a popular choice for business and private buyers, while flagship Sport Nav models are now distinguished by new exterior features including a re-styled grille with a signature wing design that incorporates LED headlights.

The entire Mazda range now features Mazda’s award-winning SKYACTIV technology and eye-catching KODO: Soul of Motion design.  The all-new Mazda MX-5, all-new Mazda CX-3 and revised Mazda CX-5 star alongside the Northern Ireland Car of the Year award-winning all-new Mazda2 and Mazda6 in Mazda’s five Ulster dealerships.