SIMI calling on the Gov to rescue the Motor Industry!

Furp

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhsnqlmhkfcw/

02/02/2009 - 12:17:46
The main lobby group representing the motor industry is calling on the Government to implement a rescue package for the sector.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry says the business is in crisis, with 3,000 people let go from dealerships in the last four months alone.

New-car registrations for January are down by two-thirds compared to the same month last year.

SIMI is calling on the Government to respond by cracking down on the illegal import of cars from the North and the UK and by ensuring the banks begin lending to consumers again.

I don't quite know what to say that I would write on this forum.

roosterman71

Why would the government crack down? They are still getting VRT (in most cases) and possibly VAT too.

_Kaiser_

SIMI is calling on the Government to respond by cracking down on the illegal import of cars from the North and the UK

Illegal imports?? As long as the car is reregistered here and VRT/VAT paid, you're perfectly free to import a car from wherever you like, right?

How about instead of whinging that the public are FINALLY using their initiative and shopping around rather than just taking the first price they're given, they encourage their members to be realistic in this economic climate and drop their prices/improve value-add services such as extended warranties etc.

Competition, rather than complaining, is what will save the industry.

smash

roosterman71 wrote: »

Why would the government crack down? They are still getting VRT (in most cases) and possibly VAT too.

There's nothing illegal about importing a car, and with the government down on VRT revenue they're not going to stop people from bringing in cars because they need the money!

If SIMI had any sense they'd be looking for proper solutions to the problems rather than just pointing the finger at Joe public for getting a good deal abroad!

-Chris-

Same article was quoted in another thread. My take on it is that the SIMI have a problem with people illegally driving here with un-VRT'd cars.

They've spoken out about the dangers of clocking or write-offs coming in from the UK before, but with so many dealers now importing cars, that seems less of a hot topic.

A scrappage scheme, more finance available for buyers, the ability to reclaim VRT on exported cars, etc. etc. Those are the initiatives that could make a difference.

MercMad

Havent BMW decided to "officially" import used cars from the UK ??

-Chris-

Yep

smash

MercMad wrote: »

Havent BMW decided to "officially" import used cars from the UK ??

This should make the market better for everyone as I can't see BMW paying VRT based on an OMSP set by some bloke in an office in Shannon - they'll march in and say "bullsh1t, we make the cars and we sell the cars, this is how much they're worth" In doing this, the VRO will have to adjust the values and I think a lot of manufacturers should go and do the same.

-Chris-

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0202/breaking43.htm

More info here. Crackdown requested is against illegal roadside dealers and VRT dodgers.

McSpud

It makes no sense to prop up the Irish car retail industry just like it makes no sense to give incentives to build more houses. If the government helps business create jobs that produce a product those people will then have money to spend on cars.

Next the Vintners will wants a rescue package to help pubs because people don't have money to spend.

:rolleyes:

Furp

I doubt the gov will do anyhting on this its not they can really give cash to the motor industry as it would effectivly be a tax back on the VRT they take which is very low at the moment.

ecodub

I have no sympathy for car dealers here. I bought 2 new cars in the last five years and I am the type of person who shops around. Do you think I could get a decent discount for buying a new car, even offering cash with no trade in the dealers didn't budge on the list price. I was aware of the prices in the UK and the discounts offered on the new list price. Those discounts didn't follow through to Ireland.

The car dealers have been creaming off the high profits for the last number of years with little or no concern about the customers they ripped off. I'm delighted things have turned and they now have to look after the customers and even offer substantial discounts. It's a bit too late, people are looking elsewhere now and it's totally their fault.

There is No Way the government should bail out the motor industry here. While the Americans did help (in only a small way) their Motor Industry, but then that's a manufacturing industry with millions of jobs and export revenue at stake.

I say let them burn.

R.O.R

ecodub wrote: »

I have no sympathy for car dealers here. I bought 2 new cars in the last five years and I am the type of person who shops around. Do you think I could get a decent discount for buying a new car, even offering cash with no trade in the dealers didn't budge on the list price. I was aware of the prices in the UK and the discounts offered on the new list price. Those discounts didn't follow through to Ireland.

The car dealers have been creaming off the high profits for the last number of years with little or no concern about the customers they ripped off. I'm delighted things have turned and they now have to look after the customers and even offer substantial discounts. It's a bit too late, people are looking elsewhere now and it's totally their fault.

There is No Way the government should bail out the motor industry here. While the Americans did help (in only a small way) their Motor Industry, but then that's a manufacturing industry with millions of jobs and export revenue at stake.

I say let them burn.

I say get your facts right before spouting drivel!

Dealers work off margins much smaller than 99% of the population believe them to be. Importers are the ones who set the prices and the dealers margins - have a go at them by all means, but it's not the dealers ripping off the customers.

smash

ecodub wrote: »

The car dealers have been creaming off the high profits for the last number of years with little or no concern about the customers they ripped off. I'm delighted things have turned and they now have to look after the customers and even offer substantial discounts. It's a bit too late, people are looking elsewhere now and it's totally their fault.

I'm just going to throw this out there AGAIN - I know cars are expensive in Ireland but we do have VRT and a higher rate of VAT too - I know that's no excuse for not giving a discount, but it does matter!

Voodoomelon

"Land Rover’s new passenger vehicle sales is down from 438 to just 26."

That's unbelievable.

dooardbhoy

Margins for dealerships are low on new cars and the money is mainly made on finance and the trade ins, its the distributors who are to blame for unrealistic targets and they have no control over vat and vrt. I have no doubt that the history of some uk imports is dubious to say the least but don't kid yourself that all non franchised cars are perfect in the republic. I would never buy from a non franchised/non simi dealer unless I was really sure of the car history.

Drummerboy08

ecodub wrote: »

I have no sympathy for car dealers here. I bought 2 new cars in the last five years and I am the type of person who shops around. Do you think I could get a decent discount for buying a new car, even offering cash with no trade in the dealers didn't budge on the list price. I was aware of the prices in the UK and the discounts offered on the new list price. Those discounts didn't follow through to Ireland.

The car dealers have been creaming off the high profits for the last number of years with little or no concern about the customers they ripped off. I'm delighted things have turned and they now have to look after the customers and even offer substantial discounts. It's a bit too late, people are looking elsewhere now and it's totally their fault.

There is No Way the government should bail out the motor industry here. While the Americans did help (in only a small way) their Motor Industry, but then that's a manufacturing industry with millions of jobs and export revenue at stake.

I say let them burn.

Who did the dealers rip off? The public?

Did you have a gun to your head when you signed the order form? I doubt it. If you felt you were being ripped off then why didnt you mention it now, instead of years ago?

The public fueled the greed.