Frank Keane takes on VW franchise

R.O.R

Did I miss a post on this already?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2011/0907/1224303626665.html

FRANK KEANE, who operates a major BMW dealership on Naas Road in Dublin, is to take on a Volkswagen franchise at a new premises in the Long Mile Road area.

The new dealership is due to open in October, but the plan includes the development of a completely new premises for the VW business in the next few years. According to Keane, the addition of a VW branch to his motor business will have no impact on the current BMW and Mini business operated on Naas Road, or on his recent purchase of the former Maxwell Motors premises in Blackrock.

The addition of Frank Keane to the VW dealer network marks the latest move in a significant shake-up of Volkswagen’s operations in Ireland. Alongside the new Keane dealership, MSL, the retailing arm of Motor Distributors, is taking over the VW sales operation at the site of Foster Motors in Sandyford, Co Dublin.

These changes form part of VW’s plan to have 35 dealers nationwide by 2013, with four outlets in Dublin. These include the current VW dealership in Airside, Swords, operated by McAllisters; the new outlet operated by Frank Keane; the MSL facility at Foster Motors, which will ultimately consolidate MSL’s Volkswagen operations in Dublin; and a new dealership in the north of the city that has yet to be confirmed.

A good news story for a change, hot on the heels of them taking over Maxwell's.

About time there was a VW outlet in west Dublin to replace Belgard.

Gophur

Fair play to Frank. He could have sailed off into the sunset with his BMW money a few years back, but chose to keep going with his new business.

He is well advanced in years but a shining example for the older folk.

VolvoMan

Seems pointless building a new premises from the ground up when there is already a brand new showroom White Bishop built in that location before they went bust.

With the end of scrappage, the motor trade is going to go back into a state of decline. This week we have seen Rialto Motors go under, as well as Foster Motor Co the previous week. Frank Keane is obviously a good businessman and much more successful than I am ever likely to be, but investing heavily into a new franchise with such huge demands from the manufacturer doesn't seem like such a good idea during these times.

Anan1

Gophur wrote: »

Fair play to Frank. He could have sailed off into the sunset with his BMW money a few years back, but chose to keep going with his new business.

He is well advanced in years but a shining example for the older folk.

It'd be nice if some of that money went into the service department, though - a friend of mine brought his car in for a service and coolant flush last year and they - and this is pretty much a direct quote - 'didn't know how to flush a coolant system'.

Big Nasty

VolvoMan wrote: »

Seems pointless building a new premises from the ground up when there is already a brand new showroom White Bishop built in that location before they went bust.

With the end of scrappage, the motor trade is going to go back into a state of decline. This week we have seen Rialto Motors go under, as well as Foster Motor Co the previous week. Frank Keane is obviously a good businessman and much more successful than I am ever likely to be, but investing heavily into a new franchise with such huge demands from the manufacturer doesn't seem like such a good idea during these times.

Rialto went under?

I missed that! :eek:

VolvoMan

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Rialto went under?

I missed that! :eek:

It was in the paper today.

The company that runs, Ashley, Airside and Canavan Ford is taking them over.

Big Nasty

VolvoMan wrote: »

It was in the paper today.

The company that runs, Ashley, Airside and Canavan Ford is taking them over.

I don't read the paper - I get all my news from boards!

CompleteCarGuy

My understanding is that Frank Keane is taking the White Bishop premises for the new VW dealership. He was actually thinking of opening an Alpina dealership!

godtabh

Two people across the road work there. They always have new BMWs every day. They must just take what is closest and drive home. The girlfriend generally takes a mini. The boyfriend changes depending if he playing golf or not.

Might start seeing a few VW's now!