Gowan Distributors Ltd

GeneHunt · 14-01-2022 12:21am #1

You may know of Gowan Distributors on the Naas road, they have been the main importers and distributors of Peugeot (since 1969), Honda (since 1984), KIA, Opel (since 2019) and DS Automobiles (since 2020) in Ireland. Last April, Gowan Distributors were appointed the exclusive importer and distributor of Citroen in Ireland. In early December last, Gowan Distributors purchased FCA Ireland, so they are now importers and distributors of Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat Professional here too.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/gowan-group-completes-acquisition-of-fca-ireland-1.4744854

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/citro%C3%ABn-s-irish-distributor-to-relinquish-contract-1.4368492

This I believe is going to change the dealer network across the country in the coming years, So which dealerships should get more brands or which ones should loose there dealership?

From what I can see (between google and the brand websites) Peugeot has 33, Citroen 29, Opel 35, Fiat 8, Alfa Romeo 4 and JEEP has 5. Please note some of these garages have more that one dealership currently, which could be Nissan, Ford, Suzuki or Volvo or any other brand.

What surprised me is there is only 8 Fiat dealers in the whole of Ireland and 4 of those are Alfa Romeo and 5 are JEEP dealers too.

List of car sales for Ireland in 2021 (https://stats.beepbeep.ie)

Peugeot (5,473)
Peugeot vans (2,848)
Opel (2,794)
Opel vans (2,120)
Citroen (851)
Citroen vans (1,811)
DS (37)
Fiat (208)
Fiat Professional (408)
Alfa Romeo (38)
Jeep (32)

berocca2016 · 14-01-2022 12:37am

I would say Peugeot garages gaining the addition of Jeep and Alfa-Romeo as their "premium" offering, Citroen will remain with their quasi premium DS brand along with the addition of Fiat with a heavy bias on the 500.

Honda and Opel out on their own in a relative sense.

goochy · 14-01-2022 12:45am

That makes no sense . Peugeot are doing so well they don't need other brands in their showrooms.

Opel dealers which are quite big in size should take on fiat jeep and / or Citroën .

Can't see alfa succeeding not matter what.

Jeep did well for a no of years in Ireland and 4x4 and suvs are in vogue so they just need to target buyers more .

Toyotafanboi · 14-01-2022 8:58am

I find the dominance of some brands getting ever stronger and you'd have to wonder will the tide ever turn on that.

If you look at Toyota/ VW/ Hyundai last year as a standalone brands they shifted almost as many units as the clatter of other stuff Gowans have. Would it be lucrative to operate 11 small brands and all the standards they require just to sell as many cars as Toyota last year?

chicorytip · 14-01-2022 5:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058227884/gowan-distributors-ltd

Gowan import the vehicles but the majority of the dealerships are independently owned and run by franchise holders. Fiat, Alfa and Jeep are part of the same conglomerate, Stellantis , formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. I was unaware Gowan distribute Kia here, as you say. I thought the Sinnott group, who distribute Hyundai, did - Kia being a subsidiary of Hyundai.

Hellrazer · 14-01-2022 7:45pm

The Gowan Group doesnt distribute Kia here - They have one dealership on the Navan Road.Thats as far as their partnership with Kia goes.

Hellrazer · 14-01-2022 8:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118472071#Comment_118472071

Id say some of these brands will be gone in the future, A lot of them are using the same platforms / engines etc.

I doubt Opel will last too long or Fiat/Alfa for that matter. Jeep will probably last due to the US market. Citroen will probably last aswell.

I wouldnt even bet against "stellantis" becoming a super manufacturer and consolidating some of these brands into a Kia /Toyota / Hyundai /VAG competitor in the future.

That list could become realistically only 3/4 brands left in a few years-Peugeot,Citroen, Jeep, Possibly Alfa as a premium brand.Maybe a single commercial badge since the Vivaro / Expert / Ducato / Relay(?) are basically the same vehicle - same as the combo / partner/ doblo / berlingo??

Im not well up on Citroen Commercials so I could be using the wrong model names.

colm_mcm · 14-01-2022 8:27pm

The strategy of producing one van with loads of different badges is working though, people are funny about brand loyalty. Like they’d buy a Proace but not an Expert.

The Stellantis thing is very British Leyland at the moment (bar the strikes)

GeneHunt · 14-01-2022 9:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118476287#Comment_118476287

Your right, apologies for the confusion, KIA is not distributed by Gowan

GeneHunt · 14-01-2022 11:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475587#Comment_118475587

I know the dealerships are independently owned, but does Gowan not have a say on where the franchise go?

goochy · 15-01-2022 12:00am

Distributors pull the strings with dealers They say jump - dealer says how high? Dealers are desperate to hold onto franchises and as said opel are no longer a big seller so dealers will be happy to be able to sell other brands without upsetting the distributor.

Stellantis products might not sell well here but they sell much better in other countries like the UK even considering the higher population

crosstownk · 15-01-2022 12:05am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118476489#Comment_118476489

Lots of French influence so I wouldn't rule out strikes when some degree of consolidation is eventually proposed.

AMKC · 15-01-2022 11:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118476356#Comment_118476356

I doubt Opel will last too long or Fiat/Alfa for that matter. Jeep will probably last due to the US market. Citroen will probably last aswell.

I disagree. Opel are just getting better now and I think they will still be around. Fiat and Alfa might asxwell be gone from here but they are doing well in other markets so they will not disappear either just from here maybe. I see Jeep going from here too unless they up there advertising as no one is buying them.

Water2626262 · 16-01-2022 8:19am

People are saying Opel is on the way out (which is a fair assumption given the line up the past few years) but wasn’t Peugeot in the doldrums a few years back and look at them now. Opel was only acquired a few years back by psv or whatever they are called now. There are high expectations for the next few models to be released.

GeneHunt · 18-01-2022 12:07pm

Does another know if Gowan has the Maserati franchise too as part of this buyout of FAI Ireland, as I have googled it, but it's not mentioned in any articles that I have found?

GeneHunt · 26-01-2022 6:13pm

Interesting article about the Gowan Group

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/gowan-motors-chief-takes-dim-view-of-stalled-new-car-supply-1.4781520

GeneHunt · 26-01-2022 8:43pm

Another article from last week, on The Irish Times this time it's aimed at Fiat, Alfa Romeo and JEEP.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/irish-motorists-fell-out-of-love-with-fiat-john-saunders-thinks-he-can-change-that-1.4774606

GeneHunt · 19-09-2022 5:30pm

I see Gowan Distributors has a very large stand (Block 2 Row 25 Stand No. 419) at the National Ploughing Championship this year, as part of their stand they have listed all their brands they current have, as follows: Alfa Romeo, Citroen, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Honda, Opel, Peugeot & Jeep. This is Gowans first outing to the ploughing post COVID and as Gowan would usually have a new model on display, which could even be a left-hand drive model brought into the country specially for the event. I wonder what new models might they will have this week? I‘ve listed a few new models I think they could have.

The new Alfa Romeo Tonale

The new Peugeot 408

The new Citroen C5 X

The facelifted DS Automobiles DS7 Crossback

User1998 · 19-09-2022 6:34pm

There is an Alfa, Fiat, Jeep, Suzuki and Peugeot garage all in one on the Greenhills Road. Now I know why

colm_mcm · 19-09-2022 6:53pm

At least Peugeots sell.

goochy · 06-10-2022 3:40pm

Bit of a coup for Gowan group getting Autoboland ( Bolands) in Waterford to take on Alfa , fiat and Jeep . Not sure which premises that they they will be sold from . Autoboland / Bolands have become the most accountant run motor group ( even more so than Joe Duffys ) in the country , since the last recession.

For Forks Sake · 07-10-2022 8:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119709315#Comment_119709315

Plenty of space in the Autoboland premises thay already have, they can add the Stellantis nonsense to all the Hondas that they're not selling.

goochy · 08-10-2022 9:02am

Seems they are planning to movie the brands into the current T & C motors showrooms when T & C move to new showrooms . Not sure if Honda will go probably as Gowan do Honda too

GeneHunt · 13-10-2022 12:05am

https://www.breakingnews.ie/lifestyle/fiat-alfa-romeo-and-jeep-re-launch-in-ireland-1375781.html

I spotted this article today (above) Gowan Group has appointed three dealers with a few FCA brands. now in the article they mention Autoboland in Cork, I think that's a miss-print or maybe AutoBoland is planning on setting up a new garage in Cork.

AutoBoland in Waterford (Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional and Jeep) currently has Honda, Volvo, and I think Jaguar & Land Rover

https://www.autoboland.ie/

https://www.autoboland.com/

Dooley's of Carlow (Fiat, Fiat Professional vans, and Jeep) currently has Ford & KIA

https://dooleymotors.com/

Fitzpatricks of Kildare (Fiat, Fiat Professional vans, and Jeep) currently has Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes Benz & Opel

goochy · 13-10-2022 9:49am

Cork already have a very good dealer so cant see that changing , Dan Seamans may take on other Gowan franchises but would imagine Gowan are happy with Seamans premises and sales ( compared to other dealers )

KrisW1001 · 04-12-2022 10:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119737309#Comment_119737309

Just for a (late) update. It is indeed AutoBoland in Waterford. Their previous Honda/Volvo showroom on the Cork Road is now FIAT/Alfa/Jeep, Honda and Volvo.

Gowan Distributors Ltd

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