Going in the right direction

After a successful first year, a used car dealership in Cork is celebrating its first birthday by giving away €500 fuel vouchers to all buyers this month.

On top of the generous fuel vouchers, Carmaxx is also entering anyone who takes a test drive this Saturday into a draw to win a spot prize.

This time last year Fermoy-based dealership Carmaxx, the used car branch of Blackwater Motors, put the key in the ignition for its new venture and hasn’t slowed down since.

Demand has been high and business has been constant all year for the fledgeling dealership said Sales Manager Eoin Dooley.

Eoin explained: “We hit the ground running and we haven't seen a lull. It's all been so positive. We benefit from being part of the Blackwater Motors group in that we have the experience and we know what we're doing and what we're talking about.

“In Carmaxx, the benefit of buying from us is that you have such a huge selection of stock available.”

To mark its arrival in 2021, Carmaxx gave away a free Mini Cooper to a lucky customer and has since established a reputation for impeccable customer service and unbeatable value.

“This year we said rather than just having one winner, what we'll do is, anybody who buys a cars from us during the month of July will get a €500 fuel voucher. That's our way of being able to give something back and say thanks to everyone,” said Eoin.

He continued: “We're all about value. In Carmaxx, the benefit of buying from us is that you have such a huge selection of stock available. We also offer extended warranty, we offer paint protection, we have low rate finance available, so it's all under the one stop.”

Eoin said the most satisfying element of the work he and his team do at Carmaxx every day is meeting the needs of customers and making sure they leave happy.

He said: “It's all about the customer with us. We know our customers are what keep the door open, so we'll always provide them the best value and best customer service that we possibly can.

“For us, it's not just about selling the car, it's about creating a whole relationship with our customer.

“It’s providing the customer with a car they want, that fits their needs at a price that they can afford. And they know that if there are any issues, we are there to help them. They know they're going to be looked after.”

With up to 150 cars in stock at any time, and a constant influx of stock, Carmaxx prides itself on having something for everyone all year round.

“There literally is something for everyone here. Anything you want, we probably have it. We take deliveries of used cars every day. There's a huge variety to choose from and there's new stock arriving daily.”

Throughout the year, Carmaxx has been involved in a number of charity fundraisers and has sponsored a host of local GAA events. For Black Friday, Carmaxx donated €100 to Cork Penny Dinners for every car sold.

Decline in new car registration

One contributing reason for the consistent demand for used cars could be a 10% decline in new vehicle registrations in Ireland due to supply chain issues. The decline was recorded last month by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said: “New vehicle registrations continue to remain challenging, with a slowdown during the month of May, reflecting the international supply chain issues. New car registrations year to date are over 20% behind pre-Covid levels.

“The EPA have highlighted the huge challenges in meeting emissions reductions required by 2030. For transport, this means increased investment in active and public transport, and also rapidly reducing emissions from the national vehicle fleet by accelerating the move to electrification and dealing with the legacy fleet.

“The industry and consumers will need confidence that both the current levels of electric vehicle (EV) supports are continued, and that Government supports the massive investment required to create a charging infrastructure that keeps pace on an ongoing basis with the increasing numbers of EVs,” he added.