Examining Trends in the Irish Motoring Industry

CARZONE MOTORING REPORT

JUNE 2017

We are proud to present

the latest edition of the

Carzone motoring report,

an established authority

on buyer preferences

and trends in the Irish

motoring industry.

As with previous iterations of the report, we

sent a survey out to Irish motorists, asking

them about a range of motoring topics,

from their fuel preferences to their thoughts

on in-car technology and how they go

about buying and selling cars, where they

like buying them and how - and how much

they are paying for them. To give the data

more meaning we looked in detail at the

differences between genders, across the

country and between those living in urban

and rural areas.

A significant 2,647 respondents contributed

to a comprehensive and illuminating series

of answers for us to sift through and

distil into bite-sized chunks of compelling

information. To get a different perspective,

we also asked a cross-section of Irish car

retailers what they thought.

Cartell.ie's transaction data was added to

this, confirming that used car sales continue

to rise in Ireland year-on-year. That was

all further reinforced by analysing the 67

million searches carried out on Carzone

between January 1st and the end of May

this year, giving this Report more depth

than any other summary in the industry.

We hope you find it informative and

interesting in equal measure. As ever,

Cartell.ie provided extra data and this year

it revealed that used car sales figures are

at an all-time high. We hope you find the

report useful.

WELCOME

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

2 | Motoring Report

67 MILLION SEARCHESWE SURVEYED 2,647 IRISH MOTORISTSCARRIED OUT ON CARZONE FROM JANUARY 1ST TO MAY 31ST 2017

3

BUYING A CARAs we've seen in previous years, there's a clear

upwards trend for used car sales in Ireland,

as more and more people change their cars

regularly. Our survey respondents indicate

that they, on average, change cars every five

years (50%), and that about 47% of people

stick to the same brand, too.

Our investigation into urban versus rural

motorists threw up some interesting statistics,

including the fact that 44% of urban drivers

have a petrol car, against only 13% of those

living in a rural area. And the petrol vs. diesel

divide is found between the genders too,

where only 17% of men drive a petrol car, while

48% of women do.

66%8%

are looking at purchasing a 141 vehicle as their next purchase

8% are looking at purchasing a 171 vehicle

as their next purchase

141

171

2017 USED CAR TRANSACTIONS 556,507UNTIL END OF MAY

2016 USED TRANSACTIONS TO END OF MAY

TRANSACTIONS UP 2.3% FROM

2016

543,943 2.3%

4 | Motoring Report

45% purchase cars between

12% purchase cars with less than

KM

KM

KM

FUEL

TYPES

MILEAGE MATTERS

48% of Irish women have a petrol car

17% of Irish men have a petrol car

44% of respondents living in an urban area have a petrol car compared to 51% who have diesel

51% of respondents have a diesel car in an urban area compared to 81% of respondents

who live in a rural area

URBAN VS RURAL

PETROL DRIVERS

MOST POPULAR CAR TYPES

1. HATCHBACK

2. SALOON

3. ESTATE

4. SUV

5. COUPE

48%

1 7%

PETROL/DIESEL

SEARCH

DATA

57&

5

HOW OFTEN PEOPLE

CHANGE THEIR CAR

WHERE PEOPLE INTEND TO

SELL THEIR CAR

EVERY 2 YEARS 7%EVERY 3 YEARS 14%EVERY 4 YEARS 11%EVERY 5 YEARS 50%

TRADE IN 83%PRIVATELY 10%SELL TO FRIENDS/FAMILY 4%

6 | Motoring Report

PLANNING

AHEAD

60% 59%

15%

INTEND ON BUYING A NEW OR USED CAR IN THE NEXT YEAR

INTEND ON SELLING THEIR CAR IN THE NEXT YEAR

ARE STILL UNDECIDED

7

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

AUDI A6

AUDI A4

FORD FOCUS

BMW 5 SERIES

BMW

AUDI

VOLKSWAGEN

MERCEDES-BENZ

FORD

TOYOTA

NATIONWIDEMOST POPULAR

MAKE

NATIONWIDEMOST POPULAR

MODEL

SEARCH DATA JANUARY-MAY 2017

The search data from Carzone makes for interesting

reading, as ever, reflecting shifts in trends and the

interest of buyers. While the most searched for car is

still the Volkswagen Golf, the new-shape Mercedes-

Benz E-Class has shot up the charts, from sixth

place last year to second place now. This is probably

due to the great press coverage the new model has

received, but also perhaps because Mercedes made

a very bold, across-the-range price reduction at the

start of this year, which has clearly got it a lot of

attention.

Carzone users are quite an aspirational bunch in

general, as the top four searched for brands are

BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, ahead

of the mass market Ford and Toyota.

Although electric and hybrid cars make up a smaller

portion of searches, interest in these type of cars

has increased massively so far in 2017. The Nissan

LEAF remains the most-searched for electric car on

Carzone and indeed the best-selling new electric

model in Ireland, while Toyota’s Auris, Yaris and Prius

models feature highly in the hybrid ranks.

8 | Motoring Report

TOYOTA AURIS

MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

TOYOTA YARIS

TOYOTA PRIUS

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER

HONDA CIVIC

NISSAN LEAF

HYUNDAI IONIQ

VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF

RENAULT FLUENCE

RENAULT ZOE

BMW i3

NATIONWIDEMOST POPULAR

ELECTRIC

NATIONWIDEMOST POPULAR

HYBRID & PLUG-IN HYBRID

NATIONWIDEMOST POPULAR

CAR COLOUR

2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS IN BLACKMOST SEARCHED FOR NEW CAR IN IRELAND

BLACK 16%

WHITE 11%

BLUE 4%

SILVER 3%

RED 3%

9

NATIONWIDE

MOTORING TRENDS

MUNSTER58% of Munster respondents have a diesel car, 83% of these would buy a diesel again

61% of Munster respondents are not aware of Ireland’s Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme37% of Munster respondents could not live without a Bluetooth handsfree kit

CONNACHT76% of Connacht respondents prefer to drive to work, with 55% of these stating the reason being there is no public transport in their area

29% of Connacht respondents would be comfortable being a passenger in a self-driving car

81% of Connacht respondents stated that their insurance premium has increased in the last year

LEINSTER75% of Leinster respondents have a diesel car, 93% of these would buy diesel again

76% of Leinster respondents think a cars technology is very important in the purchasing decision58% of Leinster respondents could not live without a GPS/navigation system

ULSTER

35% of Ulster respondents would consider buying an electric or hybrid car in the future68% of Ulster respondents are not aware of Ireland’s Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme

48% of Ulster respondents believe a cars technology is very important when purchasing a new car

10 | Motoring Report

MOST POPULAR

SEARCHES

11

MONAGHAN

Make: Audi

Model: Skoda Octavia

Year: 2012

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

CAVAN

Make: Nissan

Model: Qashqai

Year: 2012

Colour: White

Fuel: Diesel

DUBLIN

Make: Volkswagen

Model: Golf

Year: 2014(141)

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

SLIGO

Make: Volkswagen

Model: Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Year: 2014 (141)

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

GALWAY

Make: Volkswagen

Model: Golf

Year: 2014 (141)

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

CORK

Make: Ford

Model: Focus

Year: 2017 (171)

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

WATERFORD

Make: Audi

Model: Volkswagen Golf

Year: 2017 (171)

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

SLIGO

GALWAY

CAVAN

DUBLIN

WATERFORD

CORK

MONAGHAN

MOST POPULAR SEARCHES

BY COUNTY

COUNTY MAKE MODEL YEAR(S) COLOUR FUEL

DUBLIN VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

CORK FORD FOCUS 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

LIMERICK FORD GOLF 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

GALWAY VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

KILDARE FORD FOCUS 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

CARLOW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

WEXFORD AUDI GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

WATERFORD AUDI GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

LOUTH VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

MEATH VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017 (171) WHITE DIESEL

WESTMEATH MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

LONGFORD AUDI A4 2013 (131) BLACK DESEL

LAOIS VOLKSWAGEN FOCUS 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

COUNTY MAKE MODEL YEAR(S) COLOUR FUEL

OFFALY FORD FOCUS 2012 WHITE DIESEL

KILKENNY VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

TIPPERARY VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

CLARE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

MAYO VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

SLIGO VOLKSWAGEN E-CLASS 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

LEITRIM VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

ROSCOMMON VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

KERRY FORD FOCUS 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

CAVAN NISSAN QASHQAI 2012 WHITE DIESEL

DONEGAL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2017 (171) BLACK DIESEL

MONAGHAN AUDI OCTAVIA 2012 BLACK DIESEL

WICKLOW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

12 | Motoring Report

COMMUTE

TIMES

64%

78%43%

85%

ONEHOUR

67%

12%

USE THEIR CAR EVERYDAY

USE THEIR CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK

USE THEIR CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK FROM

USE THEIR CAR TO TRAVEL TO WORK FROM

SPEND LESS THAN30 MINUTESON THEIR COMMUTE TO WORK

TRAVEL TIME TOWORK

HAVE OVER

RURAL AREAS

URBAN AREAS

13

CAR TECHNOLOGYA significant 69% of our survey respondents

feel that in-car technology is important to

them. The most commonly used items include

parking sensors, cruise control and Bluetooth

telephony, and most buyers (85%) expect to

see Bluetooth in a car nowadays, revealing an

admission that using a mobile phone at the

wheel is no longer acceptable.

However, it's satnav that comes out on

top as the gadget that motorists couldn't

live without. Oddly, though 65% of people

regularly use parking sensors, most of them

think they could do just fine without.

69% 73%

48% SAYING THEY COULD LIVE WITHOUT PARKING SENSORS

IRISH DRIVERS ARE CONFIDENT PARKERS WITH

believe a cars technology is very important when

purchasing a car

of Irish people see fully self-driving cars arriving

in their lifetime

14 | Motoring Report

MOTORING

TECHNOLOGY

63% are aware of Ireland's electrical vehicle grant scheme

ELECTRICAL VEHICLE GRANT SCHEME

88% 25-34 YEAR OLDSwould consider purchasing a Hybrid car

31% OVER 35swould consider purchasing a Hybrid car

56% would consider purchasing a hybrid car in the near future

HYBRID CAR BUYERS

67% OF RURAL RESIDENTS

WOULD PURCHASE A HYBRID CAR

COMPARED TO 34% OF URBAN

RESIDENTS

15

POPULAR

TECHNOLOGY

PARKING SENSORS 65%

CRUISE CONTROL 61%

BLUETOOTH HANDSFREE KIT 37 %

GPS/NAVIGATION SYSTEM 47%

BLUETOOTH HANDSFREE KIT 25%

PARKING SENSORS 9%

BLUETOOTH HANDSFREE KIT 85%

PARKING SENSORS 41%

CRUISE CONTROL 34%

IRISH DRIVERS CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

MOST-USED CAR TECHNOLOGIES ARE

IRISH DRIVERS EXPECT TO SEE THE FOLLOWING WHEN

PURCHASING A CAR

16 | Motoring Report

MONEY

MATTERS

¤120-15051% spend between ¤120 and

¤150 on running costs per month

¤151-200 13% spend between

¤151 and ¤200 per month

HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASEIN THEIR INSURANCE PREMIUM

IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

INSURANCE ROAD TAX NCT

88%MONTHLY SPEND

ON RUNNING COSTS

REPAIRS

¤300+ 9% spend ¤300 or more per month

3

1

4FUEL

2

TOP 4 CONCERNS 17

BRAND

LOYALTY

360VIDEO

WIFIIN DEALERSHIPS

INTERACTIVETABLET

THE TOP 3 TECHNOLOGIES THAT DEALERSHIPS WILL BE INVESTING IN TO ENHANCE THE

CUSTOMER'S EXPERIENCE ARE

RETAILER RESEARCH

DATA

18 | Motoring Report

DEALERSHIP

INSIGHT

Bank Loan 44% Credit Union Loan 17% Cash 16%

PCP 46%Bank Loan 36% Credit Union Loan 3%

PURCHASING A USED CAR

PURCHASING A NEW CAR

POPULAR FORMS OF PAYMENT WHEN

POPULAR FORMS OF PAYMENT WHEN

DEALERSHIPS ARE

INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY

DEALERSHIPS ARE

BIG TECH USERS

85% OF DEALERSHIPS ARE INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE CUSTOMER’S EXPERIENCE

88% OF DEALERSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY USING TECHNOLOGY TO FACILITATE THE TECH - SAVVY CUSTOMER

43% OF RETAILERS SELL A CAR WITHIN 1 WEEK

RETAILER RESEARCH

DATA

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CARZONE MOTORING REPORTJUNE 2017