Merlin Car Auctions Ireland

SIMI Approved

Merlin Car Auctions Celebrates Award Win


  • Merlin Live Online (Merlin Car Auctions) Kildare was declared Innovation of the Year at the inaugural Irish Motor Industry Awards

Merlin Car Auctions was presented with the Innovation of the Year trophy at the first ever awards ceremony for the Irish motor industry.

The honour was awarded to Merlin’s online business for depth of commitment to online investment that delivers sales performance, cost efficiencies and enhanced purchasing experience.

Backed by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), the official voice of the motor industry in Ireland, and sponsored by Castrol Professional, the specialist lubricants and business improvement solutions provider, the awards took place at Killashee House Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare.

David Byrne, MD of Merlin Car Auctions said: “We are absolutely delighted with our award.  Innovation has been a key contributor to the success of our business in recent years and our Merlin Live Online facility is a state of the art platform that enables our customers to bid, view or buy from their office or home in real time. We pride ourselves on our innovative services and our investment has been substantial over the past 12 months in online service enhancements for our customers, which include our new website, shortlisted for the Eircom Spiders Retail Excellence award. We would like to thank the SIMI and Castrol Professional for this highly prestigious award, which will have pride of place at our auction branch in Naas”.

Alan Nolan, Director General of SIMI, said: “I’d like to congratulate Merlin Car Auctions. The winners of these inaugural industry awards are very deserving of the recognition they received and they represent the pinnacle of success in what has been a difficult period for the industry.  Everyone at Merlin Car Auctions should be very proud of their achievements over the last year and of winning this award.”

Dave Watson, Head of Castrol Professional in Ireland, said: “It was exciting to see the industry coming together to celebrate best practice and I congratulate Merlin Car Auctions because I understand the shortlist was of an exceptionally high standard.  Businesses such as Merlin are at the leading edge of the industry’s recovery from the recession and are a shining example of the innovation, hard work and quality of service exhibited by those in the motor trade.”

The full list of winners at the inaugural SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in association with Castrol Professional are:

  • Retail Operation of the Year:                Cunningham Higgins, Galway
  • Aftersales Operation of the Year:          Joe Duffy Motors, Dublin
  • Innovation of the Year:                        Merlin Car Auctions
  • Unsung Hero of the Year:                     The Drogheda SIMI Members
  • Franchise Dealer of the Year:                Cavanaghs of Charleville

For full details of the 2010 SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards in association with Castrol Professional, please visit www.irishmotorindustryawards.ie.