Frank Keane replaces MSL at Volkswagen

Motor dealer Frank Keane is set to take sole control of Volkswagen sales and service operations in south Dublin, replacing the firm that originally brought the brand to Ireland.

Volkswagen cars and commercial vehicles are currently sold in south Dublin by the MSL Motor Group, through its Grange Motors, Deansgrange, and MSL Ballsbridge outlets, along with a service centre in Dún Laoghaire. MSL is part of O'Flaherty Holdings.

However, responsibility will transfer to Frank Keane (South Dublin) Ltd from May 1st, provided the move is approved by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It is believed the new firm intends to operate temporarily from the Grange Motors facility under a rental agreement with MSL.

Last year, Volkswagen advertised for a dealer for the south Dublin area. It is understood this followed a decision by MSL Group not to sign up to significant new investment plans required by VW Group in order to renew its dealer contract.

Mercedes

It is expected MSL will use the vacated space at its Ballsbridge facility to expand its existing

Mercedes-Benz

operations.

The group retains a Volkswagen franchise at its Park Motors outlet on Navan Road, Dublin. MSL also has Mazda, Skoda and Hyundai franchises at its various sites in Dublin.

Along with the MSL car retail business, O'Flaherty Holdings also owns the distribution rights for Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Ireland. It has a long history with the Volkswagen brand, dating back to the 1950s when it assembled Volkswagen Beetles in Ireland – the first to be put together outside Germany.

In October 2008 it sold the national distribution rights to the Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda brands in Ireland to VW Group Ireland, a subsidiary of the German car giant.

Outside its motor interests, MSL also owns a Texas-based manufacturer of aerial hoists. Last November it added London construction equipment firm Mr Plant Hire to its operations.

O’Flaherty Holdings Ltd reported an operating profit of €15.6 million in 2014 on revenues of €350 million. It employed 1,110 staff across its businesses. It is controlled by members of the O’Flaherty family.

Long-established car dealer Frank Keane already operates a sizeable Volkswagen dealership in Liffey Valley, along with BMW and Mini outlets on the Naas Road and in Blackrock, where it took over the operations of Maxwell Motors in 2011.

Distributor

Frank Keane Holdings is also the national distributor for

Mitsubishi

cars, Fuso trucks and

Stoneridge Electronics

.

It held the Irish agency for BMW in Ireland from 1967 until 2003, when the national franchise was sold back to the German manufacturer for €7 million.