BMW Ireland has been handing out some awards to its Irish dealers and retailers at a glitzy event held in the historic Löwenbräukeller in Munich, hosted by TV superstar Dermot O'Leary.
Who were the winners on the night?
The winner of BMW Ireland retailer of the year was Conlans BMW Kildare. Frank Keane MINI Naas Road took home the prize for the best Irish MINI retailer, and there was another award - the Sustainability Retail Champion of the Year Award - which went to Colm Quinn BMW in Athlone, recognising efforts in CO₂ reduction and active involvement in the local community. The Sustainability Retail Champion of the Year Award, now in its third year, is important because it recognises and encourages efforts to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term responsible practices within the retail network.
Is this an annual event?
It probably will be now, but actually, this is the first time BMW Ireland has handed out retailer-of-the-year awards to its network. Helen Westby, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland, said: "We are delighted to be hosting our first-ever Retailer of the Year Awards alongside our colleagues in the UK, to recognise outstanding performance. The winners represent the highest standards across our network. Their focus on resilience, leadership, and customer excellence set the benchmark for our brands.”
What's next for BMW?
There's big stuff coming - the all-important, all-electric new BMW iX3 finally lands in Irish dealerships next week, on the 7th of March, and the first customer deliveries of that 800km-range premium SUV will start a week after that. Beyond that, BMW is gearing up for the full reveal of the i3 saloon - the first fully electric 3 Series, which will go on sale before the end of this year.