21/08-08   -   Press releases

Autorola Opens in Ireland

The Autorola Group, Europe’s leading online car auction company is expanding again. The Danish company has just opened a subsidiary in Ireland, so now Autorola has online car auctions in 13 European countries. Autorola’s online car auction at www.autorola.ie is the first of its kind in Ireland. The launch of Autorola in the Irish motor trade has attracted great interest in the industry.

The new Autorola-subsidiary, with offices in Rathcoole near Dublin is managed by Eddie Lane. Eddie is well known in the motor trade in Ireland, England and Scotland and has 21 years of experience in the trade. He has worked with BMW Ireland, Scottish Car Auctions, Direct Car Finance UK and Direct Car Finance Ireland.

Eddie Lane is confident that Autorola will have a huge impact on the trade in Ireland and says:
“Autorola has a unique online car auction platform. It is simple to use and offers an effective system to allow professional car dealers, who are approved by Autorola, to bid on the cars. This makes for great efficiency and security in finalising deals."

Eddie is certain that online car auctions will offer another channel for the disposal and acquisition of stock for motor trade in Ireland:
“Standing in the rain, bidding for hours for cars you don’t get in the end, that’s the past. Using your computer from your office or at home to bid for a wide selection of well described cars, that’s the future", he stated.

The sellers have a lot of advantages, too. A digital camera, a computer and an Internet access are all they need to join Autorola’s online car auction. They can determine a reserve for the car, and only the highest bidder will learn the name of the seller. In addition to that the payment is secure and the car will be picked up, subject to agreement between the buyer and seller.

Currently, Autorola Ireland is signing car dealers for the online car auctions and making deals with leasing companies and financial institutions that want to sell cars via Autorola’s online car auctions. The interest is huge and the first auctions with cars from dealers are already running.

The opening in Ireland is the first since the successful opening in the Czech Republic earlier this year. CEO Peter Grøftehauge is pleased to welcome the Irish car sellers and buyers to the Autorola-universe:
“We are convinced that we have the right platform for the Irish trade car market and we are happy to see that the Irish sellers and buyers are reacting positively to what Autorola offer. We hope for a long term relationship", he said.

The Autorola Group is planning additional Autorola subsidiaries both in Europe and further afield in the future.

Contact persons regarding this press release:
Country Manager Edward Lane, +35 32 57 23 60
CEO Peter Grøftehauge, +45 20 62 14 07

Autorola.ie, founded in 2008, is a subsidiary of the Danish company Autocom.dk A/S. It was founded in 1996 by the brothers Peter and Martin Grøftehauge and their father, former car dealer Niels Grøftehauge. Peter Grøftehauge is the CEO. In 2001 the company started online car auctions in Denmark and following its success it initiated a European expansion in 2003. The company now have 140 employees and host on-line car auctions in 14 countries: Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and the Czech Republic and Australia. More subsidiaries both in and outside Europe are on their way. The company has also developed Autobudget, which is a car price calculation tool.