| Due to literature and perhaps the influence of mass | | | | car in Northern Ireland for that year, while the Ford |
| media, some people have romantic notions of going | | | | Fiesta made it to the rank of fifth-top-selling car for |
| to Ireland and perhaps relocating there completely. | | | | the area. This has allowed Ford to snare up to 12% |
| And along with the concept of relocation comes the | | | | of this UK Province's market share for itself as of |
| idea of buying a new car. But before you pack your | | | | 2005. Incidentally, Ford Motor Company is celebrating |
| bags and head to "Ireland" you must know some | | | | its 90 th year of service and presence in Ireland as a |
| basic facts first. | | | | whole this 2007. |
| First, when you speak of Ireland, there are actually | | | | Despite Ford's market leadership of Northern Ireland |
| two of them. One is the Republic of Ireland which is | | | | though, Toyota may not be far behind as the |
| an independent and sovereign state that is NOT part | | | | Toyota Aygo was able to snare the award of AXA |
| of the United Kingdom. The other Ireland would be | | | | Northern Ireland Car of the Year 2006/2007 given |
| the part commonly referred to as Northern Ireland. | | | | out by the Ulster Motoring Writers Association (under |
| The history of these two Irelands is bloody and long | | | | sponsorship of insurance company AXA.) |
| and you would need a long time to completely digest | | | | Most activity in the Northern Ireland automotive |
| why there are now two Irelands existing in Europe. | | | | industry supply chain can be found in the vicinity of |
| For now, this is sufficient. | | | | Belfast/County/Antrim area. However, Northern |
| Northern Ireland is the Ireland which is still relatively | | | | Ireland itself lacks volume vehicle manufacturers of |
| under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. Thus | | | | any sort. Despite this lack, Northern Ireland does |
| people who were born in Northern Ireland may carry | | | | have the Queens University Belfast where mechanical |
| both Irish and British citizenship at the same time. Still, | | | | engineering first- and post-graduate degrees are |
| there is still interaction between the Republic of | | | | offered, with emphasis on internal combustion |
| Ireland and Northern Ireland – one example is | | | | engines. There are also some other colleges where |
| that much of the fuel bought in the Republic of | | | | disciplines linked in some way to automobiles are |
| Ireland is actually meant for consumption in Northern | | | | offered. So when you are scouting for a UK new |
| Ireland. | | | | cars dealer in Northern Ireland, you may want to |
| As of 2005 (according to data from the Society of | | | | casually ask where he or the dealership salespeople |
| Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ford), Ford | | | | and/or mechanics got their training (which is a good |
| remains the top UK new cars manufacturer in | | | | indicator of how well they know the inner workings |
| Northern Ireland since there were more Ford cars | | | | of the cars they sell.) |
| bought in that year in Northern Ireland than any | | | | Hopefully, all these facts gleaned for you may help |
| other car made by other manufacturers. Of special | | | | you in your plans to look for the right UK new cars |
| notice is the Blue Oval model which contributed to | | | | dealers and dealerships in Northern Ireland – |
| Ford's dominance of the Northern Ireland market. | | | | and of course the perfect UK new cars from which |
| The Ford Focus was named the second-top-selling | | | | to choose from. |