Last Friday's Irish Times listing of the top 1,000 companies in Ireland featured several firms from the motor industry. Top of the list in terms of motor interests were Motor Distributors, ranked 38th overall, one position below Aer Lingus.
The firm, which imports Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW, Skoda and Mazda cars, recorded a turnover of €902 million in 2001, with €542 profits. In 89th place is Henry Ford & Son, with a turnover of €380 million.
The next car importer in the rankings is Toyota Ireland, coming in at 92nd overall, which turned over €46 million last year.
Other motor related firms to feature included oil companies led by Statoil Ireland, 40th overall with a turnover of €860 million, immediately followed by Irish Shell in 41st overall with a turnover of €852 million.
Other beneficiaries from motorists included National Toll Roads - 203rd with €143.3 million turnover and €15.4 million for 2002. The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) made it to 691st with a turnover at the end of last year of €27.3 million.
Bridgestone/Firestone Ireland, 584th, recorded €37 million turnover last year, but under the rankings for the top Northern Ireland companies, Michelin, recorded an estimated £100 million turnover last year.
Also in the North, Charles Hurst was top of the motor trade, ranked eighth with a turnover of £259.6 million (€360 million) and a profit for 2001 of £6.7 million.