Cedar Group acquired by Salvador Caetano Group

The Cedar Group, one of Ireland’s largest motor distributors and retailers, has 
announced that it has been acquired by the Salvador Caetano Group which is 
entering the Irish market for the first time. 
The Salvador Caetano Group, which is headquartered in Portugal, is a global leader 
in the automotive industry with operations in 48 countries across Europe, Africa and 
South America. 
It has over 80 years of experience in automotive distribution and retail, bus 
manufacturing, industrial equipment, aftersales service, information technology and 
renewable energy solutions. 
The Cedar Group is the largest independent motor group in Ireland. It employs over 
600 people, sold almost 28,000 vehicles in 2025, and has a turnover close to €1 
billion per annum. 
It comprises Nissan Ireland, distributors of Nissan cars; Cedar Motors, distributors 
of Renault, Dacia and Alpine cars; and the Windsor Motor Group, one of the largest 
automotive retail groups in Ireland representing the Nissan, Renault, Dacia, Alpine, 
Peugeot, Opel, Mazda, Citroen, and Suzuki franchises. 
The acquisition ends almost 50 years of ownership by the Kuwaiti based Al Babtain 
family. The management team at The Cedar Group remains unchanged and will 
continue to lead the development of the Group into the future. 
‘The Salvador Caetano Group shares our ambition to grow and to continue building 
on our success in making the Cedar Group the third largest distributor in Ireland and 
in having established Windsor as one of the country’s top four motor retail groups,’ 
said James McCarthy, CEO of The Cedar Group. 
‘This acquisition is the perfect fit for the future development of the business as well 
as being a solid endorsement of the Irish car market and the Nissan, Renault, Dacia 
and Alpine franchises,’ he added. 
‘Our Group is now part of a dynamic international automotive group with interests 
on three continents, allowing us to benefit from international best practice and 80 
years of industry experience as we continue to grow and expand in Ireland,’ he 
continued. 
Mr. McCarthy thanked the Al Babtain family for their commitment to The Cedar 
Group over the past fifty years. 
‘We are delighted to establish a presence in Ireland and to continue our international 
expansion with the acquisition of The Cedar Group as a platform for growth,’ said 
Sérgio Ribeiro, Executive Board Member & CEO of Global Automotive Distribution - 
Salvador Caetano Auto. 

‘The Cedar Group is perfectly aligned with our business model. It has very strong 
distribution rights in Nissan, Renault, Dacia and Alpine, a leading motor retail 
business with nine franchises, and it is led by an ambitious management team. We 
were especially impressed by the growth it has achieved since acquiring the Renault, 
Dacia and Alpine franchises in 2023,’ he added. 
‘Ireland is a dynamic and growing market. The Salvador Caetano Group has a strong 
heritage of innovation and excellence, and we are excited to bring that and our 80 
years of experience to Ireland as we become the new leaders in the Irish motor 
industry,’ he concluded. 
About Cedar Group 
The Cedar Group is the largest independent motor group in Ireland, comprising 
Nissan Ireland, Cedar Motors and the Windsor Motor Group. Nissan Ireland has 
been the exclusive distributor of Nissan cars, LCVs and parts in Ireland for almost 50 
years. Cedar Motors is the distributor of Renault, Dacia and Alpine cars. The 
Windsor Motor Group is one of the top four automotive retail groups in Ireland with 
16 retail outlets representing nine franchises - Nissan, Renault, Dacia, Alpine, 
Peugeot, Opel, Mazda, Citroen, and Suzuki. The Cedar Group is headquartered in 
Dublin. It employs 600 people, sold almost 28,000 vehicles in 2025, and has a 
turnover close to €1 billion per annum. 
About Salvador Caetano Group. 
Founded in 1946, Salvador Caetano Group is an international automotive group 
headquartered in Portugal, with 80 years of experience in the automotive industry. 
The Group has consolidated its leadership in the development of mobility solutions, 
consistently investing in innovation and sustainability as key drivers of growth and 
differentiation. Salvador Caetano currently employs more than 8,900 people across 
48 countries and three continents (Europe, Africa and South America). In 2025, the 
Group reported an aggregated turnover of approximately €5 billion, reinforcing the 
strength of its market presence and business.