We have advised Cedar Automotive Group (Cedar Group), one of Ireland’s largest independent motor distributors and retailers, on its sale to Salvador Caetano Group (Salvador Caetano), a global player in the automotive industry.
Cedar Group is one of Ireland’s largest independent motor groups, employing over 600 people, and having sold nearly 28,000 vehicles in 2025, generating an annual turnover of close to €1bn. 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.
Salvador Caetano has over 80 years of experience in automotive distribution and retail, bus manufacturing, industrial equipment, aftersales service, information technology, and renewable energy solutions, with operations in 48 countries across Europe, Africa, and South America.
The transaction concludes almost 50 years of ownership by the Kuwait-based Al Babtain family, with the existing management team at Cedar Group continuing to lead the business into its next phase of growth. This also marks Salvador Caetano’s entry into the Irish market, becoming the new leader in the Irish automotive industry.
