A 'familiar face' takes up new role in Waterford
Harry Dineen took up new his role with T&C Motors recently.
Anyone who stops off to browse new or used cars at one prominent dealership in Waterford City might instantly recognise one of the salespeople who greets them.
Harry Dineen took up a new position as sales executive with T&C Motors on the Inner Ring Road just under a month ago.
However, if he seems to be a familiar face to some, that’s because he also appeared on RTÉ’s, First Dates Ireland programme earlier this year.
The episode in which Harry, and his sister, Ava, appeared on the popular programme aired in March and viewers got to see them go on a double-date.
Very popular characters on the show, Harry said it was a great experience and something he really enjoyed doing.
The whole experience of being on the show was something he enjoyed immensely, commenting to Waterford News & Star: “I really enjoyed the whole experience.”
“The feedback from it was great, and it was a bit of fun, and something different,” he said.
A graduate of University College Cork, Harry entered the motor trade through a graduate programme with Autoboland and quickly found his feet in what he describes as a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.
“It’s such a dynamic industry,” he said.
“I’m someone who enjoys a challenge and no two days are the same, which really appealed to me,” he added, outlining what attracted him to the graduate programme.
Harry was also quick to acknowledge the welcoming environment that greeted him when he took up his new role.
“Everyone has been very friendly and knowledgeable, and that makes a big difference, both for staff and for customers coming in,” he said.
“That’s a big help because it puts everyone at ease,” he added.
The world is changing at an alarming rate and just like every industry the motor trade is not immune from the effects of the world affairs and the current turmoil in the Middle East has had a knock-on effect.
He said interest in electric vehicles has increased significantly in recent months, and that’s something he has experienced first-hand on the showroom floor.
“From earlier this year, we’ve noticed more and more people coming in asking about EVs,” he said.
“There’s definitely a growing awareness of them as a real option,” he added.
He agreed with the suggestion that rising fuel costs and broader global factors such as the war in Iran have contributed to that shift in interest.
“People are becoming more conscious of running costs,” he said.
However, he said that while some people’s interest in electric vehicles might be borne from ever-rising fuel prices, he commented that the relatively short journeys most people do in their day-to-day lives is also a factor because it’s more cost-efficient to look at electric vehicles as the principal mode of transport.
“Electric vehicles can offer benefits not just environmentally, but financially too, especially for people doing shorter journeys, which is very common in Ireland,” he said.
While acknowledging that electric cars may not yet suit everyone, he expressed belief that improvements in infrastructure and increasing familiarity will continue to drive demand.
“It’s a big change, but it’s one people are getting used to, just like anything else,” he said.
People’s attitude towards electric vehicles is changing and Harry said that brings about its own challenges, albeit enjoyable ones.
A significant part of his role is helping people transition from traditional combustion engines to embracing EV technology.
Harry believes it’s one of the biggest challenges currently facing the motor industry.
“In the past, people would have come into a dealership with a strong understanding of petrol and diesel cars because that’s what they would have always driven,” he said.
“With hybrid and electric vehicles, it’s completely different, because you’re not just showing them a new car but you’re also explaining the benefits of something they might not be familiar with,” he added.
He said that transition, from traditional combustion engines to EV, can be challenging, especially for people who have only ever had experience with the former.
“People are used to what they know,” he said.
However, he also said people can adapt to change relatively quickly.
“People adapt quicker than they realise when they have the right information,” he said.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, he said hybrid vehicles are proving very popular as a bridge or stepping stone between traditional engines and fully electric vehicles.
“They don’t require a complete change in habits, and that makes them quite appealing for a lot of people,” said Harry.
“Self-charging hybrids, in particular, are a very easy option for people who might be unsure about going fully electric,” he added.
Harry also said that people who do choose electric vehicles rarely, if ever, regret their decision.
“Once people have driven an electric vehicle, they tend to stick with them,” he said.
“It’s rare that someone comes back and says it didn’t suit them.”
Harry said that while younger customers, particularly those buying their first cars, are showing a lot of interest in electric vehicles, many of them are also opting for more traditional options.
“That’s usually just because it’s what they’re familiar with,” he said.
“A lot of the time, the people who are giving them advice, whether it’s their parents or whoever, are people who are only familiar with traditional engines, so that’s one reason for that,” he added.
“But the awareness is definitely growing.”
Among the most popular models at present are the Peugeot 208 and 2008 ranges, which are available in petrol, hybrid and fully electric versions.
“They give people options, and that’s important,” he said.
Harry is very much enjoying his new role and while he readily admitted there are challenges ahead for the motoring industry he said it’s an exciting time be involved.
“The motor trade has been around a long time and continues to evolve,” he said.
“I think it will keep adapting and growing,” he added.
He said working with the Peugeot brand is something he is excited about, in particular, given its expanding range of hybrid and electric vehicles.
“I’m really looking forward to developing here,” he said, referring to his role with T&C Motors.
“It’s an exciting time to be involved in the industry,” he said.
As for First Dates Ireland, while he admitted that he and his date didn’t meet up after, he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It was great and definitely a new experience for me,” he said.
However, for now, he’s just concentrating on his career in the automotive industry and that’s something he is truly passionate about.
