Ballymena’s KCA Motors wins big at Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards

Robert Scott from KCA Motors, winner of the Best Marketing Campaign (Independent Dealer) Award at the 2025 NI Motor Industry Awards, presented by Valerie Ludlow from award founders ASG.

Ballymena-based KCA Motors has driven away with one of the top honours at this year’s Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards, securing the coveted Best Marketing Campaign (Independent Dealer) title.

The independent dealer was among dozens of businesses recognised at the prestigious ceremony, held on Friday 14 November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast.

Sponsored by Used Cars NI, the awards brought together leading figures from across the region’s automotive sector to celebrate excellence, innovation, and achievement across 23 award categories.

The glittering gala evening showcased a strong year for Northern Ireland’s motor industry, with several companies achieving multiple accolades.

Roadside Garages delivered a standout performance on the night with three major awards, including Franchised Dealer of the Year. Shelbourne Motors also celebrated a hat-trick of wins, including the highly regarded Dealer Group of the Year, while Bangor-based Fusco Vehicle Sales secured three top awards, among them Sales Team of the Year.

Charles Hurst JLR was also well-represented, with several individual team members recognised for exceptional professional performance, including awards for Dealer Principal/General Manager and Automotive Technician.

Emma Marley, CEO of Used Cars NI, praised the level of dedication displayed across the industry, saying:

“Used Cars NI was extremely proud to headline sponsor this year’s awards. Massive congratulations to all the winners in this year’s Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards.

“The atmosphere was electric, and it was a privilege to celebrate the extraordinary talent and dedication across Northern Ireland’s motor industry.”

Reflecting the depth of expertise within the sector, this year’s judging panel featured leading UK automotive voices, including Sue Robinson (NFDA), award-winning motoring journalist Maggie Barry, advertising specialist Vic Covey, Transport Training Services’ Martin Hutchinson, technology expert Mark Styles, and Rachel Clift, Chief Executive of BEN.

Head Judge Sandy Burgess, former CEO of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, said selecting winners was far from simple:

“Selecting winners this year was incredibly challenging. The quality and volume of entries were outstanding, reflecting the exceptional talent driving the Northern Ireland motor sector forward.”

Founder of the Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards and Director of PR & Events at ASG, Sasha Jeffrey, congratulated all recognised businesses, saying:

“Congratulations to all our winners and highly commended recipients. Four companies tying for the highest number of wins highlights the calibre and competitive spirit across the industry. Now in their third year, we are proud to continue organising the Northern Ireland Motor Industry Awards, building on the success of previous events and making them bigger and better each year.”

This year’s event was supported by an extensive line-up of category sponsors and partners, including City Auction Group as Associate Sponsor, alongside AbbeyAutoline, Autoguard Warranties, CarMoney, Codeweavers, Cool FM, EMaC, Enterprise Mobility, Eskimo Lead Management, Momentum Warranties, MotorCheck, NFU Mutual, Northridge Finance, PML Group, PurpleRock, The Formula, Transport Training Services, and Warranty Solutions Group.

For KCA Motors, the award marks a significant milestone and reinforces the Ballymena company’s growing reputation for impactful, creative marketing within the independent dealership sector.