LAND ROVER is to transfer its Irish operations to the OHM Group, a multi-franchised Irish car distributor from June 1st.

The deal follows very poor sales for Land Rover vehicles this year as the brand suffered due to the economic downturn and a move away from SUVs by Irish motorists.

Land Rover had sold just 60 vehicles in the year to April 20th compared with 1,004 over the same period in 2008.

Land Rover will join a series of other brands in the OHM stable, including Saab, Daihatsu, Seat, Fiat and Chrysler among others and also DAF and MAN trucks. OHM has experience in the SUV market as it also distributes the Jeep brand.

The move had been expected as OHM also distributes Jaguar in Ireland and Tata, which bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford for £1.15 billion (€1.28 billion) last month. Tata has sought to consolidate distribution channels internationally since the takeover.

While the franchise is moving, the future of nine staff directly employed by Land Rover and based in Ballymount, Dublin, remains uncertain.

OHM employs more than 250 at six locations, including the Spirit Motor Group, and is run by three partners, Conal O’Brien, Gabriel Hogan and Declan McCourt.