Irish manufacturer Knine racing in pole position for luxury off-roading market

“No one else in the world is really doing what we are doing and that’s kind of our competitive advantage and why we are able to do it in the west of Ireland," said company founder, Ben Shakal.  

A Knine truck in action. Picture: Ben Shakal

Did you hear the one about the Irish outfit building high-performance super trucks in Westport, Co Mayo? No? Good because for Knine racing, manufacturing automotives in Ireland is far from a joke; it’s an exciting reality.

Ben Shakal, founder and company director, still laughs at the disbelief their offroaders generate from curious onlookers. “Here in Ireland no one knows about us,” Mr Shakal said and describes incredulous but curious members of the public in Mayo asking where the vehicles were imported from. “They honestly don’t believe us,” he said when they found out the luxury off roaders are manufactured in a 5,500 sq ft facility in Westport Industrial Park.