New Car Registrations In Ireland January 2019
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has issued the official 191 new vehicle registration figures for January 2019. The figures show that for the month of January, new car registrations are down 12.6% (32,374) when compared to January 2018 (37,023).
It’s a similar story for Light Commercials, which are down 16.3% (5,650) compared to January last year (6,753), and HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are also down 11.4% (356) in comparison to January 2018 (402).
Electric vehicle registrations have increased significantly with 811 registrations in January 2019, which is more than for the whole of 2017 and over 60% of the total for the whole of last year. While electric vehicle numbers are still relatively low, they are showing strong growth having increased from less than 1% of the market last year to 2.6% market share in January this year which is an encouraging increase in the right direction.
Diesel continues to be the market leader in 2019 with a 49% share despite an 8% decline on January 2018.
Petrol has grown to 40% and hybrids currently account for 7% of the new car market.
The five bestselling car brands in Ireland in January 2019 were 1.Hyundai, 2.Volkswagen, 3.Ford, 4.Toyota and 5.Nissan.
The five bestselling cars in Ireland in January 2019 were 1.Hyundai Tucson, 2.Nissan Qashqai, 3.Ford Focus, 4.Toyota Yaris, and 5.Skoda Octavia.
Brian Cooke, Director General Designate, SIMI commented: “New Vehicle Registrations in January are clearly disappointing but not surprising. With Brexit fast approaching adding to business uncertainty, the weakness of Sterling is continuing to drive down used car values which is increasing the cost to change. While we hope the EU and UK’s negotiations result in agreement that allows for free trade, the likelihood of no deal is increasing by the day. While the Industry is ramping up its preparations for a no deal Brexit, in the context of the potential impact on a sector whose activity will be in the region of €5 billion between now and the end of the year, it is crucial that the State fully clarifies the trading conditions in the event of no agreement being reached. This is an immediate issue as we may be only 8 weeks away from a no deal outcome. More positively the increase in EV sales in the second half of last year has further accelerated into January, with the total EV registrations of 811 representing nearly two-thirds of EV sales for the whole of last year.”
Volkswagen Golf Gets New Petrol Engine
The Volkswagen Golf 1.5-litre TSI with 150hp is now available in Ireland for 2019.
The new four cylinder, turbo petrol engine replaces the previous 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine. The engine is 22kg lighter than before and features Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) that shuts down the second and third cylinders under low/medium load to improve fuel efficiency.
The new Golf 1.5-litre TSI is capable of returning from 6.2 l/100km (WLTP) on the combined cycle the car with a manual gearbox and 6.5 l/100km with the DSG automatic transmission.
CO2 emissions of from 141g/km with a manual transmission and 147g/km with DSG place it in Motor Tax Band A4 (€200).
In Ireland, the new Volkswagen Golf 1.5-litre TSI is available in Highline and R-Line trim, with either the six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG.
Prices start at €29,995 for the 1.5-litre TSI in Highline trim and €30,895 in R-Line trim.
Carzone's Most Searched Cars 2018
Carzone has released their Motoring Report for 2018 and it includes interesting data on the most searched for cars on Carzone from January to June of this year.The data reveals that the Irish public put a lot of faith in German marques when searching for a car!
BMW is the most popular car marque searched for on Carzone followed by Audi and Mercedes-Benz indicating a strong interest in the premium segment of the market.
The Volkswagen Golf is the most popular car model on the site followed by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Audi A6.
The most popular hybrid car is the Lexus IS300H.
Most Popular Make
1. BMW
2. Audi
3. Mercedes-Benz
4. Volkswagen
5. Ford
6. Toyota
7. Hyundai
8. Nissan
9. Volvo
10. Skoda
Most Popular Model
1. Volkswagen Golf
2. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
3. Audi A6
4. Audi A4
5. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
6. Ford Focus
7. BMW 5-Series
8. Volkswagen Passat
9. Nissan Qashqai
10. Audi A3
Most Popular Hybrid
1. Lexus IS300H
2. Lexus CT200H
3. Mitsubishi Outlander
4. Toyota Prius
5. Toyota Auris Hybrid
6. Lexus RX450H
7. Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid
8. Lexus NX 300h
9. Toyota C-HR Hybrid
10. Porsche Panamera
Most Popular Petrol
1. Volkswagen Golf
2. Ford Fiesta
3. BMW 3-Series
4. Volkswagen Polo
5. Ford Focus
6. Honda Civic
7. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
8. Porsche 911
9. Fiat 500
10. Toyota Yaris
Most Popular Diesel
1. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2. BMW 5-Series
3. Audi A6
4. Volkswagen Golf
5. Audi A4
6. Mercedes-Benz C-Class
7. Volkswagen Passat
8. BMW 3-Series
9. Ford Focus
10. Audi A5
Most Popular Electric
1. Tesla Model S
2. Nissan Leaf
3. BMW i3
4. Hyundai Ioniq
5. Renault Zoe
6. Volkswagen e-Golf
7. Renault Fluence Z.E.
8. Renault Twizy
Mayo To Mongolia In A Renault Clio
Four Irish guys will take on the Mongol Rally this summer in a 12-year-old Renault Clio. I recently spoke to Ben Ruddy about this adventure of a lifetime, all in aid of raising funds for the Dublin Simon Community.
1. Tell us what is 'Mayo to Mongolia'?
Mayo to Mongolia is Ireland’s entry into the Mongol Rally 2018. We are three Mayo men (Ben Ruddy, Joe McGing, David Kelly) and one Wicklow native (Luke Cafferky). Billed as ‘the greatest motoring adventure on the planet’, the Mongol Rally is an unassisted rally from Europe to Mongolia that takes place every year to raise money for charities across the world.
There are only three rules for the rally:
1. You can only take a farcically small vehicle with an engine of 1.2-litres or less.
2. You’re completely on your own.
3. You've got to raise a minimum of £1000 for charity.
Always wanting to push the boundaries, we aim to rally to Mongolia and back again over three months this summer. We’re considering Mongolia the half-way point, not the end point. We’ll take the Silk Route there by heading south through Turkey, the Caucuses, Iran, and almost every ‘Stan’ on the map.
On this path we’ll cross several deserts (such as the Gobi Desert), drive through the remnants of the Aral Sea, and hit over half the height of Everest traversing the world’s second highest road called the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan. Our way home will take us north through Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
2. What motivated you to take this trip?
Having previously backpacked all over the world, we wanted to see if we could do a trip spanning the world overland. Of course, we could have made this trip in a 4x4, but we wanted something to challenge us. We’re thinking that ‘If nothing goes wrong, everything has gone wrong’. Taking a totally unsuitable vehicle to cross the world in sets the stage for some fun happenings and plenty of break downs.
Participating in the Mongol Rally gives us a chance to help others too. While we’re financing the trip ourselves, we’ll be using it as a platform to raise awareness for the great work the Dublin Simon Community are engaged in, and to raise money on their behalf. To date we’ve raised almost €4,000 for our charity and hope to reach €5,000 before we depart on July 9th.
3. What vehicle are you using?
We are using a Renault Clio generously sponsored to us by J.J. Burke Car Sales in Co. Mayo. It’s only had one female driver from new in 2006 so it’s probably been driven very well up until now. The poor thing doesn’t know what it's in for very shortly! We’ll definitely be putting it through its paces as we cover the 20,000km+ and 40 countries on the round trip between here and the Far East. We chose the Clio because it fits within the 1.2-litre guidelines for the rally, although it will make for some interesting times looking for parts if we break down in Asia with a car from Europe.
4. How are you preparing the car for this journey?
We’re in the process of fitting a sump guard to the bottom of the car at this very moment, and we’ll certainly need it as the roads become almost non-existent, particularly in Mongolia. We also have our eyes peeled for a set of all-terrain tyres with steel rims, because at the moment the Clio is sitting pretty (if not appropriately) on some shiny alloys.
Recently we refitted the car with a leisure battery, power invertor, several USB charging ports, front spot lights, and side mounted lights for illuminating our camp site at night time. We plan to spend the vast amount of time camping to reduce costs on the journey.
On top of the car we have a half-sized roof box for storage, mounted next to which is a flat panel box for a spare tyre, two jerry cans, and a high-lift jack.
5. What will you be playing on the stereo on the way?
While there’s four of us doing the rally, and each with different tastes, we’ll try to keep it appropriate for the moment we are in – blasting “Back In The U.S.S.R.” will be a must for the Russian border crossing; the English version of the 1979 Eurovision hit “Dschinghis Khan” will guide us as we crisscross the Mongolian Steppe, and Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” playing on loop will keep us going as the sun sets on the horizon.
6. If people want to support you on your mission how can they do it?
I have to say, we are extremely happy to have some wonderful sponsors behind us as we undertake this charity journey. J.J. Burke Car Sales for our wheels, Irish Ferries to get us across the ocean to the continent, Irish start-up company Hairy Eyes Sunglasses for helping keep our retinas safe in the blazing sun of the deserts, Tracker Shop Ireland for fitting our car with GPS tracking, and ABL CCTV for helping with modifications.
Our efforts to fundraise for our charity take precedence as we prepare to hit the road, and we would encourage people to donate to our GoFundMe page for the Dublin Simon Community We have signed a pledge with the Dublin Simon Community that 100% of donations received will go towards them.
The team would like to also raise at least €500 for the international NGO ‘Cool Earth’ who work to halt rainforest destruction, in an effort to offset the carbon footprint of our undertakings. If readers would like to donate to this very worthy cause, they can see our fundraising efforts here.
7. How can people follow your journey?
Please follow along on our journey from July through October on Facebook or on our website. We will have live bi-weekly updates from the road with Mid West Radio (96.1 FM), and if you’re curious where we are in the world, you can track our precise location online with our friends at www.trackershop.ie.
We wish the guys a safe journey to Mongolia and back!
Spirit Jaguar Land Rover Opens New Showroom In Sandyford
Spirit Jaguar Land Rover celebrated the launch of a new 20,000 sq/ft showroom in Sandyford, Dublin, with a special event attended by Jaguar Land Rover CEO, Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth.
To celebrate the official opening, Dr. Speth joined the Spirit Jaguar Land Rover team in unveiling the new all-electric Jaguar I-PACE, which made its public debut in Ireland.
RTE broadcaster and Jaguar ambassador, Kathryn Thomas, was MC for the evening and welcomed Land Rover Ambassador and former Irish Rugby International Brian O’Driscoll, as well as loyal Jaguar Land Rover customers and enthusiasts.
According to Spirit, the new showroom is the "ultimate reflection of the Jaguar Land Rover ethos, offering customers a truly premium sales and ownership experience". Over the last 12 months, the Spirit Jaguar Land Rover showroom has been "transformed into a landmark building in the local community with a warm, refined and eye-catching design," featuring free wi-fi, a coffee bar, a new colour and trim space and lounge-style waiting area.
The full range of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles can be displayed in the new showroom, in addition to an Approved used car showroom, accommodating 8 vehicles. In addition, electric charging points have been installed throughout the site to facilitate Jaguar Land Rover’s range of electric and hybrid models.
Spirit Jaguar Land Rover has also included new handover bays, where customers receive a VIP handover experience before driving straight out of the showroom.
Eddie Kavanagh, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Ireland, said: “This is another significant milestone in the redevelopment of our entire retailer network which will be complete later this year. Jaguar Land Rover is enjoying a period of rapid growth with the introduction of several exciting new models, not least the ground-breaking new Jaguar I-PACE. This new flagship facility is a fitting home for our fantastic range of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. I’d like to congratulate the team in Spirit Motor Group and wish them every success in the future.”
Jim Ryan, Dealer Principal at Spirit Jaguar Land Rover said: “This redevelopment is another essential step in our growth plans for Spirit Motor Group. It further demonstrates our commitment to Jaguar Land Rover and our ambition to provide first class service and facilities for our valued Jaguar and Land Rover customers. We look forward to welcoming customers old and new to our flagship facility here in Sandyford.”
New Airside Suzuki Dealership Opens In Dublin
Suzuki Ireland has announced the opening of the new Airside Suzuki dealership at Airside Motor Park in Swords, County Dublin. It's the largest standalone Suzuki showroom in the country, and brings the dealership network in Ireland to 21.
The seven-car dealership, which is part of the very experienced Ashley Group, has been fully refurbished to create a contemporary and welcoming setting. The full Suzuki range is on display with test drives available of all models, including the newly-launched Suzuki Swift Sport supermini.
Going forward, Airside Suzuki customers will also enjoy access to a comprehensive choice of Approved Used Suzuki cars on the forecourt.
Designed as a “one-stop-shop” location for added customer convenience, the new dealer is equally a Suzuki Service Centre, and offers routine maintenance and repairs. Adhering to Suzuki’s Service Promise, vehicle owners will benefit from, amongst other advantages, the supply of courtesy cars, pricing that is transparent, the use of genuine Suzuki parts during any work, and a complementary health check during every visit.
Dale Wyatt, Director of Automobile at Suzuki GB PLC, said: “Airside Motor Park is one of the busiest vehicle retailing hubs in Dublin, and is therefore a prime location to expand Suzuki’s presence in the region. With the Ashley Group bringing over three decades of expertise and know-how in the sector, this is invaluable to helping communicate the multiple benefits that the Suzuki product range offers to today’s motorists. We are delighted to have Airside Suzuki on board, and we look forward to working closely with the business.”
Pat Devitt, Brand Manager for Airside Suzuki, added: “We are proud to have created a showroom which promotes the very best that the Suzuki brand has to offer coupled with a relaxing environment away from the hustle and bustle of the Motor Park where customers can take the time to choose a car which is right for them. Furthermore, with the arrival of the eye-catching third-generation Swift Sport, it’s perfect timing to have joined the retail network. We have already welcomed a number of customers since opening our doors, which is a very encouraging start.”
Airside Suzuki is located at Unit D1 / D2, Airside Enterprise Centre, Airside Motor Park, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 XC90.
For further information on the Suzuki product range, or to book a test drive, call 01 8957580 or visit www.cars.suzuki.ie/dealers/airsidesuzuki.
New Car Registrations In Ireland In April 2018
Official data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) shows that total new car registrations for the month of April in Ireland were up 3.33% (8,102) when compared to April 2017 (7,841).
New car registrations year to date remain down 4.68% (79,897) on the same period last year (83,823).
New Light Commercial Vehicle registrations (LCV) were up 6.51% (1,800) on April 2017 (1,690) and year to date are up 5.39% (14,323).
New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) registrations are also up 4.74% for the month of April (243) compared to the same month last year (232), and are down 8.31% (1,158) year to date.
Imported Used Cars have increased 19.31% for April 2018 (8,649) when compared to April 2017 (7,249) and year to date are 11.74% (34,763) ahead of 2017 (31,111).
Commenting on the figures SIMI Deputy Director General, Brian Cooke said “April’s registration statistics released today are broadly in line with expectations. The slight increases in all sectors for the month can be attributed somewhat to the extra working days in April 2018 compared to last year, as Easter fell in March. Brexit continues to impact on business, as evidenced by the continued strong levels of used imports from the UK. Total new car registrations are projected to reach around 120,000 by the end of the year, a decline of 8.6% on 2017.”
The top 5 bestselling car brands so far in 2018 are:
1. Volkswagen
2. Hyundai
3.Toyota
4.Ford
5. Nissan
The top 5 bestselling models so far in 2018 are:
1. Nissan Qashqai
2. Hyundai Tucson
3. Volkswagen Golf
4. Ford Focus
5. Skoda Octavia
The bestselling car in April in Ireland was the Volkswagen Polo.
Build-Up To Irish Car Of The Year 2018 Begins
Irish Car of the Year 2018, in association with Continental Tyres, will take place on November 9th at a gala event in The Gibson Hotel, Dublin.
58 cars will compete in this year's competition, in individual categories and for the overall title of Irish Car of the Year 2018.
Over 30 jurors from across online, broadcast and print media, including this writer, are eligible to vote in this year's competition.
In October, jurors will have the opportunity to drive all eligible cars again at a number of Refresher Days before voting begins.
Candidates for the Irish Car of the Year 2018 awards are as follows:
| Alfa Romeo Giulia | Kia Picanto | SEAT Leon | |||
| Alfa Romeo Giulia QF | Kia Rio | Skoda Citigo | |||
| Alfa Romeo Stelvio | Kia Stonic | Skoda Kodiaq | |||
| Audi A5 | Land Rover Discovery | Skoda Octavia | |||
| Audi A8 | Mazda CX-5 | Skoda Rapid | |||
| Audi Q2 | Mini Countryman | Suzuki Ignis | |||
| Audi Q5 | Mercedes GLA | Suzuki Swift | |||
| Audi RS5 Coupe | Mercedes S-Class | Tesla Model S | |||
| BMW 5 Series | Nissan Micra | Tesla Model X | |||
| BMW 530e | Nissan Qashqai | Toyota CH-R | |||
| Citroen C3 | Opel Crossland X | Toyota Prius PHEV | |||
| Fiat 124 Spider | Opel Insignia | Toyota Yaris | |||
| Fiat Tipo | Peugeot 3008 | Volkswagen Arteon | |||
| Ford Fiesta | Peugeot 5008 | Volkswagen E-Golf | |||
| Ford Ka+ | Porsche 718 | Volkswagen Golf | |||
| Honda Civic | Range Rover Velar | Volkswagen Golf R | |||
| Honda Civic Type R | Renault Koleos | Volkswagen UP | |||
| Hyundai i10 | Renault Scenic | Volvo XC60 | |||
| Hyundai i30 | Renault Zoe | ||||
| Hyundai Ioniq | SEAT Ibiza | ||||
Interview with Sinead McCann, CarsIreland.ie
Sinead McCann is the car reviewer and content editor at CarsIreland.ie, one of Ireland's leading car sales websites. Sinead has helped to establish CarsIreland as a destination for car video reviews of new and used cars. She has filmed over 150 video reviews for the CarsIreland YouTube channel, making it a great resource for anyone buying a car in Ireland. In this interview, Sinead gives us a behind the scenes look at her job reviewing cars and making videos!
1. Tell us about your work at CarsIreland.
I look after the new car content for our website and YouTube channel. My main role is in video production and I specialise in creating video reviews of all the latest models on the market. So I review cars, basically! I know that sounds like a dream job, and a lot of the time it is, but I promise it’s not always as glamourous as it sounds. I film, research and edit everything myself which while very rewarding, is not without its challenges. Giving people advice on such a big purchase is a huge responsibility.
I collect my test cars on a Monday and typically film at the end of the week, once I’ve spent some time with it and figured out what I think is good and not so good. The rest of my week is spent in CarsIreland headquarters editing, uploading, writing, planning and brainstorming for the next video or feature. I try to make them as entertaining as I can. The site has recently expanded, so it’s an exciting time for us we develop the new review section of our site and I work as part of an amazing team.
2. What led you to this role making videos and reviewing cars?
I always had an interest in cars. But funnily enough it’s not something I ever thought I’d end up working in. I suppose it was unusual being a girl into cars in my teens, and it was only when my petrol-headed brother-in-law arrived on the scene around that time that I had someone to go to car shows with that I got really into it. He helped me choose my first car, and got me interested in the mechanics of it all. My favourite thing to do became stalking car sales sites for anything rare or unusual (or just really fast). I was always fascinated, but I just saw it as a hobby.
Career-wise, I wanted to be a journalist. Writing was my first love, but over the years that evolved into story-telling in other formats – video being my favourite. It never really occurred to me that I could combine the two. I got my degree in Journalism, travelled a bit, then ended up working in a car showroom while I figured out what I wanted to do. Then the role in CarsIreland came along. It actually started as a temporary project - linking all the cars on the site to existing video reviews. While doing so I noticed a big gap in the market for certain very popular used models that had come out before the whole YouTube thing really happened. So being young and probably a bit too brave for my own good, I put my hand up to make them myself. I went out that day armed with some very amateur kit, borrowed a car (my Mam’s Micra - it’s still up there, please don’t watch it) and from there began working my way through all the most popular used cars that people were searching for, borrowing cars from dealers and wherever I could get them really. It was another couple of years of tremendously valuable experience, and not a bit glam I promise! I spent a good two years reviewing twenty-year-old Almeras in carparks before the new stuff came along. But there was a market for it and people engaged. Once the older stuff was done, we decided to branch into the new car market and the site took off in a big way as a resource for all car buyers. So that’s where we are now, still growing and expanding all the time, and I’m really excited to be a part of it.
3. What do you like about your job?
I love every bit of it. I am tremendously lucky to be able to do what I do for a living. I think one of my favourite things is the diversity. Every day is different. And it’s not the obvious things either, like getting to drive these amazing new cars. I mean it’s a massive perk, obviously, but that’s not what it’s all about. Likewise, the travel aspect. Some car launches are in these really amazing locations and it is great to get to visit places that you otherwise might not have got the chance to. But at the end of the day, you are there to do a job and it’s not like you spend the time sight-seeing. I’m sure anyone who travels for work will relate. What I do love is that I can be of help to people in making what can be a really tough decision. There’s a sense of accomplishment in creating something from start to finish and especially when you get good feedback and see the channel grow. I especially love when people contact me to tell me that I helped them to make their minds up, and even more so when they are really happy with that decision.
4. What's the most challenging aspect of your job?
Every job has challenges. You could be a professional chocolate taster and still not feel like work sometimes! That’s what I tell myself when I’m having an off day. I suppose one of the hardest things is going on camera and trying to be positive and upbeat when it’s the last thing you feel like doing.
I suppose there can be challenging aspects to being a female in this role, but not as much as you might expect. At first I did feel like I had to work harder to prove myself. I was terrified of making a mistake, for example. I was afraid if I did, people would jump on it and think that it was because I was a woman, and we’re not supposed to know about cars, are we? I suppose it made me a meticulous fact checker, and that’s not a bad thing. But to be honest, I needn’t have worried, and bar the odd sexist idiot commenting on YouTube, I have been treated with nothing but respect by my audience, and the the vast, vast majority of the people I work with in this industry.
On a sillier note, and I know Caroline will relate to this a fellow one-woman show, another challenge can be trying to remain camera-ready while wrestling with equipment on a wet and windy day. That can be a real struggle! Those are the days I wish I was a guy, or had a hair and make-up team with me. One can dream!
5. What's been your most memorable experience to date as a car reviewer?
My most memorable experience was probably my first international press trip. It was the International Motor Show in Frankfurt in 2015. The biggest car show I’d been to before that was the Terenure Vintage & Classic! So the sheer magnitude of that was mind-blowing to me. Another memorable one was when Tesla came to Ireland a few months back. A day spent behind the wheel of the Model S and Model X was just such a surreal experience. It felt like a real glimpse into the future of motoring. They are special cars.
6. Anything strange or amusing ever happen on location?
Too many things to mention. I’ve gotten stuck in the back of many a car while trying to film a centre console – child locks can be adult-proof too sometimes! I also had a passer-by stop me one day when I was out filming a car. He asked if I wanted his sheep dogs to be in the video because they could ‘do tricks and things, sit on the bonnet, and maybe behind the wheel’. He was deadly serious too. I got a great laugh out of that, and as a dog lover, I can’t say I wasn’t sorely tempted to take him up on it. I still have his card in fact. Stay tuned.
7. What was your first car?
My first car was a 1999 Opel Corsa, dinged down the side by a shopping trolley (not me), in aqua blue. My pride and joy.
8. How would you describe your driving style?
I’m in general quite a cautious driver. I’m not a speed demon at all. I absolutely love driving, don’t get me wrong, but give me a nice twisty B-road over a long boring motorway any day.
9. What would be in your dream three car garage?
I’ll have a Tesla Model S P100D please. Then the car I dreamed of owning way before I started all this, is the SEAT Ibiza Cupra. It was one of my very first press cars and despite all the stuff I’ve driven in between I still have a huge grá for that car. I really hope they make a new one. Then I’ll finish off with a bit of vintage pocket power – a Volkswagen Lupo GTI.
10. Favourite driving song?
Shotgun Mouthwash by High Contrast. Suits every road and every mood.
Thank you to Sinead for taking part in this interview. You can follow Sinead and Cars Ireland on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
New Car Sales In Ireland In January 2017
According to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), new car registrations in Ireland were down 1.7% in January 2017 compared to the same time last year. The month ended 39,019 new 171 cars registered versus 39,722 in January 2016.
Light commercials registrations were down 2.4% (6,394) compared to January last year (6,555), while HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations were down 6.3% (456) for January in comparison to the same time last year (487).
Commenting on the figures, economist Jim Power said, "Looking ahead to 2017, while the outlook for car sales is a bit more difficult to predict than last year, the projected growth in personal disposable incomes and the availability of credit provide solid support for car sales. However, the impact of Brexit and the increased volume in imported used cars are other issues that may impact on new car sales this year., Overall, though, numbers should be fairly close to last year with perhaps a slight decline of around 3% in new car sales in 2017, which would imply new car sales of around 142,000.”
Last year the Industry continued to generate strong returns for the Exchequer with a total VRT and VAT take of €1.5 billion (26.8% ahead of 2015) from new and used car sales alone.
Alan Greene SIMI President commented, “The Motor Industry continues to be a strong contributor to employment with 40,800 people employed throughout Ireland. Last year our Industry contributed €1.5 Billion to the Exchequer in car sales alone. 2017 was always going to be a more cautious year for businesses, right across the economy, but we have seen a steady start in January and hopefully we are on track for another good year and continuation of a stable market during the rest of the year”.
The top five selling car makes for January were Hyundai, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, and Nissan.
The top five selling models for January were the Hyundai Tucson followed by the Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Qashqai, and Volkswagen Golf.
Caroline Kidd