Sales of new cars in the first quarter of the year, traditionally the busiest time for car dealers, are up 8 percent over the same period last year, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.
Sales for March itself were up 6 percent on the same month in 2005.
In all, some 94,683 units were sold in the first quarter.
HGV registrations are up 20 percent for the first three months compared with 2005, while LCV registrations are 16 percent up over the same period.
Brian Byrne.
