Latest registration statistics released by Motorcheck.ie show new passenger vehicle registrations at 65,686, up by 9 percent for year to date. These include saloon, hatchbacks, MPVs, jeeps, coupes, convertibles, crew cabs, buses and motor caravans.
Used passenger imports are down by the same percent to 17,113 from the start of January this year to the end of May.
There has been an increase in the number of new commercial vehicle registrations, up 8 percent at 8,936 for the first five months of this year. These include car and jeep derived vans, pick ups, vans, light commercials, HGVs and Agricultural tractors.
But it seems fewer are buying new motorbikes with only 591 registrations in the same period, down by 15 percent on the same period in 2010.
