Figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that 1,927 new cars were sold on Monday compared to just 1 on the same day last July.
Car sales on 1st July exceeded sales on the first working day of January this year which is traditionally the busiest day of the year for car sales when 1,487 new cars were sold.
Figures show 138 light commercials (vans) were sold last Monday compared to none on that day last year; and that 31 HGVs (trucks) were also sold on Monday.
Alan Nolan, Director General of SIMI says it is a very positive start to the new '132' year.
"Feedback from Dealerships had indicated a lot of interest in the run up to the new plate but it's always hard to gauge just how much until we see the actual registrations coming through. As it's the first year of the new dual registration, we hope that the momentum continues for the coming weeks and months."
