This is a significant improvement on expectations at the beginning of 2013, and may well have been aided by the introduction of the dual registration periods for the first time in Ireland.
According to figures compiled by car history experts Motorcheck.ie, new car registrations for November were down 22 percent on the same month last year. However, November sales would always be small, and small actual changes can show a large effect.
Registrations of new commercial vehicles are marginally ahead (+4.7%) on the same period last year, whilst used car imports have grown by a hefty 28 percent year on year as the dealers in Ireland continue to look to the UK for stock. Low sales of new cars experienced since 2009 has meant a lack of used stock in a very active market, with over 750,000 used car sales happening this year.
Commenting on the latest statistics Michael Rochford, Managing Director of Motorcheck.ie, said feedback from the dealer network is that showroom traffic is up on last year with order books looking like outperforming 2013.
Volkswagen is set to remain as the most popular brand to the end of 2013 with second and third place hotly contested, to date, by Toyota and Ford respectively. Hyundai have made the most gains in 2013 and are currently in fourth place in terms of total new car sales.
The Volkswagen Golf is Ireland’s favourite new car in 2013 followed by the Nissan Qashqai, Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta respectively.
Petrol cars made a comeback in 2013 with overall sales of petrol cars up 6.4 percent against 2012. Diesel car sales fell 8.3 percent year to date against 2012 figures.
