New car registrations sold for the first three months of 2015 (64,716) are up 30 percent on the same period last year while sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) year to date at 9,990, are up 59 percent. Commenting on the figures, SIMI Director General, Alan Nolan (pictured) said: "The increase in car registrations for March is a good reflection of the growing consumer confidence in the economy which is so important for the Industry." He said the most recent CSO Consumer Price Index had confirmed a reduction in the price of cars and in the cost of fuel, with petrol and diesel prices both down. "The position for consumers has also improved in relation to the availability of finance and a wider range of finance options."
The top five selling brands year to date were Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai and Nissan. The top five selling models this year so far are the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Nissan Qashqai, Toyota Corolla and Skoda Octavia.
