The number of new cars licensed rose 15 per cent last month, led by an increase in the number of Volkswagens.

Figures released yesterday by the Central Statistics Office show that 11,086 new cars were licensed in Ireland in August, compared with 9,597 in the same month a year earlier.

First licensing of second-hand private cars jumped 94 per cent to 1,686 from the year-earlier month, while the number of goods vehicles licensed was up 26 per cent to 2,963.

The most popular type of new car in August was Volkswagen with 1,368 new cars licensed.Toyota was the second, with 1,361 models; followed by Opel and Nissan with 1,135 and 904 respectively.