The number of newly licensed cars on Irish roads in the State is down 14.1 per cent so far this year.

Figures published by the Central Statistics Office today show 31,002 new private cars were licensed to pay motor tax for the first time between January and March, compared to 36,081 for the same period last year.

The number of new goods vehicles licensed for tax fell from 3,692 to 3,050, while the number of new motorbikes fell from 269 to 226. New tractors licensed decreased from 619 to 535.

The number of second-hand vehicles imported into Ireland increased by 9.1 per cent compared to the same period last year, with 13,305 licensed for the first time between January and March.

In the private car category, 22,393 licences were for diesel vehicles while 8,395 were petrol.

A total of 196 private hybrid cars, which run on petrol and electricity, were licensed, while just five petrol and ethanol cars were licensed.

There were 13 private electric cars licensed in the period.

Volkswagen was the most popular new car on the road this year so far with 3,724 vehicles licensed, followed by Toyota, Ford, Nissan and Hyundai.

Audi was the most popular car at the luxury end of the market with 1,534 taxed, compared with 1,261 BMWs. Just 526 Mercedes-Benz cars were licensed, a fall of 39 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2012.

The figures differ from those released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) last week which showed the number of new cars sold has fallen 15.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.

The SIMI figures are based on new registrations issued by the Vehicle Registration Office, whereas the CSO statistics are for vehicles which have paid motor tax for the first time.