The number of new cars licensed in November was up 126 per cent compared to same month last year, according to Central Statistic Office (CSO) figures released today.
There were 2,146 new private cars licensed (taxed) in November 2010, compared with 948 in November 2009.
However, the CSO points out the relatively large increase should be seen in light of the fact the November 2009 figure for new private cars licensed for the first time was the lowest for that month since monthly records started in 1965.
Of the 2,146 new private cars licensed last month, 34.6 per cent were petrol, while 58.7 per cent were diesel.
Classified by make, the highest number of new private cars licensed in November was Renault (376) followed by Volkswagen (266), Toyota (244) and Ford (179).
The number of new goods vehicles licensed last month was down slightly: 428 compared with 476 in the corresponding month last year - a decrease of some 10 per cent.
Last month, the total number of all vehicles licensed rose 13.4 per cent year on year, with 7,148 taxed compared with 6,302 in the same month last year.
The total number of all new vehicles licensed during November 2010 was 2,888 compared with 1,674 during the same month in 2009 - an increase of 72.5 per cent.
The licensing figures related to vehicles taxed for road use only and classified by taxation class.
The increase in new vehicle sales this year is largely being attributed to the Government’s scrappage scheme. This entails offering buyers a €1,500 discount on their new car when they trade in a used car that is 10 years old or more against it and the new vehicle falls into the Band A or B and B CO2 emissions categories.
Last week, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi) revealed 87,988 new cars have been sold so far this year, up 54 per cent on 2009. Simi director general Alan Nolan called for the extension of scrappage as although had driven the recovery in new car sales and in business, the recovery remained "clearly fragile".
Giving his Budget speech today, the Minister for Finance said the car scrappage scheme would be extended for a further six months to June 30th, 2011.
