New car sales surged in July as motorists took advantage of the introduction of lower taxes for more environmentally friendly vehicles.
New figures released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi) show 16,386 new cars were sold last month, compared to 13,150 in July 2007. The figures represent an increase of 24.61 per cent.
Sales for the first seven months of the year, however, are down 15.4 per cent on the same period last year.
Simi Director General, Alan Nolan said falling sales in May and June were as a result of consumers holding off on their car purchases until the introduction of the new tax rules in July.
"There is evidence that the new VRT and road tax systems that had been designed to encourage people to buy cleaner cars, are actually working as planned,” he said.
“The average new car registered in July 2008 emits 21.4 g/km less CO2 than those registered in July 2007.”
He added that the figures represent a reduction from an exceptional performance last year. He said the total number of new cars sold to the end of July this year is the same level as the total new cars sold in all of 2003.
Light commercial vehicle registrations for the first seven months of 2008 (26, 358) are down 26.57 per cent on the same period last year (35,894). Heavy Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 25.27 per cent (3,070) for the year to date.
