January car sales hit new highs - SIMI

01/02/2006 - 16:09:34
Car and van sales reached new heights in January, the Society Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) announced today.

Figures show 43,080 cars were registered in the first month of 2006, topping the previous record set in 2000 when sales went on to 231,000 for the year.

Van sales, up 20% compared to 2005, also set a new record, at 9,259 units. With combined (passenger/commercial) vehicle sales of 6,876 units, Ford achieved overall market leadership for January.

Ford's car sales rose 16.6% to claim 12.6% of the market, behind Toyota (12.8%), whose sales increased by 6.7%. VW (9.6%) was ahead of Nissan (8.8%) and Opel (7.3%) in 5th spot.

The car market itself was 12.4% up on January 2005.