Car sales up 14%
A total of 40,978 new cars have been sold so far this year, an increase of 14% on last year, according to figures released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
"Its good to be able to report that it’s not all bad news out there in the economy, there is still some positivity," said SIMI’s director general Alan Nola.
"With new car sales up by more than 5,000 on last year, the scrappage scheme is continuing to help attract motorists to showrooms and the lower asking prices, even for non-scrappage cars, are encouraging consumers to buy now.
"That being said, these figures have to be seen in context, they remain a long way off the levels achieved in the very buoyant era of 2007 and earlier. There is no doubt that consumers are still being fairly cautious, and we really do need to see consumer confidence beginning to lift.
"However, consumers are still interested in taking advantage of a good deal when one is available and this is reflected in the continuing strength of new car sales.
"All in all, the industry remains cautiously optimistic as the signs so far this year are encouraging."
