Car sales plummet 68% in April

IRELAND’S car market collapsed by almost 70% last month as those with money to buy a vehicle headed north or to Britain for cheaper deals.

According to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), there were 5,558 new private cars licensed in April 2009, compared with 17,587 in April 2008, a decrease of 68.4%.

In contrast there were 6,032 secondhand private cars (ie imported used cars) licensed for the first time in April 2009, the highest since the CSO starting recording the statistics in 1973. A year earlier the figure buying the cars abroad was 5,477.

The level of car purchase from outside this jurisdiction is clearly evidenced if one considers how many BMWs have been bought over the last 12 months. The total number of BMWs licensed in April 2009 compared to April 2008 increased from 803 to 891.

However, when one examines how many were actually new when they were licensed the figures change dramatically. In April 2009 there were 149 new BMWs sold. In the same month in 2008 there were 389.

An even more stark statistic can be seen when one looks at the sale of Porches.

There were 14 of the luxury German cars licensed for the first time in April 2009. Of those only one was actually classed as a new car.

Even the most popular brands of cars are seeing their sales declining at a rate of knots. There were 2,293 new Fords licensed here in April 2008. A year later the figure had dropped to 702.

Of the 5,558 new cars licensed here in April 2009 2,285 (41.1%) were petrol and 3,135 (56.4%) were diesel.

The biggest sellers were Volkswagen (783) followed by Toyota (737), Ford (702), Nissan (421), Opel (326) and Peugeot (284).

The number of goods vehicles being sold has also plummeted. In April 2009 there were 990 licensed compared with 4,047 in the corresponding month last year – a decrease of 75.5%.

Other statistics from the CSO show last month the total number of all vehicles licensed was 16,551 compared with 31,971 during the same month in 2008 – a decrease of 48.2%.

And British car production dropped by more than half in April as manufacturers worked to clear inventories while sales to businesses slumped and consumers awaited the introduction of a rebate programme.

Carmakers built 68,258 cars last month, 55% fewer than a year earlier, London-based Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders industry group said.