SIMI says car sales down 4%

Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry indicate a drop in sales of passenger vehicles of over 4% on the same month last year.

In the year to date, sales of almost 112,000 of these vehicle types show an almost 6.5% drop on the same period last year.

SIMI Chief Executive Cyril McHugh said that despite the drop the underlying trend was strong as over 50% of the downturn was because of a reduction in short-term car hire which in turn lowered the number of cars purchased for rental.

This trend continued through June, and can be directly related to the lower numbers of tourists to Ireland, he said.