The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released figures for new car sales for September.

WE’VE all seen them.

There was a 8.12% increase in sales of new in March of this year (28,107) compared to March 2006 (25,999), according to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today.

MOTORISTS buoyed by the prospects of bumper SSIA windfalls are increasingly splashing out on new cars, latest figures show.

THE practice of offering cars for sale on the side of the road could soon be banned.

THE motor industry wants the Government to abolish punishing rates of up to 30% tax on car safety features like airbags and anti-locking brakes.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today welcomed the recent report on road safety published by the Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business.

144,933 new cars were sold in the first six months of year, up 5.84% on the same period in 2005.

MOTORISTS could face higher prices for new cars following the introduction of scrappage laws that require all vehicles to be given a “death certificate” and dismantled for recycling.

Crippling Government tax on new cars discourages essential safety features being fitted, an Oireachtas Committee heard today.

CAR buyers can save up to €7,000 by shopping outside the Republic for a second-hand motor, the Consumers Association of Ireland (CAI) claimed last night.

CRIPPLING Government tax on new cars discourages essential safety features being fitted, an Oireachtas committee said yesterday.

Despite a fall in new car sales from 713 in December 2004 to 603 in December 2005, year on year sales were up 11.4% from 154,136 to 171,732.

FIVE of the country’s biggest motor distributors have been named as being involved in alleged price-fixing on sales of new cars.

THE Government raked in €1.3 billion in vehicle registration tax and VAT over the last six months as Irish car sales headed for a five-year high.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today welcomed a decision of the EU Commission to bring in a Directive forcing member states to phase out Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) over a ten year period.

New car registrations for January to June 2005 stand at 137,163, an increase of 12.9% on the same period in 2004, according to figures released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry has welcomed the official completion of the final phase of the M50 Motorway tomorrow and called for future development to follow similar paths.

MOTORISTS were stung to the tune of almost €1 billion last year by the vehicle registration tax (VRT) imposed on cars.

Passenger car sales for May were 17,601, showing an increase of 14% on the same period last year (15,414).

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry has welcomed increased car sales in the first quarter of 2005 but called for an end to VRT.

Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today show a rise in car sales for last month.

CAR sales started strongly in 2005 with registrations in January soaring 19% on last year.

ORGANISERS of fundraising walks to raise money for earthquake victims in South East Asia have been overwhelmed by they support they received.

The introduction of new metric signs and speed limits will improve driver behaviour, it was claimed today.

MOTORISTS were warned yesterday that they face a 4c hike in the cost of a litre of petrol if oil persists at current high levels.

Dan Buckley

TESCO is plotting a petrol price war by opening more fuel stations at some of its 80 stores in Ireland.

THERE was mixed reaction as Charlie McCreevy yesterday imposed increases to the prices of cigarettes and fuel. Alcohol, already heavily taxed, escaped further rises.

NEW EU regulations on the sale of cars, which came into effect yesterday, are expected to increase prices even further in Ireland but reduce them in most other countries.

ALTHOUGH the strength of the euro has driven down car prices in Britain, we are still paying some of the highest prices in Europe. According to the latest figures from the internet research site, Eurocarprice.com, Irish car prices have risen 7% faster than the European average over the last five years.

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.

MOTORISTS spend almost €30,000 to keep a family car on the road for 10 years, the Automobile Association (AA) revealed yesterday.

DESPITE economic doom and gloom, the number of new cars in the country raced ahead by almost 16% last month compared to the same time last year.

TWO workplace tragedies yesterday brought to 12 the number of industrial fatalities this year.

SUPERMARKET giants Tesco yesterday sparked a possible price war after it opened its first petrol filling station.

THE motor industry and opposition parties have described the 12% increase in motor tax as a devious measure which unfairly penalises drivers.

Motorists faced their second hike in prices this week as the Government authorised a steep rise in motor tax today.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry has described the latest car tax rises were "savage".

THE revision of the vehicle registration tax band downwards to include all vehicles over 1900cc means two-litre cars will cost consumers 7% more.

UNSCRUPULOUS motor dealers are fixing up and selling imported cars branded write-offs in Britain in a scam described by industry insiders as “absolutely disgraceful”.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry says the country’s filling stations are in no way to blame for the cross-border fuel smuggling racket.