SIMI DIRECTOR: ‘There is a car out there for every pocket’

The first five months of 2015 saw a 26% growth in car sales, says SIMI deputy director general Brian Cooke

It’s been a good six months for the motor industry, how would you sum it up?

The first half of the year for our industry has been positive. The strong growth in retail sales highlights growing consumer confidence while business confidence has also increased significantly with companies starting to invest in the renewal of their fleets. The first five months saw a 26% growth in car sales compared to the same period last year but we still have some way to go yet before we reach levels of business that would be regarded as sustainable. Light commercial vehicles have seen an even bigger increase, reflecting the growing investment by businesses. Employment in our industry is also in steady recovery, with an increase of 2,800 jobs in the first quarter of 2015. Overall the first six months have been positive and we hope this will continue for the second half of the year.