New car sales rise 4% despite fears

SALES of new cars rose by almost 4% in January despite fears about a slowdown in the economy and concerns that motorists would postpone changing their vehicles until the introduction of a new car tax regime in July.

Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) yesterday show a total of 47,609 new cars were registered in January compared with 45,819 in the same month last year — an increase of 3.9%.

The SIMI said the total was the highest-ever monthly sales figure recorded for new car sales.