Car sales up 27% but Dublin rise is lowest

Dublin is the worst performing county in terms of year-on-year car sales — in a sign that the economic recovery is not restricted to the capital.

An analysis of new car sales by county released by Motorcheck.ie, found that Dublin, and its surrounding counties, are not out-performing other supposedly economically disadvantaged areas.

The study found for the year to the end of September, 90,603 new cars have been registered nationwide, which represents a 27% increase on the same period in 2013. However, Dublin is actually well below the national average, registering only a 20% rise in new car sales.

In Co Cavan the figures went from 649 cars registered up to September 2013 to 979 registered for the corresponding period in 2014 — a 51% increase and almost double the national average.

Mr Rochford said it was important that the industry was not complacent about the scale of recovery.

“We have now recovered to about 60% of average car sales in pre-recession years but recovery is still very fragile,” he said.