Industry upbeat as new car sales power ahead to highest level in five years

Car sales to date this year are already the highest in five years — as the motor trade continues to outstrip all expectations.

Figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi) and car history website Motorcheck.ie show sales are up more than 20% on the same period last year.

With two months still remaining in the year, car sales have already topped 90,000 — the highest since the boom year of 2008

The Simi figures show that car sales were up 21% for the month of October (2,042) compared with this month last year (1,692). So far this year, 95,217 new cars have been sold — an increase of 30% on 2013 (73,454). This is the first time since 2009 new car sales have topped 95,000.

The commercial vehicle market is even more positive, with light commercial/van sales up 51% (15,900) this year in comparison to 2013 (10,555), with the month of October (1,370) recording a strong sales increase up 79% compared with October last year (766).

Heavy goods vehicle registrations are also up 12% for the month of October and 23% year to date. Simi director general Alan Nolan said the sales were a reflection of the improved economic outlook.

“While the new car sales figures are encouraging, we must remember we are still starting from a very low base,” he said. “For sustainability the new car registration market needs to be operating at an annual level of 130,000 however these figures are a sign of continued progress and sales are currently moving in the right direction.”

The Motorcheck.ie figures were similarly positive, with 92,601 new cars registered this year — up 27% year on year. Managing director Michael Rochford said car sales were outstripping all earlier forecasts