Volkswagen still No 1 despite scandal

Volkswagen was the most popular car brand sold in Ireland last month — despite the company admitting that it fitted 11m cars worldwide with emissions-cheating software.

The latest figures from the CSO show that Volkswagen (845) was the most popular make of new private cars licensed in September, followed by Ford (545), Toyota (494), Nissan (488) and Opel (427).

The figures show Volkswagen car sales have not been hit here despite the company’s Irish headquarters admitting that almost 80,000 of its cars could be part of a recall.

Volkswagen chief executive Matthias Mueller has confirmed the company would launch a recall for cars fitted with the emissions-cheating software from January, expressing hope that the problems will be fixed by the end of 2016.

Volkswagen says around 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide -- including more than 110,000 vehicles in Ireland -- will need to go back to garages for a “refit” in the coming year.

The CSO figures show 5,924 new cars were licensed here last month — a rise of 35.4% on the same month last year. A total of 3,743 used (imported) private cars were licensed — a fall of 14.5% on the same month last year.

In the first nine months of the year, 114,446 new private cars were licensed, an increase of 31.7% compared with the same period last year.

The number of used (imported) private cars licensed fell by 12.2% compared with the same period in 2014.

Meanwhile, a report by vehicle history website MyVehicle.ie found that there are almost 137,000 untaxed vehicles being driven on Irish roads.

The report also found about 8,400 cars have been written off so far this year.

The study found car clocking, writeoffs and false NCT certificates are just some of the issues that show up during a MyVehicle.ie history check.

The most popular car colour is silver, while Toyota is the most popular car brand.

The website, which provides history check reports on second-hand cars for consumers and the car industry, provides a database offering the most comprehensive vehicle background check available to drivers in Ireland.

Compiled using data compiled from official trade sources, a basic check for customers purchasing a second-hand car provides over 30 pieces of information on the car’s background, including its sales history, if the car has been written-off, clocked, stolen, imported, or if it has had any model modifications.

MyVehicle.ie managing director Justin Kavanagh said buying a second-hand car can be an overwhelming experience so motorists needed to inform themselves of the cars history.

“A vehicle history check costs just €18 — a fraction of the maintenance and repair costs which could be incurred from buying a faulty second-hand car,” he said.