Car sales gearing up to pre-recession levels

The number of new car registrations passed the 100,000 mark over the first six months of the year — representing almost a quarter more sales than the same period last year.

Registrations for the whole year are expected to surpass 150,000 for the first time since 2008.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) yesterday issued the official 161 car sales figures for the first half of the year.