New car sales plummet by more than two-thirds

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry says car sales so far this year are down more than two-thirds on the same period last year.

The organisation says thousands of jobs are at risk as car firms struggle to sell new vehicles.

Car sales slumped by almost 19% in 2008 and SIMI is predicting a further 33% drop this year due to the continuing economic downturn