New car sales down 13 per cent

New car sales for the first four months of the year, are down 13 per cent on the corresponding period last year, figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) confirm.

To the end of April 45,581 new cars have been sold, 13 per cent down on the same period last year (52,600) In the commercial vehicle sector, which is often a barometer of business activity in Ireland, sales of vans and light trucks were up 10 per cent in April, compared to April last year while they are down 9 per cent for the year. Truck sales were down 22 per cent compared to April last year and up 2 per cent for the year.

Despite this, the average new car now costs €24,483, €2,621 less than 2007.

Alan Nolan, SIMI Director General: “Given that 130,000 new cars are sold in a ‘normal’ year, the market is operating at about half of normal levels. This is unsustainable. With consumer confidence and spending still showing no real signs of recovering anytime soon and with much uncertainty among the public sector around Croke Park 2, this has impacted on the new car market.”

“The good news for people thinking of buying a car is that new car prices have fallen. The average price of a new car today is 10% cheaper than in 2007 and consumers are encouraged to shop around to avail of the many deals that are on offer.”