New car registrations slowed last month, reflecting the drop for the 162 period.
According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, total new car registrations year to date (145,433 ) are up 21,913 units or +18 per cent, on the same period last year (123,520 ). However new car registrations for the month of October (2,243 ) decreased by 316 units or -12 per cent compared to October 2015 (2,559 ).
Light commercial vehicle/van registrations (27,347 ) are up 4,373 units or +19 per cent for the year to date, while registrations in the month of October (1,181 ) saw a decrease of 23 units or -2 per cent in comparison to the same month last year (1,204 ).
Heavy goods vehicle registrations during October (128 ), also recorded a decrease of -16 per cent (25 units ) for the month when compared to October last year (153 ), while year to date registrations (2,774 ) are currently up 711 units or +34 per cent compared to the same period in 2015 (2,063 ).
Commenting on the figures, SIMI director general Alan Nolan says the slow down is expected, but needs monitoring.
"In the final quarter of the year we do expect to see a slow-down in new vehicle registrations, with much smaller numbers each month compared to the peak selling months - indeed the industry is already moving its focus to the 2017 sales period, as can be seen and heard in current advertising campaigns.
"However it is fairly apparent that the 162 period at seven per cent up on last year has seen a slowing-down in registrations relative to the 161 period which finished 23 per cent up on the first six months of 2015. Whether this has been influenced by the Brexit situation, or just a slowing of retail activity in the Irish economy after a sustained period of growth, is not yet clear, but this is something the industry will be continuing to watch closely.”
New Cars
New car sales year to date: 2016 ) 145,433; (2015 ) 123,520, +18%
New car sales total October: (2016 ) 2,243; (2015 ) 2,559, -12%
Five Top Selling Makes for the Year 2016: 1. Hyundai, 2.Volkswagen, 3.Toyota, 4.Ford, 5. Nissan
Five Top Selling Models for the Year 2016: 1. Hyundai Tucson, 2.Volkswagen Golf, 3.Ford Focus, 4.Skoda Octavia, 5.Nissan Qashqai
Top selling car for the month of October: Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Passat Saloon and year to date is: Hyundai Tucson
New LCVs/Vans
Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date: 2016 ) 27,347; (2015 ) 22,974, +19%
Light Commercial Vehicles sales total October: (2016 ) 1,181; (2015 ) 1,204, -2%
New HGV’/Trucks
Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date: (2016 ) 2,774; (2015 ) 2,063, +34%
Heavy Goods Vehicle sales total October: (2016 ) 128; (2015 ) 153, -16%
