Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show new car sales plummeted by 35 per cent in July compared to the same month last year. A total of 4,067 new cars were sold during the month, a decrease of 2,231 on July last year.
The SIMI says more than 1,200 scrappage scheme cars were included in the figure for July 2010, whereas the scheme ended in June this year.
Despite the fall, the car market is up 10 per cent year to date, with commercials vehicles up 11 per cent.
Ford is the top-selling vehicle brand so far this year, with a share of 12.6 per cent, buoyed by the Ford Focus, which was again the best-selling car in the country.
VW was the best-selling car brand in July and for the first seven months of the year. 4,076 cars were sold last month, compared to 6,307 in July 2010.
Total Vehicle Sales
Brand
Jan - July 2011
Ford
11,466 (12.6 per cent )
Toyota
11,436 (12.6 per cent )
VW
11,282 (12.4 per cent )
Renault
9,040 (9.9 per cent )
Nissan
7,036 (7.7 per cent )
Total industry 90,989
Car Sales
Brand
Jan - July 2011
Toyota
10,612 (13.1 per cent )
VW
9,935 (12.2 per cent )
Ford
9,702 (11.9 per cent )
Renault
7,744 (9.5 per cent )
Nissan
6,405 (7.9 per cent )
Total industry 81,257
