Car dealers hoping for recovery after an uncertain start to 2010
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NEW CAR registrations may still be significantly down on the record levels of 2008 but local dealers have reported that people are once again enquiring about new cars and parting with their cash.
January, the busiest month of the year in the industry, saw new car registration figures rise slightly from last year but they are still significantly down, close to the record low of last year. People are becoming more financially aware of the day-to-day costs of running a car and are examining different options like diesel engines, the government scrappage deal, fuel emissions and road tax.
Dealers around Carlow reported an increase in business this year as they witnessed some new trends including a preference for more diesel-fuelled vehicles, customers looking for longevity in their vehicles, and enquiries in to the scrappage scheme for new cars.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office report differently and they show that nationally the number of new private cars taxed is down by 4.8 per cent on last year with 10,469 new private cars taxed in January 2010 compared with 10,996 in January last year.
New car sales in Carlow for the month of January were up by just one car on last year, according to the CSO. The Toyota this year was the most popular car of choice for buyers with 25 registered with Carlow local authority.
Nationally the number of new goods vehicles licensed in January is up with 1,016 registered compared with 976 in the corresponding month last year, an increase of 4.1 per cent.
The figures are in marked contrast to figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry released earlier this month. The SIMI figures showed a 5 per cent increase in January sales and said the increase was due to buyers' interest in the Government's scrappage scheme.
The SIMI figures are based on car registrations, while the CSO numbers are based on when the car is taxed.
The SIMI said that due to bad weather in early January most registrations took place late in the month, and due to a gap between registration and taxation this could have affected the figures.
Local dealers reported that more and more motorists are choosing diesel over petrol because of lower fuel emissions and lower road tax.
- Lynda CONNOLLY
