GOOD news, and plenty of it, for the motor industry at home finally. According to January 2010 figures released by Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), the number of new cars registered is up more than 5 per cent than this time last year, with 16,595 registrations for the 10- plate.
Better still, SIMI director general Alan Nolan confirms that this is the second consecutive month that new sales have increased, January performing especially well in the light of our frozen universe for the first ten days of the year.
Other sectors in the economy seem to be on the rise as well with a heartening 27.7 per cent rise on light commercial vehicle registrations, although the sale of heavy vehicles was done by 52 per cent on January 2009. SIMI is now tipping that end of year sales for 2010 will reach the 70,000 plus mark.
Ken Lyons of Lyons of Limerick, Ford and Volvo dealer on the Ballysimon Road, attributes the upswing to the Scrappage Scheme.
“There has been a strong and steady improvement. Scrappage has been a big, positive effect in making a 2010 number plate acceptable and achievable”.
Lyons of Limerick’s Ford leads the sales register with almost 16 per cent of all new registration plates belonging to this Ireland favourite.
“The Fiesta, Ka and Focus are positive models to buy on the Scrappage Scheme as their emissions are within the set criteria”.
Across the board
Ennis Road Motors is an authorised dealer for Opel and Chevrolet. Sales manager Eamonn McInerney is optimistic for the year ahead based on sales “over the last two to three weeks in particular. There’s a great buzz and the Scrappage Scheme is part of that, we’re satisfied and sales are good. It is like going back to how things were a couple of years ago”.
Main dealer for three marques, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, Frank Hogan confirms the stimulus. “We have seen a clean spread of sales right across the board, in the market for each of these makes has come forward dramatically”.
“We have seen a significant return to bigger saloons, now that their emissions have been tamed and prices adjusted accordingly. Our second hand car market, that which is the lifeblood for any dealer, has proven to be exceptionally strong, as it was at the end of last year”.
Imports crash
SIMI reports that Imported Used Car Registrations are down to 3,188, a fall of 46 per cent on this time a hear ago. Imported used light commercial vehicles are also down by 51 per cent.
Disappointment in the used import trade has been boon to dealers in Limerick, notes Mr Hogan: “A lot of people went the route of importing vehicles and there is a lot of sorry stories to be heard as a result of that. Motorists are now looking at home to buy as prices here have harmonised with used imports, and the turn-around in currency markets have helped, too.”National and Limerick car sales jump to 2010
