Ireland Car Sales Climb 29.5% in 2014; LCVs Up 51%
“While all of this has to be put in the context of the very low base that we are starting from, we are confident 2015 will see sales for all segments continue to grow and improve,” Society of the Irish Motor Industry Director Alan Nolan says.
Irish new-car sales jumped 29.5% in 2014, driven by a recovering economy and the introduction of twice-a-year registration plate updates.
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry says the 96,338 deliveries were up from 74,367 in the prior year.
SIMI Director General Alan Nolan says light-commercial-vehicle sales also showed a healthy recovery, jumping 51% to 16,652 units.
“While all of this has to be put in the context of the very low base that we are starting from, we are confident that 2015 will see sales for all segments continue to grow and improve on 2014,” Nolan says in a statement.
“Footfall in dealerships for presales has been very good and consumer confidence continues to be strong, particularly with the greater availability of retail finance and the great offers currently in the marketplace,” he says.
Nolan says as a result of the increase in new-vehicle sales, the industry added 4,000 jobs in 2014, passing 40,000 for the first time since the start of the recession.
“New-car sales continue to be very important contribution for the Exchequer, with the increase in activity delivering an additional €185 million ($220.3 million) from value-added tax and vehicle registration tax in 2014,” he says.
New-car deliveries in December, traditionally the slowest month of the year, rose 55.1% to 350 units. The small LCV segment jumped 129.9% to 154 units.
Volkswagen retained its title as the year’s best-selling brand with deliveries up 22.7% to 11,670 units. Toyota followed, up 34.1% to 10,275, ahead of Ford, which finished in third place, up 24.4% to 9,481.
VW’s Golf was the top-selling model, with deliveries climbing 26.6% to 4,563 units. Nissan’s Qashqai followed, up 29.3% to 3,805 units. Ford’s Focus and Fiesta were next, with the Focus up 32.1% to 3,703 units and the Fiesta improving 29.1% at 3,119.
Ford retained its LCV title as sales rose 68.4% to 4,308 units, well clear of its nearest rival, VW, up 37% at 2,863. The Ford Transit Van was the year’s best-selling LCV, up 59.3% at 2,259 units.
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