Irish New-Vehicles Sales Continue Downward Spiral in April

While a small market, Ireland qualifies as the auto industry’s poster child for collapsing new-car sales, down a whopping 66.7% in April.

New-car deliveries tumbled to 4,448 last month, compared with 13,363 year-ago, following a 63.8% drop to 7,811 units in March.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) says car sales in the first four months plummeted 65.2% to 36,997, from 106,307 in like-2008.

Light-commercial vehicle deliveries for April slid 66.3% to a mere 926 units, from prior-year’s 2,749. January-April sales of 4,410 light commercials plunged 78.1% from 20,165 year-ago.

SIMI Director General Alan Nolan says he’s not surprised at the sales collapse but is disappointed a government stimulus plan, such as a scrappage scheme, was not introduced in the April budget.

“These figures are in line with our predictions for the month of April,” he says in a statement. “As a result of the downturn, our…research shows almost 5,000 jobs have been lost in the industry over the last six months.”

“However, the motor industry is a resilient one, and our members are adapting their businesses to meet changing demands, particularly in the service and repair sector where there is increased potential as people are holding onto their cars for longer.”

Ford Ireland Ltd. sold 497 new cars in April, to take its 4-month total to a market-leading 5,314 units.

Long-time market leader Toyota (Ireland) Ltd. topped April sales with 503 units, but took second place for the year with 5,274 deliveries. Volkswagen Ireland Ltd. sold 3,783 cars in April, for a year-to-date total of 3,841.

Nissan Ireland Ltd. delivered 184 vehicles in April for a 4-month total of 3,364, ahead of Opel Ireland Ltd. with 288 units for the month and a year-to-date total of 2,591.

Ford was the runaway leader in the light-commercial segment, with its April sales of 238 units taking its total to 1,017. Volkswagen was is a distant second, with 127 deliveries for the month and a 4-month total of 621.