July Car Sales Plunge as Ireland’s Scrappage Program Ends

Irish new-car sales plummeted 35.4% to 4,076 units in July, as the industry struggles with the ending of the government’s tax-cutting scrappage program in June.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry says July deliveries were down 2,231 units from year-ago, when sales included 1,200 new cars purchased under the tax-incentive scheme.

Volkswagen top-seller in July.

Deliveries of light-commercial vehicle also slid, down 7.8% to 7,627 units in the month.

SIMI director general Alan Nolan says the car market remains fragile.

“The months immediately following the ending of scrappage were always going to be challenging,” he says in a statement.

However, year-to-date figures remain positive, with new-car sales up 9.9% to 81,176 units in the first seven months, and LCV deliveries jumping 12.6% to 8,901.

Diesel-powered cars also have seen increased demand in the period, up 22% to 57,452 units, representing 70.8% of all models sold this year.

Volkswagen led July new-car sales with 551 units, ahead of Ford with 484 and Toyota with 387.

Toyota was the top-seller of new cars through the first seven months, up 13% with 10,604 units.

Volkswagen was second, up 12.2% to 9,917, and Ford was third, up 11.9% to 8,685.

Ford continued to pace the LCV segment with 152 deliveries in July, ahead of VW with 105 units and Renault with 82.

Year-to-date, Ford has sold 1,765 LCVs for 19.8% of the segment. VW follows with 1,350, (15.1%) and Renault is third with 1,238 (13.9%).