Motor industry report shows over 33% increase in Mayo car sales

THE SIMI/DoneDeal third quarter motor industry report shows that car sales in Mayo continue to increase.

For the first nine months of the year there was a 33.5% increase in new car sales in the county compared to the same period last year.

Up to the end of September last, 2,369 cars had been sold in the county. That compares to 1,774 in the first three quarters of last year. Registrations in the third quarter this year were 41.1% ahead of the same period in 2014.

The good news continued into October, with another 34 cars sold in what is traditionally a quiet month for sales.

The report, which was compiled by economist Jim Power in association with DoneDeal, also forecasts prospects for 2016, during which it expects new car sales to grow by at least 20%. That would equate to total sales of 150,000, an extra 3,250 jobs in the auto sector, and increased VAT and VRT revenues of €208 million for the exchequer.

Since June 2014, 3,700 new jobs in the motor industry have come on stream, with over €1 billion collected for the exchequer from car sales alone in 2015.

Des Cassidy, SIMI representative and managing director of Cassidy Motors in Charlestown, said: “The continued increase of sales in Mayo is a big positive for the area. The motor industry is to the fore of recovery across the country and this is no different in Mayo. This shows a great increase in consumer confidence across the county, which is helping to create jobs and pumping more money into the local economy, and is a huge boost for the region. 

“The acceptance in the recent budget that the motor industry should be let continue to grow without any additional taxes has shown that it’s working and that it will continue to work into 2016.”

The SIMI national retailers' conference, attended by distributor, franchise and independent retailer members, heard how in the first nine months of 2015, new car sales countrywide to September (121,098) were up 30% on 2014 (93,151) and the exchequer benefitted by collecting €1.12 billion from both new and used car sales.

The 152 plates are having a 'significant impact' on car sales, according to the report, as registrations in the third quarter were 41.1% ahead of the same period in 2014. Light commercial vehicles (LCV) are up 43% and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) are also up 6% year to date.

* Don't miss this week's eight-page motoring guide in the print edition of The Connaught Telegraph, which is on shelves at all good newsagents now.