NEW CAR registrations were down 67 per cent in April, bringing the overall sales figure for the first four months to just 37,209, down from 106,778 last year.
The dramatic drop suggests total sales for 2009 are likely to be about 50,000, the worst since 1988.
Ford remains the best-selling car brand this year with 5,339 new registrations, ahead of Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and Opel.
However, all these brands recorded sales drops in excess of 59 per cent.
Earlier this week Land Rover confirmed it was handing over control of its Irish operations to the multi-franchise car distributor OHM Group.
Sales this year of the SUV brand are down 94 per cent, with just 60 new cars sold up to Thursday.
OHM Group already handles the British firm’s sister brand Jaguar, along with Saab, Daihatsu, Seat, and Chrysler among other marques.
On Thursday Chrysler entered bankruptcy protection in the US. However, OHM confirmed yesterday that sales will continue at its 15 Irish dealerships, while servicing, parts and warranties cover remains unaffected.
Chrysler, which also owns the Jeep and Dodge marques, is planning to emerge from the court protection within 60 days, by which time it will receive more US government aid and bring on board new shareholders including the United Auto Workers trade union and Italian car manufacturers Fiat.
Chrysler plans to partner with the Italian firm and develop smaller, more fuel-efficient cars for the US market.
