New car sales continued to surge ahead in November, with almost 7,000 purchased, more than double the number in the same period last year.

The bulk were bought under the scrappage scheme, some 4,268, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. The scheme is due to end on December 31st and has provided the impetus for record new car sales this year. At the end of November, SIMI estimated that 23,800 cars were scrapped under the scheme and this is expected to rise to close to 25,000 by year's end. New car sales for the month were 6,797.