23% drop in number of new cars licensed in first quarter of year

The number of new private cars licensed in the Republic during the first three months of this year was down 23.5 per cent on the same period last year. According to the Central Statistics Office, 60,933 new private cars were licensed here between January and March 2001, compared to 76,644 for the same period last year.

In March this year, 22,147 new private cars were licensed compared to 30,125 in March 2000.

Where the first licensing of second-hand private cars was concerned, there was a drop of 39.9 per cent to 1,016 in March this year from March last year. The number of new licensed goods vehicles has also dropped in 2001. The decrease for the first three months of this year was 3 per cent.

The total number of vehicles licensed in the Republic between January and March 2001 was 83,363, compared to 104,365 for the same period last year, a drop of 20.1 per cent.

There was a drop of 22.1 per cent in the number of new vehicles licensed in March of this year, compared to March 2000.

Figures from 1999 to 2001 suggest last year was exceptional in terms of sales of new vehicles.

In March 1999 the number of new private cars was 23,411, compared to 30,125 for March 2000 and 22,147 for March this year. Similarly the number of all new vehicles was 27,844 for March 1999, compared to 35,331 for March 2000 and 27,506 for March this year.

Figures for the January to March period show that the total number of new vehicles licensed in 1999 was 68,007, compared to 93,514 in 2000 and 75,524 in 2001.