The number of new private cars registered in October fell 40.9 per cent, new figures from the Central Statistics Office showed today.
Some 1,596 new private cars were licensed for the first time in October 2009, compared with 2,699 in October 2008. Diesel cars continued to be popular with car-buyers, with 968 - or 60.7 per cent - of those licensed in October falling into that category.
In total, 2,790 new vehicles were registered last month, compared to 4,848 during the same period in 2008. this represents a decrease of 42.5 per cent.
New goods vehicles contributed to that overall decline, with the number falling 42.6 per cent from 1,399 in October 2008 to 803 this year.
The total number of vehicles registered during the month also fell, from 11,908 in 2008 compared to 8,038 last month, a fall of 32.5 per cent.