September car sales down, but overall numbers up on last year
CAR sales in County Wexford were down 13 per cent in September, compared to the same period in 2015, according to figures provided by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
A total of 121 cars were sold in the county in September, 2015, compared to 105 in the Setepmber just past.
However, overall car sale for the year to date are up by almost 19 per cent, with 3,430 new car sold compared to 2,883 during the first nine months of 2015.
The SIMI said 162 registrations decrease by -1.4 per cent (4,698) in Sep[tember, compared to September 2015 (4,766).
Mirroring the County Wexford increase, car registrations so far this year are up 18 per cent (143,205) ahead on the same period last year (120,961).
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) are up 20 per cent (26,171) year to date, while the month of September has seen a slight increase of three per cent (1,634) in comparison to the same month last year (1,582).
Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations, have recorded a 16 per cent increase for the month of September (213) 2016 when compared to September last year (184), with registrations up 38 per cent on the year to date (2,646).
The SIMI said that despite the continuing reduction in the overall cost of motoring, the significant increase in the cost of motor insurance premiums for consumers and for businesses must now be a serious concern across all sectors.
Since 2013 Motor Insurance Premiums have increased by 71.3 per cent and in the past 12 months alone, increases have been running at 38.6 per cent.
With further significant increase in premiums predicted, this will continue to unfairly burden motorists and businesses, and is a particularly serious issue in the case of younger drivers and those on lower incomes.
On a ligher note, the top selling models for 2016 are:
1. Hyundai Tucson, 2.Volkswagen Golf, 3.Ford Focus, 4.Skoda Octavia and 5. Nissan Qashqai.