Motor dealers hoping foran 02 July boost

AFTER a disastrous start to the year due to the Coronavirus lockdown Kerry car dealers will be hoping the start of the 02 registration period next month will afford some respite.

With car sales down over 70 per cent last month compared with 2019 car dealers - most of whom reopened in recent weeks – are calling on the Government to take steps to help the sector by getting NCT services up and running and restoring certain grants for company vehicle purchases.

Last week the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) released their latest figures which showed new car registrations for May were down 72 per cent nationally compared with May 2019 (6,320).

With retailer’s showrooms shut down from mid March until May 18 sales figures have plummeted across the State.

In Kerry just 1,169 new cars had been sold between the start of the year and the end of May. That represents a fall of 26 per cent on the first five months of 2019 when 1578 new cars were sold in Kerry.

SIMI Director General Brian Cooke said car dealers were glad to be back open but are facing into an extremely difficult period.

“With new car sales for the month over 70 per cent down on May last year and with both the dire economic outlook for the rest of the year and no hire drive activity, it is clearly going to be a very challenging period for the Industry,” said Mr Cooke

He is calling on the Government to introduce a series of measures to help the industry get back on its feet.

“In the short term the State should expedite the safe re-opening of NCT, while also re-instate the Government Grants for Company Electric Vehicle purchases,” he said.

“The key July registration period is fast approaching, and the motor industry has commenced promotional activity with a variety of attractive new car offers announced to optimise sales. In addition, strong Government support in the coming weeks and months will be vital in helping the Industry support the nearly 50,000 people in employment,” Mr Cooke said.