Motor industry takes battering from COVID-19

THE Irish motoring industry has taken a battering due to the Covid-19 outbreak with car sales plunging amid the global virus crisis.

According to the latest ‘new vehicle’ sales figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) which were relesed last week new car registrations nationally were down almost two thirds last month.

According to the SIMI statistics new registrations in March were down 63 per cent (6,174 units) when compared to March 2019 (16,687).

Registrations for the year to date are also down 20.5 per cent (51,015) on the same period last year (64,126).

In Kerry new car sales for the year to date are down 13.5 per cent with just 1175 new passenger cars registered in the county so far this year compared with 1358 last year.

Used car imports for March (4,656) have also seen a decrease of 48 per cent on March 2019 and for the year to date imports are down almost 35 per cent.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting on the market figures said while dealerships are closed the Motor industry stands ready to help in any way it can.

“The health of our nation is the overriding priority. The Motor Industry will assist the State in any way we can during this pandemic. While showrooms, service and other activities within the Industry are closed, members are available to assist in emergency call-out or delivery services. This will be vital in keeping essential and emergency services moving,” said Mr Cooke.

“The Motor Industry and its employees, like so many Industries, is feeling the devastating impact of COVID-19. Even before the crisis commenced, the new car market was in decline, and this fall has accelerated rapidly in the last fortnight with new car activity down nearly two-thirds on last year.”

Once the crisis is over the SIMI head said urgent action would be needed to protect jobs in the motor sector.

“Whatever the duration of this crisis, once we emerge, we will need decisive and ambitious action from Government to protect the nearly 50,000 jobs in our sector,” he said.