179,527 car sales in six months but June slows down

Sales of new cars continue to reach record levels despite a slight decline in June according to new figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). show 179,527 new cars were registered in the first six months of this year, up almost 45 per cent on 1999. However, new car registrations in June slipped slightly from the previous month, with 22,845 registered in June compared to 27,026 in May. Sales of light commercial vehicles are also reaching record levels. Sales so far this year have totalled 27,481, an increase of almost 30 per cent. June sales at 4,165 was a 44 per cent increase on June 1999.