The number of new cars licenced in August fell by 64.5 per cent compared to August 2008, according to data released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Overall, 2,422 new private cars licenced last month, a fall of 4,400 on the same month a year earlier when 6,822 cars were licensed.
The number of new goods vehicles licensed during last month was 869 compared to 1,425 in the corresponding month last year, a decrease of 39 per cent.
The total number of vehicles licensed in August was 3,873 a decline of 58 per cent over the year.
Of the 2,422 new private cars licensed last month 42 per cent, or 1,015, were petrol and 1,366 were diesel.
Classified by make, the highest number of new private cars licensed was Volkswagen (295) followed by Ford (291), Toyota (268) and Opel (197).