New car registrations for April 2001 were 16,705 - a 34.41 per cent drop on April 2000 sales, according to the latest data available from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). Year to date new car registrations now stand at 96,162 units.

Despite the decrease on April 2000 sales, new car registrations to end April represent a 7.1 per cent rise on the same period in 1999, the SIMI said.