PROVISIONAL FIGURES for car sales in September show that new car registrations dropped by almost 40 per cent compared to the same time last year, writes Paddy Comyn
Figures for the first 20 days of September showed that there were 2,361 new passenger cars sold, compared to 3,815 over the same period last year, a drop of 38 per cent, but it is estimated that this could rise to 40 per cent by the time end of month figures are calculated.
Hardest hit would appear to be the SUV and luxury market. Land Rover registered only one vehicle sold in the first 20 days of September, compared to 43 in the same period in 2007, a fall of 97.7 per cent. The marque has seen its sales slip for the year by 28.8 per cent compared to last year.
"It is very hard to see where the market will go at the moment," said David Harpur, managing director of Land Rover Ireland. "Our market has been hit badly by the downturn in the economy and in particular our commercial market has been hit by the slump in the construction industry. I see the market at around 130,000 units next year, but it could be even less than this."
This estimate was echoed by others within the industry. Sam Synnott, managing director of Hyundai Cars predicted that the market in 2009 will fall as low as 125,000 units.
Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland sees 2009 as being a market of 130,000 units. "September was quiet and it's fair to say that the year will end at 150,000 units. We can't see there being any growth next year, in fact it will probably be down around the 130,000 figure."
Other brands that have been hit hard include Lexus, down 33.7 per cent on 2007, Chevrolet down 41 per cent on 2007 and Peugeot, down 27.7 per cent on 2007.
Today also marks the handover of distribution for Volkswagen's brands in Ireland from the Motor Distributors Ireland (MDL) group to the German parent company.
Paul Willis, formerly brand director of Volkswagen UK will run the group's operations in Ireland.