New car registrations for August were down 4.2 per cent (4,875) when compared to August 2019 (5,088), according to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
Registrations this year are down by 28.6 per cent (78,920) on the same period last year (110,527).
Recession levels
Brian Cooke, SIMI director general, said: "August represents another disappointing month for new car sales, with sales again down on the same month last year, as they have been each month of 2020. This has led a year to date reduction of 29 per cent in new cars sales, and a 43 per cent reduction over the last 4 years. The Industry is operating at the same business levels as 10 years ago, when the sector shed close to 15,000 jobs."
Mr Cooke predicted recession levels of sales for 2021 due to the impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ahead of Budget 2021 in October, Mr Cooke has called on the Government to introduce a 'significant reduction' in Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
"This would enable the car market to return to normal sustainable levels that would not only save jobs, but increase overall tax take and help renew the Irish car fleet, reducing both the age of the fleet and emissions from transport," he added.
