Irish New Cars: The CSO reported today that there were 20,190 new private cars licensed in March 2008, compared with 25,974 in March 2007, a decrease of 22.3%.

The total number of new private cars licensed to date in 2008 is 77,441 a decrease of 5.3.% on the corresponding period for 2007.

First licensing of second-hand private cars decreased by 482 (9.3%) on the same month last year.

The number of new goods vehicles licensed in March 2008 was 3,858 compared with 6,361 in the corresponding month last year - a decrease of 39.3%.

The vehicle licensing figures also show that:

In March 2008, the total number of all vehicles licensed was 32,589 compared with 42,955 during the same month in 2007 - a decrease of 24.1.%.

The total number of all new vehicles licensed during March 2008 was 25,844 compared with 35,139 during the same month in 2007 - a decrease of 26.5%.

The highest number of new private cars licensed in March 2008, classified by make, was Toyota (2,945) followed by Volkswagen (2,385), Ford (2,303), Opel (1,982) and Nissan (1,316).

The licensing figures refer to vehicles taxed for road use only and are classified by taxation class.