The CSO said today that there were 4,480 new private cars licensed in May 2009, compared with 12,172 in May 2008, a decrease of 60.2%.

The Association of European Automobile manufacturers reported last week that Irish sales sales fell 50% in May and were down 64% in 2009, compared with the same periods in 2008.

The number of new goods vehicles licensed in May 2009 was 1,034 compared with 3,219 in the corresponding month last year - a decrease of 67.9%.

The vehicle licensing figures also show that:

• In May 2009, the total number of all vehicles licensed was 14,799 compared with 25,268 during the same month in 2008 - a decrease of 41.4%.
• The total number of all new vehicles licensed during May 2009 was 6,864 compared with 17,285 during the same month in 2008 - a decrease of 60.3%. 
• In May 2009, of the 4,840 new private cars licensed, 2,216 (45.8%) were petrol and 2,464 (50.9%) were diesel.
• The highest number of new private cars licensed in May 2009, classified by make, was Toyota (683) followed by Ford (643), Volkswagen (482), Nissan (357) and Opel (344).

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