Clare car registrations up in first half of 2021

THERE were 1,359 new cars registered in Clare during the first half of 2021.
This is significantly up on the 1,164 registrations in the first half of 2020, but still far below the 1,593 in the first half of 2019, before the pandemic struck.
Of the new registrations in Clare 529 were diesel and 397 petrol. There were also 319 hybrids and 89 electric.
Brian Cooke, Director General of the Socieity of the Irish Motor Industry said that there is some reason to be positive about the sector’s potential recovery in the second half of the year.
“The last 15 months has been for the Motor Industry a hugely difficult time, with new car sales down over a fifth when compared to pre-Covid 2019.
“July 1, with the new 212 registration plate, will hopefully be a turning point for the Industry and with both the lead-in time provided by the reopening of showrooms and a strong order bank, retailers are optimistic that they can recover some of the sales lost during the first half of the year.
“Notwithstanding this the impact of Covid 19 will continue for the sector, as because of the concerns over the short-term outlook for international tourism, there continues to be a lack of demand in the car hire market,” he noted.
“On a more positive note, the demand for both Commercial Vehicles and Electric Vehicles is very encouraging.
“In this context it is vital that the current EV incentives are extended beyond their expiry dates as the country begins its transition to zero emissions transport,” Mr Cooke concluded.

by Owen Ryan