Figures from the motor industry show that new car sales for the first five months of this year are 7% up on the same period last year at 138,212.
In May alone, new car sales were 20,689, an increase of 17.6% on the same month last year, according to the figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.
'Even though cars sold in May would have been ordered in the previous months, the strong market more than likely reflects the release of SSIA funds,' said SIMI chief executive Cyril McHugh. He expects total sales this year to reach 190,000, making 2007 the second best year behind 2000.
