The number of new private cars licensed last year was the highest since 2008, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today.
The CSO said the number of new cars registered last year rose by 29.5% to a total of 92,361.
The number of used or imported cars were also at their highest level since 2008 and amounted to 52,863 for a year, up 6.2% from 2013.
Today's figures also reveal that the total number of new goods vehicles licensed last year - which some analysts say is a good indicator of the economy - jumped by 47.4% to 16,254.
Volkswagen was the most popular brand of new car (11,329) licensed in 2014, followed by Toyota (9,658), Ford (9,040) and Hyundai (7,410).
