5 July 2001: Car sales have dropped 28% in the first six months of 2001, according to figures released by the SIMI but remain 3% up on 1999 figures. Ford continues to be the country's leading car brand, accounting for 11.6% of the market in June and 11.4% for the half-year.

A total of 129,094 cars have been registered this year, compared to 179,408 in the bumper millennium year. Ford 14,673 (11.4%), Toyota 13,728 (10.6%), Nissan 13,478 (10.4%), VW 13,197 (10.2%), GM 12,092 (9.4%).

June sales supported suggestions of a slowdown in the market, with registrations, at 14368, down 37% on last year and 13% below the corresponding 1999 figure. Ford 1,663, Nissan 1,561, VW 1,434, GM 1,424, Toyota 1,102.

Sales of commercial vehicles fell 10% on June 2000, but remained well ahead of June 1999. Ford was again market leader with a 14.5% share. For the first half of 2001, the commercial market was down 1.6% at 30318 units, with Ford claiming top spot with 17% of the market.

'June was a sluggish month for the car industry, with sales lagging behind both 2000 and 1999 levels,' commented Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director, Henry Ford & Son Limited. 'It's a month where daily rental cars are acquired for the tourist sector and this business has been severely hit by FMD.

'The year to date is broadly in line with industry expectations of a full-year market of 170,000 units. If the weak June result does not signal a sharper downturn in the coming months, this will be another healthy year for car sales.

'Ford's best-selling Focus continues to buck the trend. With sales surpassing the 6,700 mark, it is Ireland's most popular car for the half-year.'

In the Elite Brands sector for the period Jan- June the top five sellers were M-B 3,560, BMW 3,168, Audi 1,625, Alfa Romeo 1,610, Volvo 1,482.

“The so-called Millennium Effect and the Double Zero number-plate produced the biggest new-car market ever seen here, a wonderful and unprecedented result for our industry, but it was a freak year,” Fiat Auto Ireland’s new CEO Paolo Gagliardo said in a comment on the results.

He points out that most industry observers and analysts now predict that the market this year will be more in line with a steady trend of growth started in the early ‘90s. “This consistent upward trend reflects the increasing affluence in the country and I believe that the year will close with total sales somewhere between 160-165,000 units. That would be another great year for new car sales.”