Irish consumers are beginning to come around to the new split-registration period if the latest figures from SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) are to be believed. After the first '1*2' period in 2013 failed to set the world alight with only 11,606 registrations in the month of July the uptake in 2014 is much better with 18,747 registrations, representing a near 62 per cent increase.
Volkswagen retains the top spot with 2,275 registrations during July this year, 803 of them being for the Golf alone, making it the best-selling car of the month. When car and van sales are combined Ford comes out on top with 2,728 and the Blue Oval brand is the only manufacturer with two cars in the top ten with Focus in 2nd and Fiesta 4th, sandwiching the Nissan Qashqai, which racked up 771 registrations in July.
Registrations are not restricted to small, eco-friendly cars however; three lucky punters opted for models in the highest tax band - Band G with emissions in excess of 225g/km. No word on what those cars were, but it is yet another indication of returning consumer confidence, as too are the 77 cars registered in Band F (191- to 225 g/km), as these cars are invariably high-powered sports cars or executive saloons/SUVs.
In fact the cars that SIMI classes as 'Prestige SUVs' have seen a 143 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2013 and while the 33 convertibles sold only accounts for 0.18 per cent of registrations it is a sign that the industry is beginning to pull itself out of the quagmire.
The 4,893 registrations of petrol-powered cars does seem to suggest that buyers are beginning to do the sums on petrol versus diesel, but as a percentage of total sales the number has dropped and, surprisingly, so has diesel. Electric cars like the Renault Zoe and BMW i3 are the big benefactors as the segment enjoys as 225 per cent increase.
Anything else?
While our automotive buying habits appear to be shifting, the colours we buy our cars in has not. Silver still reigns supreme, ahead of black and grey with the 'so this season' white in fourth place.