The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released data showing that buyers' preferences are changing towards greener models and that the scrappage scheme has accelerated that change.
In 2008 the average CO2 emissions of a new car was 159g/km. That dropped to 144g/km in 2009 and 135g/km so far this year.
However, cars bought under the scrappage scheme averaged just 126g/km.
That compares particularly favourably with the vehicles traded in to be scrapped. Emissions for the older cars average out at 200g/km.
SIMI Director General Alan Nolan said, "While scrappage has played its part in encouraging consumers to be environmentally focused, it has been clear for the last two years that the trend now is towards lower emission cars. Consumers are seeing both the environmental and economic benefits in buying a cleaner car. The higher fuel efficiency of lower emission cars will also reduce our fuel demand and reduce fuel transport costs, which will have clear long-term benefits for all economic sectors."
The statistics follow the latest news that car sales for May 2010 are up 71 percent on the same month in 2009, with sales for the year to date up 42 percent.