New car registrations for the first 20 day in January are showing a healthy 45% increase on the same period last year.

While early indications are satisfying, most commentators and car industry chiefs are remaining cautious that 2014 will continue in this vein throughout the year. However, most dealers and distributors are pleased with the first few weeks and are keeping their fingers crossed that it will be a much better year than last. For now the early figures are showing that customers are back in the forecourts and deals are being done at a much higher rate than this time last year.

So far in the first 20 days of 2014 registrations have topped 14,000 compared to just over 10,000 at the same time last year. 

Toyota is the early leader with 2,021 cars registered followed by Hyundai with 1,654 and Volkswagen with 1,600. That is a 58% increase for Toyota from the same period last year. Hyundai are up by 56% with Volkswagen showing an increase of 35%.

The biggest percentage increase comes from Dacia with 338 car registered in January compared to just 17 this time last year. Other performing well are Lexus with a 140% increase on 2013 and Renault up by 108%.

While premium brands like BMW and Audi are showing small increases, Mercedes-Benz is showing good results with an increase of 90% in their sales.

Often regarded as a better indicator of how the economy as a whole is performing, the industry will be happy that registrations of Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) are also showing a healthy increase of 42% on the same period in 2013.