With two months still to go new car sales have reached over 95,000, the highest registration figure since 2009.

Figures just released from SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) show that car sales were up 21% for the month of October (2,042) compared with this month last year (1,692).

So far this year, 95,217 new cars have been sold, an increase of 30% on 2013 (73,454).  This is the first time in 5 years (2009 56,315) that new car sales have reached 95,000.

The Commercial Vehicle market is even more positive, with light commercial/van sales up 51% (15,900) this year in comparison to 2013 (10,555), with the month of October (1,370) recording a strong sales increase up 79% compared with October last year (766).

HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are also up 12% for the month of October and 23% year to date.

Alan Nolan, Director General SIMI commenting on these figures: "The positive registration figures for all sectors is a welcome sign of recovery for our Industry particularly the light commercial registrations indicate a more general recovery in the wider economy. While the new car sales figures are encouraging, we must remember that we are still starting from a very low base. For sustainability the new car registration market needs to be operating at an annual level of 130,000 however these figures are a sign of continued progress and that sales are currently moving in the right direction.

The Industry has also seen improved business levels through commercial sales and the rise in car sales also reflects improved consumer confidence both demonstrating strong indicators of economic recovery".