More new cars have been bought so far this year in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim compared to the same time last year.
This is in line with the national trend and, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, shows there is pent-up demand which can be satisfied with record savings following the Covid restrictions.
Between January and the end of July this year in Donegal, 2,088 new vehicles were registered. That compares to 1,771 for the same period last year.
In Sligo, 926 new vehicles were registered; the figure for January to July last year was 803.
And in Leitrim, two more new vehicles have been bought so far this year — the figure was 337 compared to 335 in 2020.
Brian Cooke, SIMI director general, says that while new car sales continue to be well behind pre-Covid levels, there is hope that the growth of activity in July is the first step in a return to more sustainable business levels.
So far this year, 6,233 new electric cars have been registered in the country, compared to 2,660 by this time last year.
Diesel vehicles now account for more than 34%, petrol almost 33%, hybrid over 16%, electric almost 7% and plug-in electric hybrid, also almost also almost 7%.
