Car registrations show slower decline in Q1 2006

Motor vehicle registrations showed another fall compared with the year-earlier period in Q1 2006. However, the fall was much less steep than in previous quarters and suggests that the fall in registrations is bottoming out.

Total registrations of motor vehicles in the first quarter of 2006 decreased by just 0.3% to 12,395 from 12,428 vehicles in the same period of 2005, acording to the Statistical Service.

This compares with an average fall of 14.3% year on year in the previous three quarters.

Car registrations fell sharply for most of 2005 after a cut in excise duties in late 2003 led to a big boom in purchases in 2004.

According to the Statistical Service, private saloon cars decreased to 9,316 from 10,107 in January-March 2005, i.e. there was a decrease of 7.8%. Of the total private saloon cars, 4,914 vehicles or 52.7% were new and 4,402 vehicles or 47.3% were used vehicles.

Goods conveyance vehicles increased by 42.7% to 1,466 in 2006, compared to 1,027 in 2005.

Light goods vehicles increased by 38.8% to 1,131, from 815 in 2005, while heavy goods vehicles increased by 58.0% to 335 in January-March 2006, from 212 in 2005.

Mechanised cycles increased by 9.6% to 757 in 2006, compared to 691 in January-March 2005.