Figures show 29 per cent of new car sales in lowest tax band

New car figures for 2010 reflect a shift to greener, cleaner engines in Ireland.

New car figures for 2010 reflect a shift to greener, cleaner engines in Ireland.

So far in 2010, sales of band A-rated models stand at 29 per cent of the total market; the figure for the same period in 2009 was just 10 per cent.

Band A-rated cars offer the lowest rate of VRT and the lowest annual road tax of €104.

The shift to lower CO2-producing models can be clearly seen in Ford Ireland's new cars sales where four out of every 10 new cars sold (39 per cent) were models that fell into the lowest CO2 tax band A.

Just 15 per cent of Ford's new car sales for 2009 were in the tax bracket A.

Ford Ireland managing director Eddie Murphy described the movement to cleaner cars as a step in the right direction.

"These figures are a clear confirmation of a couple of things," he stated. "Firstly, they show the positive impact the scrappage scheme is having in boosting small cars sales this year."

"And secondly, it shows the effects of the government's 2008 change in the VRT system that encouraged the purchase of cars with lower CO2 output".

Ford's A-rated models, the Ka, Fiesta and the Focus, are among the brand's most popular vehicles.

The diesel-fuelled Focus 1.6 TDCi, which emits 118g/km of CO2, is Ireland's top-selling model so far this year.

Published on: March 22, 2010