Sales figures still reflecting boost from scrappage scheme.
New car sales were up by 77.9 per cent for March compared to the same month last year.
The increase reflects a 32 per cent increase in passenger vehicle registrations for the first quarter of the year.
Recently released figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) indicate that County Carlow had the highest boost in sales with a 172 per cent increase compared to March 2009.
Car sales in Dublin were up by 67 per cent while Cork's car sales were up by 82 per cent.
Limerick City had the only negative new car sales figure with a -1 per cent drop in registrations compared to March last year.
The Nissan Qashqai was the biggest selling car last month.
Meanwhile, the sales of light commercial vehicle (LCVs) were also up by over 40 per cent while heavy goods registrations increased by 50 per cent in March.