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Irish car sales up 55% in 2010

New car sales in Ireland jumped a massive 55 percent in 2010 compared to 2009.

Figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that new car sales leapt up by 55 percent in 2010 compared to the year prior.

Just under 89,000 cars left forecourts in 2010, a 31,000 increase over 2009, with the SIMI attributing the jump to the Scrappage Scheme.

SIMI Director General Alan Nolan said: "the main reason for the rise in sales was due to the Government Scrappage Scheme which saw over 17,000 motorists buying a new car under the scheme."

The scheme has been extended by six months into 2011 to further massage sales. It's a move that Mr Nolan believes will prove fruitful, saying it "will deliver again in terms of jobs and tax revenues for the Exchequer."

Figures show that the scheme brought an extra €109 million of revenue to the Government, as well as creating an estimated 3,500 jobs in the car industry.

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Published on January 6, 2011