Motor Sales Rising In Northern Ireland

Car sales are increasing across Northern Ireland.

For the second consecutive quarter there has been an increase in registrations when compared to the corresponding time period in the previous year.

The news has emerged from the latest edition of the Northern Ireland Road and Rail Transport Statistics, containing statistics for October to December 2009, which is now available.

The publication is produced by the Central Statistics and Research Branch of the Department for Regional Development and contains information on vehicle registrations, use of public transport, deliveries of petrol and diesel for use in Northern Ireland and driver and vehicle tests.

Key points for the quarter October to December 2009 show there were 16,560 new and used cars registered for the first time during the quarter of which new cars accounted for 57% of the total.

The data also shows the number of new and used cars registered for the first time during the quarter has increased by 18% since the corresponding quarter last year.

This is the second consecutive quarter to show an increase when compared to the corresponding time period in the previous year.

Vauxhall cars (pictured) were the most popular make of new car during October to December 2009, accounting for 11% (1,013) of all new cars registered.

The second and third most popular makes of new car were Ford (1,005) and Renault (877), respectively.

Of the 640 heavy goods vehicles registered for the first time in Northern Ireland, almost four in five (78%) were previously used vehicles.

There was a weekly average of 1.45 million public bus passenger journeys made during the quarter, a decrease of 3% from 1.49 million in the corresponding quarter of 2008. During the same time period, weekly average bus passenger receipts increased by 2% to £2.51million from £2.45million.

The weekly average rail passenger journeys have decreased by 5% to 0.20 million from 0.21 million since the corresponding quarter of 2008.

During the same time period, weekly average rail passenger receipts decreased by 8% to £0.54million from £0.59million.

Over the period January 2009 to December 2009, the pass rate for car 'L' driver tests was 55% for males and 45% for females in Northern Ireland, compared to 48% for males and 42% for females in Great Britain.

(BMcc/GK)