Ireland Full Year 2015: VW Golf and Ford Focus in the lead

The VW Golf is the best-seller in Ireland for the 3rd straight year.

* See the Top 38 All-brands and Top 270 All-models by clicking on the title *

2015 is the third year of a new bi-annual license plate system aligned with the UK, and new car sales now definitely have got into the swing of things: up a fantastic 30% year-on-year to 124.945 registrations, with January (29.808) and July (27.594) now almost at the same level. The Top 5 best-selling brands remain unchanged on 2014 with Volkswagen (+32%) still master in command ahead of Toyota (+28%), Ford (+27%), Hyundai (+41%) and Nissan (+59%). Low-cost brand Dacia continues to impress: up another 40% for only its third year in market to hit 3% market share and 3.784 sales at #12. Notice also Land Rover up 46%, Mitsubishi up 47%, Porsche up 73% and Jeep up 571%.

The new model boosts Ford Mondeo sales up 149%. Picture irishtimes.com

The VW Golf is the best-selling nameplate in the country for the third consecutive year, however its market share drops to 4.4% as its sales, although up 21% to 5.525, failed to keep up with the market. The Ford Focus gains one spot on 2014 to land in 2nd place at 4.248 units (+12%), knocking the Nissan Qashqai (+9%) down to #3. The Skoda Octavia (+37%), VW Passat (+61%) and Toyota Yaris (+38%) also shine inside the Top 10. Just outside, the Ford Mondeo surges 149% to #11 thanks to the new model, the Opel Corsa is up 49% to #15, the Nissan Pulsar posts one of its most solid scores in Europe for its first full year of sales at #18 and the Dacia Sandero more than doubles its sales to land at #22 just below the Duster.

Delayed into 2015 for Ireland, the VW Golf Sportsvan is the most popular newcomer of 2015.

The VW Golf Sportsvan is the most popular all-new model in Ireland this year at #71, only nine units above the Citroen C4 Cactus – these two models both having their launches delayed into 2015 for Ireland compared to the majority of Europe.

Previous month: Ireland November 2015: Land Rover Discovery Sport tops market under 1.000 units

Previous year: Ireland Full Year 2014: VW Golf leads, Toyota Corolla up to #5

Two years ago: Ireland Full Year 2013: VW Golf best-seller for the first time

Full Year 2015 Top 38 All-brands and Top 270 All-models vs. Full 2014 figures below.