Ireland April 2013: BMW 5 Series and Dacia Duster impress

Dacia Duster

* See the Top 50 best-selling models and Top 30 brands by clicking on the title! *

First figures for the full month of April are starting to trickle down and for once we start with Ireland. The Irish new car market is down 9% year-on-year to 6,121 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 45,581 units, down 13% on 2012. The VW Golf maintains itself at very high levels thanks to the 7th generation, #1 for the 2nd consecutive month at 358 sales and 5.8% and reinforcing its pole position year-to-date with 2,361 units and 5.2%. The Ford Focus is back up 6 spots on last month to #2 with 229 sales and 3.7% (it is #3 year-to-date) while the Nissan Qashqai rounds up the podium at 205 units and 3.3% but still ranks #2 year-to-date with 2,146 sales and 4.7%.

BMW 5 Series

Exceptional month of the BMW 5 Series, up 22 ranks on March to land in 5th place at 174 units and 2.8%. The Renault Fluence also gains 22 spots month-on-month to return to levels familiar to the model a couple of years ago at #7 with 139 sales and 2.3%. Notice also the Kia Sportage breaking into the Irish Top 10 for the very first time at #8 with 137 units and 2.2%, the Peugeot 208 up 10 to #13, Hyundai Santa Fe up 28 to #20, Toyota RAV4 up 12 to #21, Seat Mii up to #28, Opel Mokka up to #44 and the Seat Toledo at #45.

Dacia Sandero

But like in March, the most significant event in the Irish car market this month is the progression of Dacia. Simultaneously launched last January in the UK and Ireland almost 10 yes after the rest of Europe, the French-Romanian brand has delivered  particularly solid sales figures so far. The Duster improves on an already impressive 15th place in March to reach #12 this month with 114 sales and just under 2% market share while the Sandero ranks #58 with 0.5%. In the brands ranking, Dacia is #15 only 2 units below Citroen and ahead of Mercedes, Mazda and Honda!

Previous month: Ireland March 2013: Dacia takes off, places Duster at #15!

One year ago: Ireland April 2012: VW Golf in the lead, Hyundai i40 #7

Full April 2013 Top 50 models and Top 30 brands Ranking Tables below.