ALMOST 24,000 MORE new vehicles are on our roads so far this year, an increase of 30.9% compared to the same period last year.

Figures published today by the CSO showed that Volkswagen remains the most popular brand in 2014, making up 12.1% of cars licensed.

For the first time, the number of used imported private cars licensed was down 3.3%.

In August alone, there was a 37.5% increase in the number of new private cars licensed, classified as when a vehicle gets a license plate, compared August 2013.

All used vehicle licensing was down slightly last month compared to 2013, but were up more than 6,000 when all of 2014 is taken into account.

There was a significant increase of 52.3% (532) in the number of new goods vehicles licensed in August, an increase in the year-to-date of 47.6%.

A rise in the number of commercial vehicles being licensed is traditionally associated with a rise in economic activity.

Tractor sales are down slightly so far this year.

The top four brands of private cars so far in 2014 are:

• Volkswagen – 9,979
• Toyota – 8,838
• Ford – 8,303
• Hyundai – 6,680

This was almost echoed in the figures for August, but with Nissan slipping into Hyundai’s forth position.

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