The healthy increase in car and van sales achieved in Ireland during 2014 has continued into the January 2015 market according to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

During January, car sales jumped 30 per cent to 29,948 units and light commercial vehicles were up some 60 percent to 5,051 units (versus 22,893 cars and 3,149 vans for January 2014).

In the combined new vehicle market for January 2015, Ford sold the highest number of vehicles with a tally of 4,515 units (3,128 cars and 1,387 vans) ahead of Toyota with a combined total of 4,282 and VW's combined total of 4,166.

"Coming on the back of strong industry sales in 2014, these figures show that the turnaround is thankfully showing some endurance," said Ford Ireland chief Ciaran McMahon. "Of course, we are delighted that Ford was the top-selling vehicle in the combined car and van market, but what is particularly heartening is the continued growth in the van sector and what that says about the economic recovery in Ireland.  When company owners are confident enough to renew their van fleets, that points to ongoing economic growth for the country as a whole".

Ford's own sales performance of 4,515 units was the company's best January performance in eight years with Ford car sales up more than 38 percent and van sales up an even more impressive 130 percent on Ford sales figures for January 2014.

"The indications are that the general market uplift will continue during 2015 - all of which augurs very well for the Ford brand, as the company has a range of new models hitting the showrooms this year including the new Mondeo and Focus which have recently arrived and new versions of the C-MAX, S-MAX, Galaxy and last but certainly not least, the all new Ford Mustang - first time that Irish customers will be able to buy a right-hand drive version of the iconic nameplate", concluded McMahon.

Retaining its position as Ireland's favourite range of vans, Ford's Transit range again dominated the van sales chart.  In relation to cars, the Ford Focus and the Ford Fiesta were both placed in the top-five best-selling models in second and fourth place respectively.