Monthly new car sales double compared to 2009

The motor industry received a boost on budget day, with news that new car sales for November had more than doubled compared with the same period last year.

Figures just released show that 2146 new cars were registered in November 2010, compared with a measly 948 in November 2009.

The big winners are Renault who enjoyed November 2010 sales of 379 units - a four-fold increase on the same period in 2009.

Renault were first to launch a scrappage scheme in Ireland. The government quickly followed suit, and combined government/manufacturer scrappage deals have helped kick-start a business that was in deep decline.

2010 also saw the arrival of the well-specced low-cost Fluence saloon (pictured), which we gave a glowing review to earlier in the year (to read the review, click here).

Renault are among a number of manufacturers who extended their scrappage offers beyond the end of the year, the point at which the government scrappage deal was due to end, in a bid to keep sales buoyant. In the austerity budget, the scrappage deal was extended by another six months.