JATO Dynamics found that the European new-car market entered the second half of 2015 in good health, with total volume across the continent 9.1% higher in July than a year ago, marking 23 consecutive months of growth. Year-to-date, the market has grown by 8.6% compared to the same period a year earlier.

Ireland, Spain and the Czech Republic performed well in July, with Ireland recording a 47.6% increase in July registrations due to a strong economic recovery (registrations are up by 30.3% year-to-date) and the mid-year registration-plate change introduced in 2013 becoming more established, rivalling the longer-running January spike in purchases.

Most European markets were found to be performing well, with 25 of the 29 included in JATO’s registration data reporting sales growth compared to 2014. Of the remaining four markets, Luxembourg is the only country to see sales fall by more than 2%.

Brian Walters, vice president of data at JATO Dynamics, commented: “The markets that suffered most at the height of the economic downturn a few years ago, such as Ireland, Spain and Portugal, are now among the fastest growing markets in Europe as consumer confidence has returned”.