Used imports up 25%

First-time registrations of used-imported passenger vehicles increased by one-quarter in January.

They came in at 8,915 last month versus 7,120 during January 2023 for an increase of 25.2 per cent.

Toyota’s Aqua topped the models’ chart, although its total of 872 was down from 1,086 in January last year, or by 19.7 per cent. The Prius was second with 651 units – up by 0.8 per cent from 646 – while the Mazda Axela registered a 2.1 per cent increase to 443 from 434.

The Nissan Note claimed fourth with a 74.9 per cent jump from 219 to 383. The top five was rounded off by Toyota’s Corolla on 329. That was up from 230 or by 43 per cent year on year.

January’s top five marques all recorded increases. Toyota came in at 3,316 units – up 24 per cent, Mazda’s total was 1,329 – up 22.7 per cent and Nissan came in on 1,277 – up by 33.9 per cent. Honda’s total was 659 – up 46.1 per cent, while Subaru had 653 registrations for a year-on-year jump of 49.4 per cent.