BMW?car sales are up 12.7 worldwide for the first quarter of 2010 with the MINI brand showing a 9.1 per cent increase. The new 5-Series and the 3-Series coupe and cabriolet have helped push up the big car sales with the 1-Series reaching the one million sales mark since its launch.

Peugeot is keeping the good times rolling with the continuation of its scrappage scheme. This means offerings of up to €5,000 off its range of low CO2-emitting models. Taken in conjunction with the €1, 500 government scrappage scheme this means new car buyers can avail of €3,750 off the entry model 107, €4,000 off the supermini 207 and the family 308 models. The savings on the 407 Executive model run to €5,000 and €4,000 on the 3008 model when both scrappage schemes are taken into account. The offer ends on May 31st. Customers who do not qualify for the scrappage allowance will receive a €500 Eco Bonus on any new 207, 308 and 3008 model registerd before the end of May.

Mark Teevan, managing director of Lexus Ireland, has said that the GX 460 model which has been suspended from sale in the USA is not on sale here and is not part of the Lexus model range in Western Europe. Sales of the GX 460, which is the subject of a report from 'Consumer Reports' in the US, have been suspended pending its investigation followwing the suggestion by the consumer publication that the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system can take too long to cut in. "Safety has always been, and continues to be, a priority for Lexus and as such we will be closely monitoring the outcome of this Lexus enquiry," he said.