In January, 2,768 new cars were put on the road in Hungary, 54 percent fewer than in the same month a year earlier, the Hungarian Association of Vehicle Importers (MGE) said on Tuesday.

The number of new light commercial vehicles put on the road in January fell 58 percent to 563 and the number of motorcycles dropped 74 percent to 75.

Part of the reason for the drop was a high base, MGE said. In the first third of 2009, dealers offered buyers big discounts to reduce stocks.

MGE sees new car sales starting to rise again from the second half of 2010 and puts full-year car sales at 65,000, 8 percent more than in 2009. Total vehicle sales are seen increasing 7.4 percent to 85,200.

In 2009, the number of new cars put on the road plunged 61 percent.