New Car Sales dip, EVs Rise in Ireland
Ireland’s new car market saw a decline in November, with sales dropping 12% compared to the previous year. Overall sales for the year to date are down 1% at 115,639 vehicles, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
EV Market Share Shifts
Despite the overall decline, electric vehicles (EVs) continue to gain traction. They now account for 15% of the new car market, down from 19% last year. In contrast, the number of new petrol and hybrid cars licensed in the first 11 months of 2023 jumped 32% compared to the same period in 2022.
Regular hybrids now represent 22% of all new car sales, with plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) comprising an additional 9%. Petrol remains the most popular new car format, at 31%, while diesel makes up 23%.
Toyota Reigns Supreme
Toyota holds the top spot for new car brands, with 16,365 cars taxed for the first time. Volkswagen follows closely behind with 13,245, Skoda with 11,337, and Hyundai with 10,669.
Used Car Imports Surge
The import of used private cars to the Republic of Ireland has surged this year, increasing by 25% compared to last year. A total of 58,132 used cars have been imported so far this year. Despite the rise in imported vehicles, only 3% of them were EVs.
The majority of imported used cars were six years or older, with petrol accounting for 46% and diesel for 27% of the imports. Popular imported brands include Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, and Toyota.
The CSO figures for new car sales are based on the number of cars taxed for the first time, whereas figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi) are based on registration data. These differences can sometimes occur due to delays in car owners taxing their vehicles and practices by dealers or importers to meet sales targets.
Positive Outlook for Commercial Vehicles
While new car sales have faced challenges, there is a silver lining in the commercial vehicle market. Sales of new commercial vehicles are up 7% compared to last year, with 30,170 new vehicles taxed for the first time. Imports of used goods vehicles have also increased, rising by 16% to 10,205 this year.
While the new car market experiences fluctuations, the increasing popularity of EVs and the strong performance of the commercial vehicle sector offer positive indicators for the Irish automotive landscape.
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