Sales Trends in the Irish New Car Market
Sales of new electric cars have experienced a decline of 14.2% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. This is in contrast to the overall growth of the new car market, which has seen an 8% increase.
New Car Registrations Overview
- Total new car registrations by the end of March reached 62,807, up from 58,151 in the previous year.
- EV passenger car sales dropped to 7,971 from 9,297 in the same period.
Comparison of Sales Growth
While electric car sales decreased, there was a 14.8% rise in new petrol car sales, a 19.5% increase in regular hybrid sales, and a 10.7% growth in petrol/plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) registrations. Diesel sales also saw a 9% increase compared to last year.
Market Share Breakdown
- Petrol cars account for 33.4% of the new car market.
- Diesel cars hold a market share of 23%.
- Hybrids make up 22.77% of new car sales.
- Electric vehicles represent 12.7% of the market.
- PHEVs account for 8.1% of new car registrations.
Industry and Government Responses
Brian Cooke, director general of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), emphasized the need for increased collaboration to drive the transition to electrification in the mainstream car market. He called for industry investment in EV technology and government support through incentives and infrastructure upgrades.
David Savage, vice president for Ireland and UK of fleet telematics firm Geotabs, criticized the government’s EV targets and suggested measures such as restoring grants and introducing incentives to boost the EV market.
Consumer Perceptions and Challenges
A survey revealed that over 50% of AA Ireland customers are not considering electric vehicles for their next car purchase due to misinformation and lack of education. Concerns around battery life, environmental impact, and government support for EV adoption were highlighted.
Top Performers in the Market
Despite the decline in new EV sales, Tesla registrations saw a 23% increase. Toyota emerged as the best-selling new car brand, with strong sales of hybrid vehicles. The commercial vehicle segment also showed positive growth, with van sales up by 34.1% and HGV registrations increasing by 21.1%.