Over 20,000 new EVs sold so far this year
A total of 1,776 new electric vehicles were registered in August, compared to 1,484 in August 2022 (+19.7%), according to the latest new vehicle registrations statistics released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
It says that so far this year, 20,218 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 12,659 (+59.7%) on the same period 2022.
SIMI is now calling on the Government to use the upcoming Budget to extend EV incentives and to invest in Ireland’s charging infrastructure.
“EVs registered for the first eight months of the year have broken the 20,000 barrier. This should only be viewed as a start. We have yet to return to new car sales levels that will reduce the age of the national fleet. We need to see an even greater levels of EV sales, both new and used, if we want to get close to the Government’s Climate Action ambitions,” said Brian Cooke, SIMI director general.
“SIMI is calling on Government in the forthcoming Budget to extend current EV incentives and not to increase VRT. For consumers this means continuation of the SEAI grants and VRT relief on EVs, while for businesses an extension of the Benefit-in-Kind reliefs for three more years.
“In addition, there should be increased funding to support the national charging infrastructure. By doing this, we will see an increase in both the new car market and in EV sales, with the potential to create an active used EV market over the next couple of years,” Mr Cooke added.
Meanwhile, the latest SIMI figures show that new car registrations for the month of August were down 0.3 per cent (8,131) when compared to August 2022 (8,154). Registrations for the year-to-date are up 18.3 per cent (112,729) on the same period last year (95,269).
Imported used cars seen a four per cent (4,578) decrease in August 2023, when compared to August 2022 (4,769). For the year-to-date imports are up 2.8 per cent (34,012) on 2022 (33,084).
In August, the car market share grew, with petrol retaining the largest share at 30.66 per cent, diesel accounting for 22.31 per cent, hybrid 18.83 per cent, Electric 17.94 per cent, and plug-in electric hybrid 8.01 per cent.
Battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hybrids now see their combined market share (year to date) at 45 per cent.
According to today’s figures, light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales are up 5.7 per cent (2,217) compared to August last year (2,097) and for the year-to-date are up 32 per cent (25,207).
Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations are also showing an increase of 24.4 per cent (296) in comparison to August 2022 (238). For the year-to-date HGVs this segment is up 32 per cent (2,222).
2023 total new vehicle stats:
Top selling car brands:
1. Toyota; 2. Volkswagen; 3. Hyundai; 4. Skoda; 5. Kia
Top car models:
1. Hyundai Tuscon; 2. Kia Sportage; 3. Toyota Corolla; 4. Toyota Yaris Cross; 5. VW ID.4.
Top 5 selling EV brands:
1. VW; 2. Tesla; 3. Hyundai; 4. Kia; 5. MG.
Top 5 selling EVs:
1.VW ID.4; 2. Tesla Model Y; 3. Hyundai Ioniq 5; 4. Skoda Enyaq; 5. MG MG4.
Top selling car (August):
Hyundai Tucson
Top selling EV (August):
Tesla Model 3