The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) have released their official 241 new vehicle registrations statistics for April.
New car registrations for April were down 3.6% (8,591) when compared to April 2023 (8,912). Registrations year to date are up 6.0% (71,110) on the same period last year (67,063).
Light Commercial vehicles (LCVs) increased by 3.0% (2,212) compared to April last year (2,148). Year to date LCVs are up 29.0% (17,543). HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are up 37.2% (332) in comparison to April 2023 (242). Year to date HGVs are up 19.5% (1,442).
Imported Used Cars have seen a 35.6% (5,206) rise in April 2024, when compared to April 2023 (3,838). Year to date imports are up 26.9% (20,694) on 2023 (16,311).
In April 1,091 new electric cars were registered, which was 41.4% lower than the 1,863 registrations in April 2023. So far this year 9,028 new electric cars have been registered which is a 19.1% decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when 11,160 electric cars were registered.
In the new car market share by engine type for 2024, Petrol cars lead the new car market at 32.92%, followed by Diesel at 23.56%, then Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 20.44%, Electric at 12.70%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid at 8.76%.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting: “April new car registrations saw a decrease of 3.6% when compared to the same month last year. Despite the softening in demand for new cars in recent weeks, year to date new car sales remain 6% ahead of 2023. Sales of light and heavy commercial vehicles continued to grow both in April and year to date.
“The Electric Vehicle segment experienced another month of decline in registrations, a trend which is being replicated across most EU markets. With the supply of new EVs no longer an issue, and with an increasing number of brands and models present in the EV segment, the drop in EV sales is demand driven. In Ireland private consumers have been the key drivers of the EV market, and these buyers need greater re-assurances to be convinced to make the change.
“This means rapid investment by the Government in a reliable, convenient, and affordable electric charging infrastructure, while at the same time extending current incentives such as the purchase grant.
“For businesses and their employees, extension of the Benefit-In Kind (BIK) relief and thresholds at current levels beyond 2024, will create greater confidence that an EV is the right choice for their companies.”
New Car Registrations by County 2024
(January-April)County 2024 Units 2023 Units % Change 2024 % Share 2023 % Share Carlow 732 740 -1.08 1.03 1.1 Cavan 758 730 3.84 1.07 1.09 Clare 1465 1395 5.02 2.06 2.08 Cork 8127 7774 4.54 11.43 11.59 Donegal 1601 1445 10.8 2.25 2.15 Dublin 30532 28440 7.36 42.94 42.41 Galway 2784 2720 2.35 3.92 4.06 Kerry 1522 1377 10.53 2.14 2.05 Kildare 3137 2830 10.85 4.41 4.22 Kilkenny 1260 1195 5.44 1.77 1.78 Laois 884 779 13.48 1.24 1.16 Leitrim 294 255 15.29 0.41 0.38 Limerick 2299 2176 5.65 3.23 3.24 Longford 345 304 13.49 0.49 0.45 Louth 1595 1466 8.8 2.24 2.19 Mayo 1204 1156 4.15 1.69 1.72 Meath 2297 2286 0.48 3.23 3.41 Monaghan 587 523 12.24 0.83 0.78 Offaly 769 707 8.77 1.08 1.05 Roscommon 684 661 3.48 0.96 0.99 Sligo 699 610 14.59 0.98 0.91 Tipperary 1758 1708 2.93 2.47 2.55 Waterford 1517 1704 -10.97 2.13 2.54 Westmeath 995 904 10.07 1.4 1.35 Wexford 1731 1657 4.47 2.43 2.47 Wicklow 1534 1521 0.85 2.16 2.27
New Electric Car Registrations by County 2024
(January- April)County 2024 Units 2023 Units % Change 2024 % Share 2023 % Share Carlow 71 108 -34.26 0.79 0.97 Cavan 40 87 -54.02 0.44 0.78 Clare 127 212 -40.09 1.41 1.9 Cork 883 1177 -24.98 9.78 10.55 Donegal 118 156 -24.36 1.31 1.4 Dublin 4507 5179 -12.98 49.92 46.41 Galway 278 433 -35.8 3.08 3.88 Kerry 122 174 -29.89 1.35 1.56 Kildare 506 598 -15.38 5.6 5.36 Kilkenny 133 146 -8.9 1.47 1.31 Laois 110 111 -0.9 1.22 0.99 Leitrim 25 33 -24.24 0.28 0.3 Limerick 218 285 -23.51 2.41 2.55 Longford 28 37 -24.32 0.31 0.33 Louth 189 211 -10.43 2.09 1.89 Mayo 83 131 -36.64 0.92 1.17 Meath 368 499 -26.25 4.08 4.47 Monaghan 37 43 -13.95 0.41 0.39 Offaly 53 74 -28.38 0.59 0.66 Roscommon 52 71 -26.76 0.58 0.64 Sligo 63 85 -25.88 0.7 0.76 Tipperary 113 211 -46.45 1.25 1.89 Waterford 220 219 0.46 2.44 1.96 Westmeath 97 155 -37.42 1.07 1.39 Wexford 257 274 -6.2 2.85 2.46 Wicklow 330 451 -26.83 3.66 4.04
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