3.6% Decrease in New Car Registrations for April 2024

01/05/2024

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today 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 an 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.”

2024 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2024) 71,110 v (2023) 67,063 +6.0%
• New Car sales total year to date (2024) 71,110 v (2019) 73,030 -2.6%
• New Car sales total April (2024) 8,591 v (2023) 8,912 -3.6%
• New Car sales total April (2024) 8,591 v (2019) 8,904 -3.5% 
• Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2024) 17,543 v (2023) 13,600 +29.0%

• Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2024) 17,543 v (2019)12,853 +36.5%

• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total April (2024) 2,212 v (2023) 2,148 +3.0%

• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total April (2024) 2,212 v (2019) 1,798 +23.0%

• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2024) 1,442 v (2023) 1,207 +19.5%

• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2024) 1,442 v (2019) 987 +46.1%

• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales April (2024) 332 v (2023) 242 +37.2%

• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales April (2024) 332 v (2019) 231 +43.7%

• New Buses/Coaches sales year to date (2024) 321 v (2023) 157 +104.5%

• New Buses/Coaches total sales April (2024) 98 v (2023) 21 +366.7%

• Used Car Imports total year to date (2024) 20,694 v (2023) 16,311 +26.9%

• Used Car Imports total year to date (2024) 20,694 v (2019) 35,719 -42.1%

• Used Car Imports total April (2024) 5,206 v (2023) 3,838 +35.6%

• Used Car Imports total April (2024) 5,206 v (2019) 8,887 -41.4%

• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2024) 9,028 v (2023) 11,160 -19.1%

• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2024) 9,028 v (2019) 1,730 +421.8%

• New Electric Vehicles sales total April (2024) 1,091 v (2023) 1,863 -41.4%

• New Electric Vehicles sales total April (2024) 1,091 v (2019) 295 +269.8%

• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2024 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. SKODA, 3. VOLKSWAGEN, 4. HYUNDAI, 5. KIA    

• 5 Top New Car Model’s 2024 were: 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2. SKODA OCTAVIA, 3. KIA SPORTAGE, 4. TOYOTA RAV 4, 5. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS

• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2024: 1. VOLKSWAGEN, 2. HYUNDAI, 3. TESLA, 4. BYD, 5. KIA

• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicle Models (EVs) 2024: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. HYUNDAI KONA, 3. TESLA MODEL 3, 4. SKODA ENYAQ, 5. MG MG4

• Top Selling Car (April) 2024: HYUNDAI TUCSON

• Top Selling Electric Car (April) 2024: VOLKSWAGEN ID.4

• Market share by engine type 2024: Petrol 32.92%, Diesel 23.56%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 20.44%, Electric 12.70%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 8.76%

• Tables below shows total new car registrations by county 2024 and total new Electric car registrations by county 2024.

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