€500 MILLION SHORTFALL IN NEW CAR SALES Q1 2021

01/04/2021
  • New car registrations for March were up 54.3% (9,270) when compared to March 2020 (6,006) but down 44.45% (16,687) on March 2019.
  • Registrations year to date are down 3.23% (48,188) on 2020 (49,794) and down 24.85% on the same period in 2019 (64,126).

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released their official new vehicle statistics. To present a more accurate picture of the new vehicle registrations, it is important to compare registrations totals with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID) when businesses were fully operational.

Light Commercials vehicles (LCV) are up 110.2% (3,008) compared to March last year (1,431) and down 1.1% (3,042) for the same month in 2019. Year to date new LCVs are up 22.41% (11,346) on last year (9,269) and up just 2.63% (11,055) on 2019. 

HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are up 11.54% (319) in comparison to March 2020 (286) and 19.03% (268) March 2019. Year to date HGV's are down 2.9% (882) on 2020 (908) and down 0.23% on 2019 (884).

Used car imports for March (5,842) have seen an increase of 25.61% on 2020 (4,651) and a decrease of 34.87% (8,970) on March 2019. Year to date imports are up 5.46% (18,420) on 2020 (17,466) and down 31.35% (26,832) on 2019.

For the month of March 1,046 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 369 in March 2020. So far this year 2,831 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 1,650 on the same period 2020. Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with their combined market share now over 11%. Diesel now accounts for 36.58%, Petrol 32.68%, Hybrid 17.04%, Electric 5.87% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 5.51%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting

“With dealers still able to operate on a click and deliver basis, new car sales are only marginally back on last year. However, this does not tell the real story. The first quarter of each year is the key selling period for the Irish Motor Industry, and new car sales in Q1 when compared to the same period in pre-COVID 2019 are down 25%, or nearly 16,000 cars. This represents lost revenue to the sector in excess of €500 million and lost taxation to the Exchequer of €170 million. With the lockdown now extended into April, the Industry will struggle to make up this lost business. In this context and in light of dealers’ ability to transact in a low risk outdoor environment, it is vital that we do re-open at the start of May to allow dealers sell both new and used cars, and to protect local employment. On a more positive note, it is encouraging to see the increases in the sale of Electric Cars and PHEVs despite the restricted trading environment.”

 

2021 Total New Vehicle Stats  

  • New Car sales total year to date (2021) 48,188 v (2020) 49,794 -3.2%
  • New Car sales total year to date (2021) 48,188 v (2019) 64,126 -24.85%
  • New Car sales total March (2021) 9,270 v (2020) 6,006 +54.35%
  • New Car sales total March (2021) 9,270 v (2019) 16,687 -44.45%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2021) 11,346 v (2020) 9,269 +22.41%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2021) 11,346 v (2019) 11,055 +2.63%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total March (2021) 3,008 v (2020) 1,431 +110.2%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total March (2021) 3,008 v (2019) 3,042 -1.1%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2021) 882 v (2020) 908 -2.9%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2021) 882 v (2019) 884 -0.23%
  •  Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales March (2021) 319 v (2020) 286 +11.54%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales March (2021) 319 v (2019) 268 +19.03%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2021) 18,420 v (2020) 17,466 +5.46%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2021) 18,420 v (2019) 26,832 -31.35%
  • Used Car Imports total March (2021) 5,842 v (2020) 4,651 +25.61%
  • Used Car Imports total March (2021) 5,842 v (2019) 8,970 -34.87%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2021) 2,831 v (2020) 1,650 +71.58%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2021) 2,831 v (2019) 1,435 +97.28%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales March (2021) 1,046 v (2020) 369 +183.47%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales March (2021) 1,046 v (2019) 311 +236.33%
  • 5 Top Selling Car Brands March 2021 were: 1. Toyota 2. Volkswagen 3. Hyundai 4. Skoda 5. Ford
  • 5 Top car model’s year March 2021 were 1. Hyundai Tucson, 2. Toyota Corolla, 3. Toyota RAV 4, 4. Ford Focus, 5. Toyota Yaris
  • Top Selling Car March 2021: Volkswagen ID.4
  • ​​​​​​​Market share by engine type 2021: Diesel 36.58%, Petrol 32.68%, Electric 5.87%, Plug-In Hybrid 5.51% and Hybrid 17.04%

New Car Registrations by County

January-March 2021

County

2021 Units

2020 Units

% Change

2021 % Share

2020 % Share

Carlow

595

611

-2.62

1.23

1.23

Cavan

595

596

-0.17

1.23

1.2

Clare

1098

1101

-0.27

2.28

2.21

Cork

6217

6430

-3.31

12.9

12.91

Donegal

1197

1164

2.84

2.48

2.34

Dublin

17706

18435

-3.95

36.74

37.02

Galway

2015

2093

-3.73

4.18

4.2

Kerry

1092

1147

-4.8

2.27

2.3

Kildare

2117

2268

-6.66

4.39

4.55

Kilkenny

993

1052

-5.61

2.06

2.11

Laois

654

702

-6.84

1.36

1.41

Leitrim

196

231

-15.15

0.41

0.46

Limerick

1852

1848

0.22

3.84

3.71

Longford

268

228

17.54

0.56

0.46

Louth

1194

1263

-5.46

2.48

2.54

Mayo

903

990

-8.79

1.87

1.99

Meath

1656

1637

1.16

3.44

3.29

Monaghan

473

438

7.99

0.98

0.88

Offaly

615

676

-9.02

1.28

1.36

Roscommon

510

498

2.41

1.06

1

Sligo

499

556

-10.25

1.04

1.12

Tipperary

1416

1474

-3.93

2.94

2.96

Waterford

1201

1206

-0.41

2.49

2.42

Westmeath

788

729

8.09

1.64

1.46

Wexford

1261

1282

-1.64

2.62

2.57

Wicklow

1077

1139

-5.44

2.23

2.29