August New Car Registrations Down 8.4%: Electric Vehicle Market In Need Of Budget Boost

02/09/2024

• The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) is calling on the Government to prioritize support for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in Budget 2025.  
• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (15,129) down 25.3%  

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released their official 242 new vehicle registrations statistics for August. 

New car registrations for August were down 8.4% (7,567) when compared to August 2023 (8,261). Registrations year to date are down 0.9% (112,171) on the same period last year (113,199).  

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) declined by 17.2% (1,698) compared to August last year (2,051). Year to date LCVs are up 9.3% (26,930). HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) registrations are down 41.5% (172) in comparison to August 2023 (294). Year to date HGVs are up 11.2% (2,466). 

Imported Used Cars have seen a 18.5% (5,426) rise in August 2024, when compared to August 2023 (4,577). Year to date imports are up 25.3% (42,622) on 2023 (34,010). 

In August 1,259 new electric cars were registered, which was 29.3% lower than the 1,782 registrations in August 2023. So far this year, 15,129 new electric cars have been registered representing a 25.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when 20,266 electric cars were registered. 

In the new car market share by engine type for 2024, Petrol cars continue to lead the new car market at 31.37% followed by Diesel at 23.06%, then Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 20.94%, Electric at 13.49%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid at 9.57%.

Brian Cooke Director General SIMI

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting

August represents the sixth consecutive month of falling new car registrations this year, highlighted by the continuing drop in Electric Vehicle (EV) sales, which are now down 25% year to date when compared to last year. The commercial sector, light and heavy commercial sales, continue to remain ahead of last year.  

With Budget 2025 fast approaching, it is an opportune time for the Government to intervene to support the Electric Vehicle project, one which is so crucial for reducing emissions in the Transport sector. Government incentives to date have been fundamental to the EV transition, but they have to be continued and enhanced. SIMI is urging the Government to: extend the Benefit-In-Kind (BIK) incentive at current levels, which will help transition the business fleet faster and support the development of a used EV market; increase SEAI Grants back to 2022 levels until the EV market recovers; and accelerate the roll out of a fit for purpose national charging infrastructure. At this crucial stage in the EV transition, these measures will increase the sale of EVs, signalling their importance to consumers, boosting confidence and reassurance in electric vehicles. Budget 2025 presents an opportunity for Government to demonstrate its commitment to fleet electrification and is an opportunity they should not miss.”

  • New Car sales total year to date (2024) 112,171 v (2023) 113,199 -0.9% 
  • New Car sales total year to date (2024) 112,171 v (2019) 110,527+1.5% 
  • New Car sales total August (2024) 7,567 v (2023) 8,261 -8.4%  
  • New Car sales total August (2024) 7,567 v (2019) 5,088 +48.7%  
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2024) 26,930 v (2023) 24,644 +9.3% 
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2024) 26,930 v (2019) 21,904 +22.9% 
  • New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total August (2024) 1,698 v (2023) 2,051 -17.2% 
  • New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total August (2024) 1,698 v (2019) 1,890 -10.2% 
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2024) 2,446 v (2023) 2,217 +11.2% 
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2024) 2,446 v (2019) 1,832 +34.6% 
  • New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales August (2024) 172 v (2023) 294 -41.5% 
  • New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales August (2024) 172 v (2019) 124 +38.7% 
  • New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2024) 545 v (2023) 278 +96.0% 
  • New Buses/ Coaches total sales August (2024) 17 v (2023) 12 +41.7% 
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2024) 42,622 v (2023) 34,010 +25.3% 
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2024) 42,622 v (2019) 72,214 -41% 
  • Used Car Imports total August (2024) 5,426 v (2023) 4,577 +18.5%
  • Used Car Imports total August (2024) 5,426 v (2019) 9,706 -44.1% 
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2024) 15,129 v (2023) 20,266 -25.3% 
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2024) 15,129 v (2019) 2,859 +429.2% 
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total August (2024) 1,259 v (2023) 1,782 -29.3% 
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total August (2024) 1,259 v (2019) 172 +632.0% 
  • 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2024 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. SKODA, 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. TESLA, 3. HYUNDAI, 4. KIA, 5. BYD  
  • 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicle Models (EVs) 2024: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. TESLA MODEL 3, 3.TESLA MODEL Y, 4. HYUNDAI KONA, 5. KIA EV 6 
  • Top Selling Car (August) 2024: SKODA KODIAQ 
  • Top Selling Electric Car (August) 2024: TESLA MODEL 3 
  • Market share by engine type 2024: Petrol 31.37%, Diesel 23.06%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 20.94%, Electric 13.49%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 9.57%
  • 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- August)

County

2024 Units

2023 Units

% Change

2024 % Share

2023 % Share

Carlow

1140

1197

-4.76

1.02

1.06

Cavan

1166

1189

-1.93

1.04

1.05

Clare

2324

2238

3.84

2.07

1.98

Cork

12757

12917

-1.24

11.37

11.41

Donegal

2605

2403

8.41

2.32

2.12

Dublin

48139

49267

-2.29

42.92

43.52

Galway

4378

4500

-2.71

3.9

3.98

Kerry

2333

2304

1.26

2.08

2.04

Kildare

5000

4808

3.99

4.46

4.25

Kilkenny

1928

1939

-0.57

1.72

1.71

Laois

1328

1268

4.73

1.18

1.12

Leitrim

452

422

7.11

0.4

0.37

Limerick

3683

3566

3.28

3.28

3.15

Longford

521

501

3.99

0.46

0.44

Louth

2551

2481

2.82

2.27

2.19

Mayo

1917

1928

-0.57

1.71

1.7

Meath

3689

3860

-4.43

3.29

3.41

Monaghan

927

877

5.7

0.83

0.77

Offaly

1222

1228

-0.49

1.09

1.08

Roscommon

1051

1087

-3.31

0.94

0.96

Sligo

1112

1037

7.23

0.99

0.92

Tipperary

2718

2744

-0.95

2.42

2.42

Waterford

2389

2616

-8.68

2.13

2.31

Westmeath

1588

1554

2.19

1.42

1.37

Wexford

2730

2698

1.19

2.43

2.38

Wicklow

2523

2570

-1.83

2.25

2.27

New Electric Car Registrations by County 2024 (January-August)

County

2024 Units

2023 Units

% Change

2024 % Share

2023 % Share

Carlow

120

199

-39.7

0.79

0.98

Cavan

70

147

-52.38

0.46

0.73

Clare

214

391

-45.27

1.41

1.93

Cork

1410

2094

-32.66

9.32

10.33

Donegal

185

281

-34.16

1.22

1.39

Dublin

7709

9442

-18.35

50.96

46.59

Galway

447

754

-40.72

2.95

3.72

Kerry

186

299

-37.79

1.23

1.48

Kildare

896

1144

-21.68

5.92

5.64

Kilkenny

209

264

-20.83

1.38

1.3

Laois

152

196

-22.45

1

0.97

Leitrim

30

57

-47.37

0.2

0.28

Limerick

394

542

-27.31

2.6

2.67

Longford

46

70

-34.29

0.3

0.35

Louth

305

414

-26.33

2.02

2.04

Mayo

129

236

-45.34

0.85

1.16

Meath

632

936

-32.48

4.18

4.62

Monaghan

60

85

-29.41

0.4

0.42

Offaly

108

150

-28

0.71

0.74

Roscommon

81

117

-30.77

0.54

0.58

Sligo

88

159

-44.65

0.58

0.78

Tipperary

192

353

-45.61

1.27

1.74

Waterford

338

385

-12.21

2.23

1.9

Westmeath

177

256

-30.86

1.17

1.26

Wexford

386

478

-19.25

2.55

2.36

Wicklow

565

817

-30.84

3.73

4.03