Electric car sales double in February despite 12% decline in new car registrations

01/03/2022

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), today released the official 221 new vehicle registration figures for February.

New car registrations for February were down 12.2% (12,031) when compared to February 2021 (13,698). Registrations year to date are down 4.6% (37,058) on the same period last year (38,838).

Light Commercials vehicles (LCV) are down 30.9% (2,292) compared to February last year (3,316) and year to date are down 12.0% (7,341). HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are up 7.56% (242) in comparison to February 2021 (225). Year to date HGV's are up slightly 2.14% (574).

Used car imports for February (3,807) have seen a decrease of 33.9% on February 2021 (5,758). Year to date imports are down 37.6% (7,848) on 2021 (12,579).

For the month of February 1,620 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 805 in February 2021. So far this year 4,320 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 1,782 on the same period 2021.

Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with a combined market share now of 44%. Despite a large decrease in market share for internal combustion engine type vehicles, petrol remains dominant (27.39%), with Diesel accounting for 25.92%, Hybrid 24.23%, Electric 11.66% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 8.01%.

Brian Cooke Director General SIMI

Commenting on the new vehicle registrations Brian Cooke Director General SIMI said

“New car sales are 12.2% down on February last year and 4.6% down year to date, while they remain 21.9% behind that of pre-COVID (2019) levels. Despite strong demand for new and used cars, supply continues to be a major issue, with any potential recovery unlikely to happen until the second half of 2022 at the earliest. Despite this challenge, the number of new electric cars continues to grow with registrations doubling for the month of February when compared with the same month last year. There are now over 50,000 Electric Vehicles (combined EV and PHEV) on Irish roads, and there is increasing consumer interest for these vehicles. As highlighted in the recently issued report on reducing light fleet carbon emissions, commissioned by SIMI, it is essential that our charging infrastructure keeps pace with this acceleration in the electrification of the Irish car fleet. In this context ongoing support from Government in the charging network is vital if we are to convince more consumers that an electric vehicle is a viable choice of car for their driving needs.”

2022 Total New Vehicle Registrations 

  • New Car sales total year to date (2022) 37,058 v (2021) 38,838 -4.6%
  • New Car sales total year to date (2022) 37,058 v (2019) 47,439 -21.9%
  • New Car sales total February (2022) 12,031 v (2021) 13,698 -12.2%
  • New Car sales total February (2022) 12,031 v (2019) 15,069 -20.2%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2022) 7,341 v (2021) 8,338 -12.0%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2022) 7,341 v (2019) 8,013 -8.4%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total February (2022) 2,292 v (2021) 3,316 -30.9%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total February (2022) 2,292 v (2019) 2,465 -7.0%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2022) 574 v (2021) 562 +2.14%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2022) 574 v (2019) 616 -6.8%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales February (2022) 242 v (2021) 225 +7.56%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales February (2022) 242 v (2019 262 -7.6%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2022) 7,848 v (2021) 12,579 -37.6%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2022) 7,848 v (2019) 17,862 -56.1%
  • Used Car Imports total February (2022) 3,807 v (2021) 5,758 -33.9%
  • Used Car Imports total February (2022) 3,807 v (2019) 8,859 -57.0%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2022) 4,320 v (2021) 1,782 +142.42%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2022) 4,320 v (2019) 1,124 +284.3%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales February (2022) 1,620 v (2021) 805 +101.24%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales February (2022) 1,620 v (2019) 325 +398.5%
  • 5 Top Selling Car Brands February 2022 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. HYUNDAI, 3. SKODA, 4.KIA, 5. VOLKSWAGEN
  • 5 Top car model’s year February 2022 were 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2. TOYOTA COROLLA, 3. TOYOTA RAV 4, 4. TOYOTA C-HR, 5.KIA SPORTAGE
  • Top Selling Car February 2022: HYUNDAI TUCSON
  • Market share by engine type 2022: Petrol 27.39%, Diesel 25.92%, Hybrid 24.23%, Electric 11.66%, Plug-In Hybrid 8.01%
  • Table below shows new car registrations by county for January-February 2022. Click here to download pdf also.

New Car Registrations by County January-February 2022

County

2022 Units

2021 Units

% Change

2022 % Share

2021 % Share

Carlow

469

502

-6.57

1.27

1.29

Cavan

448

502

-10.76

1.21

1.29

Clare

817

913

-10.51

2.2

2.35

Cork

4946

5047

-2

13.35

13

Donegal

908

962

-5.61

2.45

2.48

Dublin

12806

13932

-8.08

34.56

35.87

Galway

1758

1592

10.43

4.74

4.1

Kerry

850

907

-6.28

2.29

2.34

Kildare

1798

1698

5.89

4.85

4.37

Kilkenny

770

818

-5.87

2.08

2.11

Laois

499

569

-12.3

1.35

1.47

Leitrim

149

159

-6.29

0.4

0.41

Limerick

1322

1533

-13.76

3.57

3.95

Longford

222

235

-5.53

0.6

0.61

Louth

960

972

-1.23

2.59

2.5

Mayo

722

732

-1.37

1.95

1.88

Meath

1436

1372

4.66

3.88

3.53

Monaghan

324

400

-19

0.87

1.03

Offaly

484

511

-5.28

1.31

1.32

Roscommon

376

413

-8.96

1.01

1.06

Sligo

410

417

-1.68

1.11

1.07

Tipperary

1107

1192

-7.13

2.99

3.07

Waterford

950

956

-0.63

2.56

2.46

Westmeath

586

619

-5.33

1.58

1.59

Wexford

992

1029

-3.6

2.68

2.65

Wicklow

949

856

10.86

2.56

2.2