September New Car Registrations Down 10.3%: Budget 2025 Opportunity To Boost Car Sales

01/10/2024

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

New car registrations for September were down 10.3% (5,137) when compared to September 2023 (5,727). Registrations year to date are down 1.4% (117,264) on the same period last year (118,926). 

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 6.6% (2,025) compared to September last year (1,900). Year to date LCVs are up 9.1% (28,972). HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) registrations are up 7.1% (166) in comparison to September 2023 (155). Year to date HGVs are up 10.8% (2,629).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 18.2% (5,116) rise in September 2024, when compared to September 2023 (4,328). Year to date imports are up 24.5% (47,738) on 2023 (38,338).

In September 1,010 new electric cars were registered, which was 30.8% lower than the 1,460 registrations in September 2023. So far this year, 16,133 new electric cars have been registered representing a 25.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when 21,726 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 30.99% followed by Diesel at 22.98%, then Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 21.0%, Electric at 13.76%, and Plug-In Electric Hybrid at 9.71%.

Brian Cooke Director General SIMI

 Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting:  

“New car registrations in September saw a decrease of 10.3% when compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date registrations are also behind last year by 1.4%. The new electric vehicle segment has experienced another month of decline in registrations, marking the eighth consecutive month of this trend. With Budget 2025 now only hours away, it is vital that we see positive measures from Government to support the EV project and help reverse this drop in demand for EVs. Reinstating and extending EV supports, as well as investing in a reliable charging infrastructure, can help regain lost momentum in the electric vehicle project. The Industry remains committed to supporting the transition to electrification.”

2024 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2024) 117,264 v (2023) 118,926 -1.4% 
• New Car sales total September (2024) 5,137 v (2023) 5,727 -10.3%  
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2024) 28,972 v (2023) 26,544 +9.15% 
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total September (2024) 2,025 v (2023) 1,900 +6.6% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2024) 2,629 v (2023) 2,372 +10.8% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales September (2024) 166 v (2023) 155 +7.1% 
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2024) 553 v (2023) 298 +85.6% 
• New Buses/ Coaches total sales September (2024) 8 v (2023) 20 -60.0% 
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2024) 47,738 v (2023) 38,338 +24.5% 
• Used Car Imports total September (2024) 5,116 v (2023) 4,328 +18.2% 
• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2024) 16,133 v (2023) 21,726 -25.7% 
• New Electric Vehicles sales total September (2024) 1,010 v (2023) 1,460 -30.8% 
• 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 EV6 
• Top Selling Car (September) 2024: SKODA KODIAQ 
• Top Selling Electric Car (September) 2024: TESLA MODEL 3 
• Market share by engine type 2024: Petrol 30.99%, Diesel 22.98%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 21.0%, Electric 13.76%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 9.71% 
• 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-September)

County

2024 Units

2023 Units

% Change

2024 % Share

2023 % Share

Carlow

1171

1236

-5.26

1

1.04

Cavan

1219

1226

-0.57

1.04

1.03

Clare

2418

2348

2.98

2.06

1.97

Cork

13290

13584

-2.16

11.33

11.42

Donegal

2699

2515

7.32

2.3

2.11

Dublin

50482

52002

-2.92

43.05

43.73

Galway

4596

4700

-2.21

3.92

3.95

Kerry

2438

2404

1.41

2.08

2.02

Kildare

5238

5075

3.21

4.47

4.27

Kilkenny

2002

2014

-0.6

1.71

1.69

Laois

1388

1326

4.68

1.18

1.11

Leitrim

476

439

8.43

0.41

0.37

Limerick

3867

3732

3.62

3.3

3.14

Longford

539

517

4.26

0.46

0.43

Louth

2646

2593

2.04

2.26

2.18

Mayo

1987

2019

-1.58

1.69

1.7

Meath

3877

4069

-4.72

3.31

3.42

Monaghan

962

922

4.34

0.82

0.78

Offaly

1269

1284

-1.17

1.08

1.08

Roscommon

1094

1125

-2.76

0.93

0.95

Sligo

1155

1092

5.77

0.98

0.92

Tipperary

2843

2871

-0.98

2.42

2.41

Waterford

2465

2718

-9.31

2.1

2.29

Westmeath

1653

1622

1.91

1.41

1.36

Wexford

2833

2803

1.07

2.42

2.36

Wicklow

2657

2690

-1.23

2.27

2.26

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

County

2024 Units

2023 Units

% Change

2024 % Share

2023 % Share

Carlow

122

210

-41.9

0.76

0.97

Cavan

76

154

-50.65

0.47

0.71

Clare

227

410

-44.63

1.41

1.89

Cork

1510

2226

-32.17

9.36

10.25

Donegal

196

294

-33.33

1.21

1.35

Dublin

8255

10315

-19.97

51.17

47.48

Galway

478

794

-39.8

2.96

3.65

Kerry

198

305

-35.08

1.23

1.4

Kildare

948

1205

-21.33

5.88

5.55

Kilkenny

225

272

-17.28

1.39

1.25

Laois

159

206

-22.82

0.99

0.95

Leitrim

32

58

-44.83

0.2

0.27

Limerick

428

576

-25.69

2.65

2.65

Longford

46

71

-35.21

0.29

0.33

Louth

319

436

-26.83

1.98

2.01

Mayo

134

244

-45.08

0.83

1.12

Meath

672

997

-32.6

4.17

4.59

Monaghan

63

94

-32.98

0.39

0.43

Offaly

111

160

-30.63

0.69

0.74

Roscommon

85

120

-29.17

0.53

0.55

Sligo

93

179

-48.04

0.58

0.82

Tipperary

206

366

-43.72

1.28

1.68

Waterford

356

405

-12.1

2.21

1.86

Westmeath

186

269

-30.86

1.15

1.24

Wexford

408

499

-18.24

2.53

2.3

Wicklow

600

861

-30.31

3.72

3.96