The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has just rolled out their official new vehicle registration statistics for 2023, providing a glimpse into the dynamic landscape of Ireland's automotive market.
New Car Registrations: A Year of Growth
In 2023, a total of 121,850 new cars found their way onto Irish roads, marking a substantial 16% increase from the same period in 2022 (105,398) and a commendable 4% rise from 2019 (117,109).
Electric Cars Steal the Spotlight
Electric vehicles (EVs) demonstrated remarkable growth, with 22,789 new electric cars registered in 2023. This impressive figure represents a significant 45.4% increase compared to 2022 (15,678) and a staggering 561.7% surge from 2019 (3,444). It's clear that Irish motorists are increasingly opting for cleaner and greener transportation alternatives.
Commercial Vehicles Follow Suit
New Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations experienced a noteworthy upswing, reaching 29,403 in 2023—a 25.1% increase from 2022's 23,510 and a 16.1% jump from 2019 (25,336). Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HGV) registrations also showed positive growth, with a 20.4% increase in 2023 (2,655) compared to 2022 (2,205) and a 19.9% rise from 2019 (2,214).
Imported Used Cars and Market Share Dynamics
Imported Used Cars recorded 50,716 registrations in 2023, showcasing a 9.09% increase from 2022 (46,490) and a significant 55.48% decrease from 2019 (113,926). Market share dynamics for 2023 revealed Petrol at 30.07%, Diesel at 22.16%, Electric at 18.70%, Hybrid at 18.54%, and Plug-In Hybrid at 8.28%. Petrol maintains its position as the most popular engine type, while Electric, Hybrid, and Plug-in Hybrid collectively contribute to 45.5% of the market.
Transmission Preferences and Car Body Types
Automatic transmissions now dominate the market with a 64.54% share, while manual transmissions have declined to 35.35%. The hatchback continues to be the top-selling car body type in Ireland for 2023, emphasizing its enduring popularity among consumers. Additionally, grey retains its title as the preferred car color for the eighth consecutive year.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting: “2023 was a year of progress for the Irish Motor Industry, both in terms of new vehicle registrations and electric vehicle sales. New car registrations finished at 121,850 units, up 16% on last year and 4% ahead of pre-COVID 2019. The growth in electric vehicle sales continued into 2023, with an increase in market share from 15% in 2022 to nearly 19% in 2023.This represented a 45% increase in EV sales for the year. We do expect to see some growth in EV sales again in 2024, but key to this will be the ongoing Government support, both in terms of vehicle and taxation incentives and investment in a fit for purpose charging infrastructure. The mix in the new car market however, from electric to hybrid to more traditional engine types, highlights the diverse nature of Irish motorists’ driving requirements, and reducing the age of the national fleet, as well as moving to zero emission vehicles, will be vital if we want to get close to Ireland’s climate goals. The commercial vehicle sector both light and heavy vehicles also delivered a solid performance in 2023. Light commercial vehicles finished 25% ahead of last year and Heavy Goods Vehicles saw a 20% increase on 2022.”
02-Jan-2024