New car registrations up 8pc in Q1


New car registrations for the first quarter of 2024 are up eight per cent (62,807) on the same period last year (58,151), according to figures released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

This is despite new car registrations for March being down 16 per cent (14,936) when compared to March 2023 (17,685).

A total of 2,009 new electric cars were registered last month, which was 41.1 per cent lower than the 3,412 registrations in March 2023.

So far this year, 7,971 new electric cars have been registered which is a 14.3 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2023 when 9,297 electric cars were registered.

Imported used cars seen an 11 per cent (5,216) rise in March 2024, when compared to March 2023 (4,698). For the year-to-date imports are up 24.2 per cent (15,487) on 2023 (12,473).

In the new car market share by engine type for 2024, petrol cars lead the new car market at 33.37 per cent, followed by diesel at 23.05 per cent, then hybrid (petrol electric) at 21.33 per cent, electric at 12.69 per cent, and plug-in electric hybrid at 7.92 per cent.

2024 total new vehicle stats:

Top selling car brands:
1. Toyota; 2. Skoda; 3. Volkswagen; 4. Hyundai; 5. Kia

Top car models:
1. Hyundai Tucson; 2. Skoda Octavia; 3. Kia Sportage; 4. Toyota RAV4; 5. Toyota Yaris Cross.

Top 5 selling EV brands:
1. Volkswagen; 2. Hyundai; 3. Tesla ; 4. BYD; 5. Kia.

Top 5 selling EVs:
1. Hyundai Kona; 2. Tesla Model 3; 3. Volkswagen ID.4; 4. Volkswagen ID.3; 5. MG MG4.

Top selling car (March):
Skoda Octavia

Top selling EV (March):
Tesla Model 3

Elsewhere, LCV (light commercial vehicle) sales increased by 31.7 per cent (4,410) compared to March last year (3,348), and for the year-to-date are up 34.1 per cent (15,356).

HGV (heavy goods vehicle) registrations are up 28.2 per cent (350) in comparison to March 2023 (273). Year-to-date this segment is up 15 per cent (1,110).

New bus/coach sales for the year-to-date is 223, a 64 per cent rise on 2023 (136). Total new bus/coach sales for March 2024 was 59 (+25.5%).