New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show 4,426 new cars were registered in September, down 22 per cent on the same month last year, but up almost 30 per cent on September 2019.
According to SIMI, 100,646 new cars have been registered so far this year, compared with 84,515 for the same period last year – an increase of just over 19 per cent. However, the number of registrations is still down 11.7 per cent on pre-Covid 2019 levels.
The figures suggest electric vehicles are continuing to grow in popularity, with 755 new cars registered in September, an 18 per cent rise compared to the same month last year. In total, 7,827 new electric cars have been registered so far this year, up 117 per cent on the 3,613 registered in the same month last year.
Electric vehicle, plug-in hybrids and hybrids continue to increase their market share, with a combined market share now more than 31.22 per cent. Diesel now accounts for 33.81 per cent, petrol 32.32 per cent, hybrid 16.26 per cent, electric 7.78 per cent and plug-in electric hybrid 7.18 per cent.
September’s five top selling car brands were Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Skoda and Ford. The five top selling models according to SIMI were the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Toyota Rav 4.
Meanwhile light commercial vehicles have seen a decrease of 1,701 registrations compared to September last year (2,250 ), but an increase on 1,336 registrations for the same month in 2019. Year-to-date, 26,533 new LCVs were registered which is an increase on last year’s 18,951 (+40.0 per cent ) and on 23,240 in 2019 (+14 per cent ).
HGV sales are up by 225 registrations in September when compared to 159 in September 2020 and 146 September 2019, according to SIMI.
Year-to-date HGV registrations show 2,261 compared with 1,801 in 2020 (+25.5 per cent ) and 2,355 in 2019 (-4 per cent ).
SIMI director General Brian Cooke says the upward trend in electric vehicles is “hugely positive”.
