The number of new electric cars registered in Galway last year jumped by an incredible 31 per cent, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI ) which this week released its official new vehicle registrations statistics for 2023.
828 new e-vehicles were registered in Galway in 2023, a rise of 30.81 per cent on the 633 registered the previous year.
Meanwhile, the number of new cars registered in Galway in 2023 rose by almost seven per cent on the amount for the previous year.
4,801 new vehicles were registered in Galway last year, a 6.9 pr cent rise on the 4,491 of the previous year.
Total new car registrations for 2023, finished at 121,850 +16% on 2022 (105,398 ) and up 4% on 2019 (117,109 ).
New Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV ) registrations in 2023 saw an increase of 25.1% (29,403 ) compared to 2022 (23,510 ) and a 16.1% increase on 2019 (25,336 ). While New Heavy Commercial Vehicle registrations (HGV ) saw an increase of 20.4% (2,655 ) in comparison to 2022 (2,205 ) and 19.9% on 2019 (2,214 ).
Imported Used Cars saw 50,716 registrations in 2023, an increase of 9.09% on 2022 (46,490 ) and a decrease of 55.48% on 2019 (113,926 ).
A total of 22,789 new electric cars were registered in 2023, an increase on the 15,678 registrations seen in 2022 (+45.4% ) and 3,444 in 2019 (+561.7% ).
Market share for 2023 has seen Petrol account for 30.07%, Diesel 22.16%, Electric 18.70%, Hybrid 18.54% and Plug-In Hybrid 8.28%. Petrol continues to remain the most popular engine type for 2023, while Electric, Hybrid, and Plug-in Hybrid account for 45.5% of the market.
Automatic transmissions now account for (64.54% ) of market share, while manual transmissions have declined (35.35% ).
The hatchback continues to remain Ireland’s top selling car body type of 2023. While grey retains the top selling colour title for the eight year running.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General csaid that 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.” he concluded.
