Latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) revealed today that new car registrations for the 232 buying period in July have increased by 24%, compared to July 2022.

A total of 27,148 cars were registered when compared to 21,904 in July of last year.

Sales of electric and hybrid vehicles hit a record high, which now sees them hold a combined market share of 43.35% this year so far.

Petrol still accounts for the largest share at 32.29%, Diesel accounting for 22.06%, Hybrid 18.04%, Electric 17.64%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 7.67%.

4,161 new fully-electric vehicles were registered compared to 2,729 in July 2022. So far this year 18,458 new electric cars have been registered in Ireland.

When it comes to used imported vehicles, there was a slight increase of 4.83% vs last year, with a total of 4,409 in July 2023.

Top 5 Selling Car Brands in 2023:

1. TOYOTA

2. VOLKSWAGEN

3. HYUNDAI

4. SKODA

5.KIA

Top 5 Car Model’s in 2023:

1. HYUNDAI TUCSON

2 .KIA SPORTAGE

3. TOYOTA COROLLA

4. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS

5. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting: 
“The new car market for the first month of the 232 registration plate indicates a strong performance, with an increase of 24% on the same month last year. Improved production over the last few months has helped supply catch up with demand, resulting in July new car sales almost matching those of the key selling month of January. The new car market year to date now stands 20% ahead of 2022 and less than 1% behind pre-Covid 2019. Commercial registrations, both the heavy and light sector, also continue to be well ahead of last year.  

The highlight of the market continues to be the performance of electric cars, with sales in July of 4,161 a record monthly total for EVs. So far this year 18,458 battery electric cars have been registered, an increase of nearly two-thirds on 2022. Improved supply and a greater range of new models available for motorists has supported this momentum behind EVs. The availability of SEAI grants to support positive decision making has been key, and their retention beyond this year, along with other EV incentives, is vital if we want to build on this success. Taking a closer look at the EV registration numbers, the main driver of growth is from consumers, who do qualify for the grant, and account for over 76% of EV sales. However, there also needs to be a focus on the business market, which without grant support really needs to see the extension of the BIK reliefs in Budget 2024, while investment in the public charging infrastructure is also crucial at this stage.”