April sees a slight increase in new car registrations

01/05/2018

Official statistics released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that the total new car registrations for the month of April were up 3.33% (8,102) when compared to April 2017 (7,841), while new cars registrations year to date remain down 4.68% (79,897) on the same period last year (83,823).   

New Light Commercial Vehicle registrations (LCV) were up 6.51% (1,800) on April 2017 (1,690) and year to date are up 5.39% (14,323). While New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HGV) are also up 4.74% for the month of April (243) compared to the same month last year (232) and are down 8.31% (1,158) year to date.
 
Imported Used Cars have increased 19.31% for April 2018 (8,649) when compared to April 2017 (7,249) and year to date are 11.74% (34,763) ahead of 2017 (31,111). 
 
Commenting on the figures SIMI Deputy Director General, Brian Cooke said “April’s registration statistics released today are broadly in line with expectations. The slight increases in all sectors for the month can be attributed somewhat to the extra working days in April 2018 compared to last year, as Easter fell in March. Brexit continues to impact on business, as evidenced by the continued strong levels of used imports from the UK. Total new car registrations are projected to reach around 120,000 by the end of the year, a decline of 8.6% on 2017.”

Stats in short:

  • New car sales year to date
    (2018) 79,897 v (2017) 83,823 -4.68%
  • New car sales total April
    (2018) 8,102 v (2017) 7,841 +3.33%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date
    (2018)14,323 v (2017) 13,590 +5.39% 
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total April
    (2018) 1,800 v (2017) 1,690 +6.51%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date
    (2018) 1,158 v (2017) 1,263 -8.31%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle sales total April
    (2018) 243 v (2017) 232 -4.74% 
  • Used Car Imports year to date
    (2018) 34,763 v (2017) 31,111 +11.74%
  • Used Car Imports total April
    (2018) 8,649 v (2017) 7,249 +19.31%
  • Electric Cars total year to date
    (2018) 424 v (2017) 340 +24.71%
  • 5 Top Selling Car Brands Year to Date were: 
    1. Volkswagen
    2. Hyundai
    3.Toyota
    4.Ford
    5. Nissan
  • 5 Top car model’s year to date were:
    1. Nissan Qashqai
    2. Hyundai Tucson
    3. Volkswagen Golf
    4. Ford Focus
    5. Skoda Octavia 
    Top Selling Car April:
    Volkswagen Polo

Car Registrations by County

Year to date (January -April 2018)

County 2018 Units 2017 Units % Change 2018 % Share 2017 % Share
Carlow 1027 1015 1.18 1.29 1.21
Cavan 839 1012 -17.09 1.05 1.21
Clare 1780 1875 -5.07 2.23 2.24
Cork 9997 10829 -7.68 12.51 12.92
Donegal 1713 1903 -9.98 2.14 2.27
Dublin 31834 33274 -4.33 39.84 39.7
Galway 3042 3231 -5.85 3.81 3.85
Kerry 1740 1872 -7.05 2.18 2.23
Kildare 3433 3448 -0.44 4.3 4.11
Kilkenny 1571 1632 -3.74 1.97 1.95
Laois 1011 1032 -2.03 1.27 1.23
Leitrim 323 381 -15.22 0.4 0.45
Limerick 2891 2974 -2.79 3.62 3.55
Longford 407 435 -6.44 0.51 0.52
Louth 1806 1791 0.84 2.26 2.14
Mayo 1413 1563 -9.6 1.77 1.86
Meath 2453 2549 -3.77 3.07 3.04
Monaghan 646 685 -5.69 0.81 0.82
Offaly 1032 1062 -2.82 1.29 1.27
Roscommon 705 848 -16.86 0.88 1.01
Sligo 737 780 -5.51 0.92 0.93
Tipperary 2305 2390 -3.56 2.88 2.85
Waterford 2206 2208 -0.09 2.76 2.63
Westmeath 1123 1254 -10.45 1.41 1.5
Wexford 2072 1943 6.64 2.59 2.32
Wicklow 1791 1837 -2.5 2.24 2.19