New car registrations -10.3% in September; Government must continue EV supports in Budget 2024

02/10/2023

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released their official 232 new vehicle registrations statistics for September.

New car registrations for the month of September were down 10.3% (5,669) when compared to September 2022 (6,318). Registrations year to date are up 16.5% (118,369) on the same period last year (101,587).

Light Commercial vehicles (LCV) are up 15.4% (2,021) compared to September last year (1,751) and year to date are up 30.6% (27,220). HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are showing a decrease for September of 17.1% (155) in comparison to September 2022 (187). Year to date HGVs are up 27.0% (2,375).

Imported Used Cars seen a 0.1% (4,328) decrease in September 2023, when compared to September 2022 (4,333). Year to date imports are up 2.5% (38,339) on 2022 (37,417).

For the month of September 1,493 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 1,851 in September 2022 (-19.34%). So far this year 21,707 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 14.510 (+49.6%) on the same period 2022.

In September, the new car market share grew, with petrol retaining the largest share at 30.39%, Diesel accounting for 22.18%, Hybrid 18.64%, Electric 18.34%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 8.21%. Battery Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids now see their combined market share (year to date) at 45.19%. 

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting: 

“While the new car market has shown strong growth so far this year, the drop in new car registrations for September, a 10.3% decrease on the same month last year, is a concern. New electric vehicle registrations declined by nearly a fifth when compared to September 2022, and while some of this is due to changing supply chain dynamics, there is a fear that there could be a softening in EV growth.  As the demand curve for EVs is moving out of the early adopter phase, the next cohort of EV buyers will inevitably be more price conscious. With Budget 2024 only a week way, SIMI again calls on the Government to maintain EV incentives at current levels. This includes retention of the 0% Benefit-In-Kind (BIK) thresholds, and extension of both VRT relief and the SEAI purchase grant relief. In addition, with the new car market still in recovery mode, there should be no taxation increases that would dampen new car demand, and at the same time more funding should be allocated to support the roll out of a reliable charging infrastructure. Now more than ever is the time to invest in the electric vehicle project to ensure that the right measures are implemented to encourage behavioural change as quickly as possible.”    

2023 Total New Vehicle Stats

  • New Car sales total year to date (2023) 118,369 v (2022) 101,587 +16.5%
  • New Car sales total year to date (2023) 118,369 v (2019) 113,945 +3.9%
  • New Car sales total September (2023) 5,669 v (2022) 6,318 -10.3%
  • New Car sales total September (2023) 5,669 v (2019) 3,418 +65.9% 
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2023) 27,220 v (2022) 20,847 +30.6%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2023) 27,220 v (2019) 23,240 +17.1%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total September (2023) 2,021 v (2022) 1,751 +15.4%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total September (2023) 2,021 v (2019) 1,336 +51.3%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2023) 2,375 v (2022) 1,870 +27.0%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2023) 2,375 v (2019) 1,959 +21.2%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales September (2023) 155 v (2022) 187 -17.1%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales September (2023) 155 v (2019) 127 +22.0%
  • New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2023) 299 v (2022) 243 +23.0%
  • New Buses/ Coaches total sales September (2023) 20 v (2022) 8 +150.0%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2023) 38,339 v (2022) 37,417 +2.5%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2023) 38,339 v (2019) 82,435 -53.4%
  • Used Car Imports total September (2023) 4,328 v (2022) 4,333 -0.1%
  • Used Car Imports total September (2023) 4,328 v (2019) 10,221 -57.6%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2023) 21,707 v (2022) 14,510 +49.6%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2023) 21,707 v (2019) 2,974 +629.89%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales September (2023) 1,493 v (2022) 1,851 -19.3%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales September (2023) 1,493 v (2019) 115 +1198.2%
  • 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2023 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. HYUNDAI, 4. SKODA, 5. KIA
  • 5 Top New Car Model’s year 2023 were: 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2. KIA SPORTAGE, 3. TOYOTA COROLLA, 4. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 5. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4
  • Top 5 Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Car Brands 2023: 1. VOLKSWAGEN, 2. TESLA, 3. HYUNDAI, 4. KIA, 5.MG     
  • Top 5 Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Models 2023: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. TESLA MODEL Y, 3. HYUNDAI IONIQ 5, 4. SKODA ENYAQ, 5. MG MG4
  • Top Selling New Car (September) 2023: TESLA MODEL Y
  • Top Selling New Electric Car (September) 2023: TESLA MODEL Y
  • Market share by engine type 2023 (YTD): Petrol 30.39%, Diesel 22.18%, Hybrid 18.64%, Electric 18.34%, Plug-In Hybrid 8.21%
  • Market share by engine type 2023 (September): Electric 26.34% Petrol 24.84% Diesel 19.81%, Hybrid 14.69%, Plug-In Hybrid 12.12%

Tables below shows total new car registrations by county and total new electric car registrations by county 2023. 

New Car Registrations by County 2023
(January-September)

County

2023 Units

2022 Units

% Change

2023 % Share

2022 % Share

Carlow

1235

1154

7.02

1.04

1.14

Cavan

1217

1047

16.24

1.03

1.03

Clare

2341

2049

14.25

1.98

2.02

Cork

13504

12648

6.77

11.41

12.45

Donegal

2509

2459

2.03

2.12

2.42

Dublin

51785

39934

29.68

43.75

39.31

Galway

4679

4330

8.06

3.95

4.26

Kerry

2392

2231

7.22

2.02

2.2

Kildare

5062

4499

12.51

4.28

4.43

Kilkenny

2002

1880

6.49

1.69

1.85

Laois

1317

1206

9.2

1.11

1.19

Leitrim

430

417

3.12

0.36

0.41

Limerick

3714

3480

6.72

3.14

3.43

Longford

516

502

2.79

0.44

0.49

Louth

2581

2398

7.63

2.18

2.36

Mayo

2005

1867

7.39

1.69

1.84

Meath

4055

3556

14.03

3.43

3.5

Monaghan

917

803

14.2

0.77

0.79

Offaly

1278

1170

9.23

1.08

1.15

Roscommon

1108

963

15.06

0.94

0.95

Sligo

1089

1011

7.72

0.92

1

Tipperary

2855

2654

7.57

2.41

2.61

Waterford

2709

2563

5.7

2.29

2.52

Westmeath

1613

1476

9.28

1.36

1.45

Wexford

2772

2802

-1.07

2.34

2.76

Wicklow

2684

2488

7.88

2.27

2.45

New Electric Car Registrations by County 2023
(January-September)

County

2023 Units

2022 Units

% Change

2023 % Share

2022 % Share

Carlow

210

129

62.79

0.97

0.89

Cavan

154

87

77.01

0.71

0.6

Clare

412

225

83.11

1.9

1.55

Cork

2222

1400

58.71

10.24

9.65

Donegal

294

219

34.25

1.35

1.51

Dublin

10320

6734

53.25

47.54

46.41

Galway

792

586

35.15

3.65

4.04

Kerry

303

226

34.07

1.4

1.56

Kildare

1202

792

51.77

5.54

5.46

Kilkenny

272

207

31.4

1.25

1.43

Laois

206

149

38.26

0.95

1.03

Leitrim

58

43

34.88

0.27

0.3

Limerick

574

405

41.73

2.64

2.79

Longford

71

45

57.78

0.33

0.31

Louth

435

266

63.53

2

1.83

Mayo

244

204

19.61

1.12

1.41

Meath

995

639

55.71

4.58

4.4

Monaghan

94

56

67.86

0.43

0.39

Offaly

160

117

36.75

0.74

0.81

Roscommon

120

95

26.32

0.55

0.65

Sligo

178

149

19.46

0.82

1.03

Tipperary

366

313

16.93

1.69

2.16

Waterford

404

295

36.95

1.86

2.03

Westmeath

267

190

40.53

1.23

1.31

Wexford

497

364

36.54

2.29

2.51

Wicklow

857

575

49.04

3.95

3.96

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Press contact: Teresa Noone, SIMI, Tel 087 792 8844 Email tnoone@simi.ie