Budget 2023: SIMI calls for extension of Electric Vehicle supports

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), has released the official 222 new vehicle registration figures for August and are calling on the Government to extend EV supports in the forthcoming Budget.

New car registrations for August were up 36.7% (8,157) when compared to August 2021 (5,966). Registrations year to date are down 1.2% (95,183) on the same period last year (96,296) and are 14% behind (110,527) that of pre-Covid levels.

Light Commercial vehicles (LCV) are down 28.3% (2,134) compared to August last year (2,978) and year to date are down 22.3% (19,228). HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are up 32.4% (249) in comparison to August 2021 (188). Year to date HGV's are down 5.5% (1,924).

Used car imports for August (4,769) have seen a decrease of 6.3% on August 2021 (5,089). Year to date imports are down 28.4% (33,084) on 2021 (46,186).

For the month of August 1,493 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 824 in August 2021. So far this year 12,665 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 7,049 on the same period 2021 an increase of 80%. 

Electric Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with a combined market share now of 40.41%. Petrol continues to remain dominant with 30.09%, Diesel accounts for 27.2%, Hybrid 20.32%, Electric 13.31% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 6.78%.

Commenting on the new vehicle registrations Brian Cooke, Director General SIMI said: 
 "While new car sales showed some improvement during the month of August, year to date sales are still marginally behind last year and 14% behind pre-COVID 2019 levels, with supply chain issues still hampering both the new and used car markets. The sale of new electric vehicles continues to be the one positive feature of the overall market, with year on year growth of 80%. However, it needs to be underlined that we are still in the very early stages of the electric vehicle project, and we have a long way to go to meet the challenging targets in the Government’s Climate Action Plan. In this context it is essential that Government supports both consumers and businesses by extending EV incentives at current levels in the forthcoming Budget. By doing this we can help secure a greater supply of EVs for the Irish market, increase new EV sales in the short term and create an active used EV market, which will make an electric vehicle affordable to a wider constituency of motorists. In addition, if we want to speed up the removal of the oldest highest emitting vehicles from the national fleet, Government should refrain from any further taxation increases. This would encourage activity in both the new and used car markets, allowing motorists to trade up to a cleaner new or newer more fuel-efficient car.”

2022 Total New Vehicle Stats 

• New Car sales total year to date (2022) 95,183 v (2021) 96,296 -1.2%

• New Car sales total year to date (2022) 95,183 v (2019) 110,527 -14%

• New Car sales total August (2022) 8,157 v (2021) 5,966 +36.7%
• New Car sales total August (2022) 8,157 v (2019) 5,088 +60.3% 

• Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2022) 19,228 v (2021) 24,741 -22.3%

• Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2022) 19,228 v (2019) 21,904 -12.2%

• Light Commercial Vehicles sales total August (2022) 2,134 v (2021) 2,978 -28.3%
• Light Commercial Vehicles sales total August (2022) 2,134 v (2019) 1,890 +12.9%

• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2022) 1,924 v (2021) 2,037 -5.5%

 Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2022) 1,924 v (2019) 2,209 -12.9%

• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales August (2022) 249 v (2021) 188 +32.4%
• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales August (2022) 249 v (2019) 155 +60.6%

• Used Car Imports total year to date (2022) 33,084 v (2021) 46,186 -28.4%

• Used Car Imports total year to date (2022) 33,084 v (2019) 72,214 -54.2%

• Used Car Imports total August (2022) 4,769 v (2021) 5,089 -6.3%
• Used Car Imports total August (2022) 4,769 v (2019) 9,706 -50.9%
• Car Hire total year to date (2022) 4,453 v (2021) 7,797 -42.9%
• Car Hire total year to date (2022) 4,453 v (2019) 18,306 -75.7%

• Car Hire total August (2022) 557 v (2021) 220 +153.2%
• Car Hire total August (2022) 557 v (2019) 40 +1292.5%
• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2022) 12,665 v (2021) 7,049 +80%
• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2022) 12,665 v (2019) 2,859 +343.0%

• New Electric Vehicles sales August (2022) 1,493 v (2021) 824 +81.2%
• New Electric Vehicles sales August (2022) 1,493 v (2019) 172 +768.0%

• 5 Top selling car brands year to date are: 1. TOYOTA 2. HYUNDAI 3. VOLKSWAGEN 4.KIA 5. SKODA
• 5 Top car model’s year to date are 1.HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2. TOYOTA COROLLA,  3. KIA SPORTAGE, 4. TOYOTA C-HR, 5. TOYOTA RAV 4
• Top Selling Car August 2022: VOLKSWAGEN ID.4
• 5 Top new Electric Vehicle car model’s year to date are: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. HYUNDAI IONIQ 5, 3. KIA EV6, 4. VOLKSWAGEN ID.3, 5. NISSAN LEAF  

• Market share by engine type 2022: Petrol 30.09%, Diesel 27.27%, Hybrid 20.32%, Electric 13.31%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 6.78% 

• Table below shows new car registrations by county for January-August 2022. Click hereto download pdf also.