October New Car Registrations up 15%: Decarbonise national fleet, Industry and Government must work together to give consumers real choice

• 2,646 new cars registrations for October compared to 2,296 in October 2020 (+15.2%) and 2,179 in October 2019 (+21.4%).
• 103,253 new cars registered year to date compared to 86,811 for the same period in 2020 (+18.9%) and 116,124 in 2019 (-11.1%).
• 522 new electric vehicles registered in October compared to 254 in October 2020 (+105.5%).
• 8,342 new electric cars registered year to date in comparison to 3,867 on the same period 2020 (+115.7%).

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released their official new vehicle statistics. To present a more accurate picture of the new vehicle registrations, it is important to compare registrations totals with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID) when businesses were fully operational.

Light Commercials Vehicles (LCV) seen a decrease of 1,315 registrations compared to October last year 1,651 and an increase on 1,064 registrations for the same month in 2019. Year to date 27,849 new LCVs were registered an increase on last year’s 20,602 (+35.2%) and on 24,304 in 2019 (+14.6%).

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) seen an increase of 212 registrations in October when compared to 155 in October 2020 and 137 October 2019. Year to date HGV's registrations total 2,473 compared with 1,956 in 2020 (+26.4%) and 2,492 in 2019 (-0.8%).

4,401 used cars imported in October 2021, compared with 9,316 imports in October 2020, and a decrease on the 11,457 imports in October 2019. Year to date used imports are down -5.1% (55,538) on 2020 (58,504) and down 40.8% on 2019 (93,892).

522 new electric vehicles registered in October compared to 254 in October 2020. So far this year 8,342 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 3,867 on the same period 2020. Electric Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with their combined market share now over 31.52%. Diesel now accounts for 33.63%, Petrol 32.16%, Hybrid 16.14%, Electric 8.08% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 7.3%.

Commenting Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General:
“New car registrations for October were ahead of last year for both the month and for the year to date, although new car sales continue to remain behind pre-COVID levels. With Climate Change at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it is hugely positive to see the year on year growth in the sales of both Electric and Plug-in Electric Hybrid Vehicles. This is a result of the Motor Industry providing a greater selection of low emitting cars combining with the Government’s support in terms of incentives, giving motorists wider and more affordable choices. This is the right approach, and has led to more consumers making better environmental decisions. It is this joint effort from Industry and Government that must continue if we are to reach our decarbonisation targets. On the contrary the sudden removal of the grant incentive for Plug-in Electric Vehicles, only serves to undermine consumer confidence in lower emitting technologies and this incentive should be re-instated for vehicles already committed to by both the Industry and consumers. Looking forward to 2022 and beyond, it is vital that the current Government supports for Electric Vehicles are extended out until 2025, along with State and private investment in a countrywide charging infrastructure. If we want to rapidly electrify the Irish car and commercial fleet the Industry and Government must work together to give consumers real choice. The Industry can provide solutions by supplying more and more electric vehicles as the decade progresses; the consumer also needs the Government to continue its support, to help them make the transition. We all have a part to play in decarbonising our national transport fleet”.

2021 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2021) 103,253 v (2020) 86,811 +18.9%
• New Car sales total year to date (2021) 103,253 v (2019) 116,124 -11.1%
• New Car sales total October (2021) 2,646 v (2020) 2,296 +15.2%
• New Car sales total October (2021) 2,646 v (2019) 2,179 +21.4%
• Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2021) 27,849 v (2020) 20,602 +35.2%
• Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2021) 27,849 v (2019) 24,304 +14.6%
• Light Commercial Vehicles sales total October (2021) 1,315 v (2020) 1,651 -20.4%
• Light Commercial Vehicles sales total October (2021) 1.315 v (2019) 1,064 +23.6%
• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2021) 2,473 v (2020) 1,956 +26.4%
• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2021) 2,473 v (2019) 2,492 -0.8%
• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales October (2021) 212 v (2020) 155 +36.8%
• Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales October (2021) 212 v (2019) 137 +54.7%
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2021) 55,538 v (2020) 58,504 -5.1%
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2021) 55,538 v (2019) 93,892 -40.8%
• Used Car Imports total October (2021) 4,401 v (2020) 9,316 -52.8%
• Used Car Imports total October (2021) 4,401 v (2019) 11,457 -61.6%
• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2021) 8,342 v (2020) 3,867 +115.7%
• New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2021) 8,342 v (2019) 3,220 +159.1%
• New Electric Vehicles sales October (2021) 522 v (2020) 254 +105.5%
• New Electric Vehicles sales October (2021) 522 v (2019) 246 +112.2%
• 5 Top Selling Car Brands October 2021 were: 1. Toyota 2. Volkswagen 3. Hyundai 4. Skoda 5. Ford
• 5 Top car model’s year October 2021 were: 1. Hyundai Tucson 2. Toyota Corolla 3. Toyota Yaris 4. Volkswagen Tiguan 5. Toyota Rav 4
• Top Selling Car October 2021: Hyundai Tucson
• Market share by engine type 2021: Diesel 33.63%, Petrol 32.16%, Hybrid 16.14%, Electric 8.08% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 7.3%
• Table below shows new car registrations by county for January-October 2021.Click Here to download pdf also

For further information:
Teresa Noone, SIMI, Tel: 087 792 8844 or 01/6761690 Email tnoone@simi.ie