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, the latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show today.
SIMI said a total of 2,646 new cars were registered in October, up 15.2% on the 2,296 registered in October 2020 and an increase of 2,179 (21.4%) compared to October 2019.
So far this year, a total of 103,253 new cars were registered compared to 86,811 for the same period in 2020.
This marked an 18.9% increase on 2020 but a 11.1% fall on 2019, SIMI said.
Today's figures show that 522 new electric vehicles were registered in October compared to 254 the same time last year - a jump of 105.5%.
A total of 8,342 new electric cars have been registered so far this year compared to 3,867 the same time in 2020 - an increase of 115.7%.
SIMI Noted that electric vehicle, plug-in hybrids and hybrids continued 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%.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said that 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," Brian Cooke said.
But he said 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," Mr Cooke said.
"If we want to rapidly electrify the Irish car and commercial fleet the industry and Government must work together to give consumers real choice," he added.
