New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that new car registrations for June were up 39% on the same time last year as electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hybrids continued to increase their market share.
SIMI said that new car registrations in June rose to 2,994, up from 2,154 the same month last year.
Registrations so far this year are up 18.8% to 77,488 on the figure of 65,211 the same time last year.
Today's figures show that electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hybrids have a combined market share so far this year of 43.63%.
Petrol has a market share of 31.85%, with diesel accounting for 21.87%, electric 18.46%, hybrid 17.37% and plug-in electric hybrid 7.8%.
Meanwhile, SIMI saw a 2.6% decrease in imported used cars seen 4,230 in June compared to last year. But year to date imports are up 3.81% to 25,027 from 24,109 in 2022.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said that while year to date new car registrations are still 4% behind pre-Covid 2019, the gap is closing every month, aided by fulfilment of 2022 orders and improved new vehicle supply.
"June in particular saw a significant boost in electric car sales, with 1,441 registrations during the month, in comparison to 188 units in June 2022, no doubt as a result of EV buyers wanting to avail of the full SEAI Grant of €5,000, which is to be reduced from July 1," Mr Cooke said.
He noted that so far this year the EV market has exceeded 14,000 cars, an increase of 69% on last year.
"It should be highlighted that there still is a significant basket of incentive for EV buyers, including ongoing purchase and home charger grant support, VRT relief for many EVs, as well as low annual road tax," Brian Cooke said.
"These supports, along with an increasing number of EV models coming to market, should ensure strong new car activity as we enter the 232 registration plate sales period. Going forward we need to maintain these incentives as well as an attractive BIK incentive for businesses, if we want to build on the momentum that is clearly there in the EV market," he added.
