New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of new cars licensed in February increased by 5% to 13,979 compared with 13,284 the same time last year.
The CSO said that in the first two months of 2024, 14% of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric, compared with 15% during the same time last year, while petrol cars accounted for 29%.
It added that 22% of new private cars licensed in the first two months of this year were diesel which was the same as that recorded in the same time in 2023.
Meanwhile, the CSO said the number of used cars licensed in the first two months of 2024 increased by 31% compared with the same time in 2023 - 9,594 compared to 7,348.
Today's figures show that Toyota was the most popular make of new private car licensed in February 2024, followed by Skoda, Hyundai, Volkswagen and Kia.
Together, these five makes represented just over half (51%) of all new private cars licensed in February, the CSO noted.
Meanwhile, the most popular brand of new electric car licensed in February 2024 was the Tesla Model 3, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4, the BYD Seal and the MG4.
