New figures from the Central Statistics Office reveal a 24% decrease in the number of electric cars licensed for the first time in 2024 when compared with 2023, with the number of EVs falling to 17,191 from 22,493.
But the number of new hybrid cars licensed increased by 25% from 20,270 in 2023 to 25,270 last year.
In 2024, 15% of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric compared with 19% in 2023.
The CSO said that the total number of new private cars licensed last year fell slightly on 2023's figures - 116,683 compared to 117,424.
The number of used (imported) cars licensed increased by 23% last year to 61,838 from 50,381 in 2023.
Today's figures show that 36,433 new cars licensed in 2024 were petrol compared with 38,746 in 2023, a fall of 6%. Comparing 2023 and 2024, the number of new diesel cars licensed rose by 3% from 25,938 to 26,728, the CSO added.
The CSO said that Toyota (16,486) was the most popular make of new private car licensed in 2024, followed by Volkswagen (13,314), Skoda (11,385), Hyundai (10,721) and Kia (8,523).
Together, these five makes represented 52% of all new private cars licensed during the year.
Meanwhile, the most popular brand of new electric car licensed in December was Tesla Model 3, followed by Tesla Model Y and Mercedes Benz EQE.
