Mayo almost in line with national trend as new car registrations increase

New car registrations for the month of January were up 15% (31,470) when compared to January 2023 (27,337), with Mayo showing an increase almost in line with the national trend at 13.6%.

The number of new cars registered in the county last month was 593, which is an increase of 71 over the January 2023 figure of 522 units.

Despite the growth locally and nationwide, registrations remain 3% lower than pre-Covid levels in 2019.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) figures also reveal that light commercial vehicles (LCV) registrations are up 35.3% (7,500) compared to January last year (5,542), while heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations are also showing an increase of 7.8% (458) in comparison to January 2023 (425).

Elsewhere, imported used cars saw a 40.7% (5,326) increase in January 2024 when compared to January 2023 (3,786), while electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to grow, with a record-breaking 4,109 new electric vehicles registered for the month of January when compared to 3,674 in January 2023 (+12%).

However, Mayo was not alone in seeing a reduction in EV registration, though the drop was small (-2.22%).

In terms of the new car market share in 2024, petrol cars continue to dominate at 31.83%, with petrol-electric hybrids at 23.95% surpassing diesel at 21.77%, followed by EV at 13.06%, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 6.96%.

Automatic transmissions account for (65.77%) of market share, while manual transmissions (34.11%) continue to see a decline. The hatchback is Ireland’s top selling car body type of 2024.

Commenting on the figures, Brian Cooke, SIMI director general, said: “January 2024 has seen a positive start to the year for the Irish motor industry. New car registrations are 15% ahead of 2023, although they remain 3% behind 2019 (pre-Covid) levels.

“Sales of commercial vehicles, both light and heavy, are showing increases on last year – a positive signal from the business sector.

“Electric vehicles sales continue to grow too, with 4,109 registrations in January, up 12% on the same period last year.

“While EV sales can be viewed positively, the growth is slightly less than the overall increase in the new car market. This highlights the ongoing challenge as we move away from the early adapter stage into a more mainstream market.

“The industry continues to supply a greater range of EVs, with over 70 different models available for sale in Ireland. As we move forward, ongoing government support in terms of incentives and charging infrastructure will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the next phase in the transition to electrification.”

The 10 top-selling new car brands so far this year are: Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Skoda, Kia, Nissan, Peugeot, Audi, Ford and Dacia. The 10 top new car models are: Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Yaris Cross, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Kona, Toyota C-HR, Skoda Octavia, Nissan Juke and Volkswagen Golf.

Reacting to their position at the top of the sales charts, Zoë Bradley, head of marketing, communications and corporate affairs with Toyota Ireland, said: “Closing out January with a market leading share for the fourth year in a row is something we’re immensely proud of and reflects the consumer demand for a more environmentally conscious car choice.

“It’s encouraging to see more motorists make the move towards electrified driving, which outperformed diesel this January and continues to grow in popularity and market share.

“Toyota has the widest range of electrified vehicles on the market, offering motorists a choice of low-emission options that suit any lifestyle, budget or style. The demand we’re seeing from consumers for electrified options gives us the confidence that this year will be another positive year for sustainable motoring.”