Mayo car sales in line with last year’s figures
Some counties have seen an increase in car sales while others have suffered declines.
New car registrations have declined year-on-year, according to the latest statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
A total of 25,7226 new cars were registered across the country last month compared to 27,336 for the same month last year, a decline of 5.9%. Registrations year-to-date are at 104,652 compared to 104,938 for the first seven months of 2023. While the decline nationally is marginal at 0.3%, some counties have experienced a much steeper fall-off in car sales, and data from Connacht illustrates the different experiences in different areas.
In Galway, there have been 4,067 new car registrations so far this year compared to 4,176 for the same period last year, which represents a decline of 2.6%. It is a similar story in Mayo where 1,779 new cars have been registered up to July 31 last, a fall of 1.6% on last year's figure of 1,779, while in Roscommon, a total of 987 new registrations have been made in 2024 compared to 1,007 for the first seven months of 2023, a drop of 2%.
However, motor dealers in Sligo have bucked the prevailing trend by recording an increase of 8.3% in new car registrations so far this year, from 954 in the first seven months of 2023 to 1,034 this year.
Nationally, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) declined by 7.5% (5,008) compared to July last year (5,414). Year-to-date LCVs are up 11.7% (25,239). Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) registrations are up 27.5% (477) in comparison to July 2023 (374). Year-to-date HGVs are up 19.5% (2,298).
Imported used cars have seen a 32.2% (5,828) rise in July 2024, when compared to July 2023 (4,408). Year-to-date imports are up 26.4% (37,199) on 2023 (29,433).
In the new car market share by engine type for 2024, petrol cars lead the new car market at 31.95% followed by diesel at 22.90%, then hybrid (petrol/electric) at 20.72%, electric at 13.27%, and plug-in electric hybrid at 9.62%.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commenting:
“The 242-registration plate sales period is, as is always the case in July, an exciting and optimistic period for the Irish Motor Industry. However, July has continued the trend of recent months with a decline in new car sales. Year to date new car registrations are now marginally behind the first seven months of last year. Light commercial vehicles registrations also saw a decline in sales for July, but the activity remains strong, and sales are ahead of last year for both the light and heavy commercial fleet.
The key headline for July continues to be the drop in Electric Vehicle (EV) registrations, which are down by 25% year to date. EV sales are now back to 2022 levels. Last year saw several EV incentives reduced, including the SEAI Purchase and Home Charger Grants, while Benefit-In-Kind (BIK) for company EVs is schedule to increase significantly in 2025.
