The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has published the latest statistics on new vehicle registrations in Ireland for June. In comparison to June 2022, new car registrations increased by 39.0%, reaching a total of 2,994 registrations. Year to date, there has been an overall increase of 18.8%, with a total of 77,488 new car registrations, surpassing last year’s figure of 65,211.

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) also experienced remarkable growth, with a 72.54% rise in June 2023 compared to the previous year. HGV registrations rose by 28.4% in June 2023, while HGVs experienced a 34.9% increase in registrations year to date. On the other hand, imported used cars saw a slight decline of 2.6% in June 2023. However, year to date imports have risen by 3.81%.

The most significant growth has been observed in electric vehicles, with 1,441 new registrations in June 2023 compared to 188 in June 2022, marking an astounding increase of 666.49%. From January to June 2023, a total of 14,307 new electric cars were registered, reflecting a 69.39% rise compared to the same period last year. The market share of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and hybrids has been steadily increasing and now stands at 43.63% year to date. Petrol remains the dominant fuel type with a market share of 31.85%, followed by diesel at 21.87%. Electric vehicles hold a market share of 18.46%, while hybrids and plug-in electric hybrids account for 17.37% and 7.80%, respectively. These statistics illustrate the growing popularity of electric vehicles in Ireland’s car market.

Commenting on the trends, Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General said “The new car market performed strongly in June with registrations 39% ahead of the same month last year. 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 1st. Year to date 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. 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.” 

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The study found that buyers are increasingly turning to electric vehicles (EVs), with EV transactions, hybrids (PEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) seeing a 1.7% increase. Both petrol and diesel models have correspondingly declined by the same percentage (1.7%), with petrol models showing a larger fall.

Growth Breakdown by Fuel Type

The overall trend by fuel type in the used market between 2021 and 2022 indicated a 1.1% rise in popularity for hybrid vehicles. Increases in the numbers of PHEVs and EVs were also noted, with a corresponding 1% decrease in demand for petrol and 0.7% diesel models[LS1] .

Performance

The study also looked at the performance of electric vehicles in the used market by analysing the average 0-100 Km/h times for electric vehicles compared to both petrol and diesel vehicles. The results showed that electric vehicles generally performed better than their diesel and petrol equivalents for most car types, with the exception of convertibles where there was little difference.

Imports

In its analysis, Cartell.ie also examined the fuel types of imported vehicles between 2018 and 2022. Despite increasing demand, the results indicate a significant decrease in the percentage of electric vehicles imported to Ireland during this period [LS2] (35.1% in 2018 decreased to 10.9% in 2022, while all other fuel types remained relatively stable. Interestingly, the largest percentage (60.7% in 2020)) of overall imports during this period were plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs[LS3] ).

Overall, the study indicates a shift in the used car market towards electric and hybrid vehicles, with electric vehicle types showing strong performance values and offering a lot to the used car market.

Ross Conlon, CEO Cartell.ie says: “The number of petrol and diesel models in recent used car transactions remains high, however we are seeing an overall decline in the percentage of transactions involving these fuel types. In parallel, we have seen an increase in the volume of transactions for hybrid, electric, and plug-in hybrid fuel types. PHEVs have been consistently the most popular import throughout the entire period. The performance of electric vehicles has been impressive, and they are giving other aspirational types a run for their money. It is clear that EVs have a lot to offer the market.”

*For this study Cartell.ie considered all used car transactions in the used market, irrespective of transaction type (private-to-private, trade-to-private, private-to-trade etc), for each of the years beginning in 2018 and ending in 2022.

Table 1 Movement in Used Car Transactions by fuel type 2021 to 2022 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 2 Average Performance of Electric Vehicles (0 to 100 Km/h) by Body Type in the used car market 2018 to 2023 compared to diesel and petrol aspirated engines (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Table 3 Average Performance of Electric Vehicles (top speed in Km/h) by Body Type in the used car market 2018 to 2023 compared to diesel and petrol aspirated engines (Source: Cartell Carstat)

In Performance of Electric Vehicles (0 to 100 Km/h) and performance of Electric Vehicles (Top Speed in KM/h) by Body Type in the used car market 2018 to 2023 compared to diesel and petrol aspirated engines the claimed vehicle sprint times and top speed indicators are sourced by Jato Code for each vehicle in each category and then the results are averaged.

Table 4 Imports by fuel type 2018 to 2022 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

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In response to the escalating fuel prices, the Government took action in March of the preceding year by reducing the excise duty on fuel. This resulted in a significant reduction of 21 cents per litre for petrol and a 16-cent cut for diesel. However, these reductions are now being rolled back, with the changes taking effect from tonight.

Although the excise increase will become legally binding at midnight, fuel retailers are not immediately required to adjust their retail prices. This is due to the fact that excise charges are imposed on the fuel supplies purchased by filling stations, and the existing forecourt supplies have already been subjected to the lower excise rate.

Further excise increases are planned for September 1st and October 31st, as part of the ongoing process to fully restore the fuel excise levels to those of early 2022.

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Mileage is a crucial factor to consider when buying a used car. Dishonest sellers may try to alter the car’s odometer reading to make it appear as if it has covered fewer miles than it has. This practice, known as clocking, can help them sell the car for a higher price. However, a car’s true mileage is recorded in a national database at the time of its NCT. A vehicle history check from Cartell.ie can access this database to confirm the car’s mileage at the time of the last NCT. By comparing this figure with the car’s odometer reading, you can detect any discrepancies and avoid buying a car that has been clocked.

Another important thing to look for in a vehicle history check is outstanding finance. If a car has finance outstanding on it, it’s not legally yours until the final payment has been made. This means that the lender who financed the purchase can repossess the vehicle if the original PCP holder defaults on their payments, leaving you with no recourse. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that the car you’re buying has no outstanding finance. A vehicle history check can help you identify this issue and avoid buying a car with a financial encumbrance.

Knowing whether a car has ever been written off is also essential. Insurance companies may deem a car to be a write-off if it’s too damaged to be safely returned to the road or if the cost of repairs exceeds the car’s value. There are four types of write-offs in Ireland, with Category A and B write-offs being too damaged to be scrapped, while Category C and D write-offs are repairable but may have some residual damage. A vehicle history check will tell you if a car has ever been written off, and this information is crucial in making an informed purchase decision.

The number of previous owners is another aspect to consider. While it’s not a crucial piece of information, it’s good to know how many owners the car has had. However, if you’re satisfied with the car’s condition and history, there’s no particular reason to avoid buying a car with a high number of owners. Dishonest sellers may lie about the number of previous owners, so it’s important to check this information in a vehicle history report.

Finally, it’s important to know whether a car has ever been used as a taxi or hackney. Taxi and hackney cars often have high mileages and experience wear and tear due to their constant use. They may also have some unusual odors and stains that may be difficult to remove. While it’s ideal to avoid cars with previous taxi or hackney use, if you decide to take the risk, it’s important to know for sure and make an informed decision.

In conclusion, a vehicle history check is an essential step in the used car buying process. It can reveal critical information about a car’s past, including its mileage, outstanding finance, write-off status, number of previous owners, and previous use as a taxi or hackney. By conducting a thorough vehicle history check, you can avoid buying a car with hidden issues and make a more informed purchase decision.

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Hyundai in top position

Cartell.ie looked at the numbers of EVs and PHEVs (cars only) sold by manufacturer in the year to date and the results show Hyundai is the top selling brand in this combined segment. Volkswagen, the leader when we last looked at these results in October 2022, moves to fourth position overall. Tesla, a premium brand, does not feature at all in the top-10 this year so far. The changing fortunes of both VW and Tesla in this segment (in the year to date) are two of the notable results from this analysis but things may change as the year progresses.  

Table 1 Numbers of EVs/PHEVs sold by manufacturer Jan to February* 2023 (Source: Cartell, Carstat)

*All results for February may not yet have been recorded

Hyundai IONIQ 5 making a big impression in 2023

The top selling EV model is the IONIQ 5 making a huge impression with buyers. Cartell.ie looked at the total number of EVs and PHEVs sold by model in the year to date and found the top best-selling model so far this year is the IONIQ 5 with the KONA, a model also released by Hyundai, also comfortably in the top-5 best-selling models for the year-to-date. The Kia Niro occupies second position.  

Continues …

Table 2 Numbers of EVs/PHEVs sold by model Jan to February* 2023 (Source: Cartell Catstat)

* All results for February may not yet have been recorded

Imported EVs and PHEVs

Cartell.ie looked at the most popular imported EVs and PHEVs (cars only) in the year to date in 2023 and found that BMW leads the way with both the number one and number two spots – the 530e being the most popular imported model this year so far in this combined segment.

Table 3 Most popular imported models in the combined EV/PHEV segments Jan to February* 2023 (Source: Cartell Carstat)

* All results for February may not yet have been recorded

All-time popular models in the EV/PHEV segment

Finally, Cartell.ie looked at the overall picture to see which models are currently the all-time most popular in terms of the live fleet in this combined segment (EV/PHEV). The results show that the Nissan Leaf is still the most popular vehicle on Irish roads in this combined segment.

Table 4 All-time most popular car models sold in EV/PHEV segment live fleet (Source: Cartell Carstat

Table 5 All-time most popular manufacturers in EV/PHEV segment live fleet (Source: Cartell Carstat)

Ross Conlon, CEO CarsIreland.ie and Group Director New Business at Mediahuis Ireland says:

“The IONIQ 5 is comfortably the most popular car in this combined EV/PHEV segment replacing the Volkswagen ID 4 as the most popular model with Plug-In electric capacity, when the market is viewed over the first few weeks of this year. Still though, in terms of the overall numbers in the fleet, the most popular model in this combined segment is the Nissan Leaf which proved to be hugely popular with buyers. Interestingly, when we look at the imported market for the same segment BMW are leading the way with both the 530e and 330e by far the most popular imported models and BMW also lead the way overall in terms of the numbers of its vehicles in this combined segment in the live fleet.”

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