The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published vehicles licensed for the first time for September 2023, showing a 50% increase in the number of new electric cars registered so far this year.
The number of new cars licensed in September 2023 decreased by 433 vehicles (-9%) compared with September 2022. In the first nine months of 2023, 19% of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric compared with 14% in the same period in 2022.
Slightly over one-fifth (22%) of new private cars licensed in January to September of 2023 were diesel compared with over a quarter (27%) in the same period in 2022.
The number of used cars licensed in the first nine months of 2023 increased by 4% compared with the same period in 2022 (37,591 versus 36,140).
There were 11,916 used (imported) diesel private cars licensed in the first nine months of 2023, compared with 12,763 in first nine months of 2022, a fall of 7%. Volkswagen (853) was the most popular make of new private cars licensed in September 2023.
Commenting on the data, Dr Nele van der Wielen, Statistician in the Transport Section of the CSO, said, “these figures from the CSO show the continued growth in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles licensed in Ireland. The number of new electric cars licensed has increased by more than half (52%) from 13,506 in January to September of 2022 to 20,517 in the same period of 2023. In the period January to September 2023, 36,407 new cars licensed were petrol cars compared with 27,915 in the same period in 2022, an increase of 30%. At the same time, new diesel cars licensed have decreased by 4% in the same period.”
“There were 11,916 used (imported) diesel private cars licensed in the first nine months of 2023, compared with 12,763 in the same period in 2022, a fall of 7%. The total number of used vehicles licensed in the period January to September 2023 was up 4% compared with the same period in 2022.”
“Data also shows that Volkswagen (853) was the most popular make of new private car licensed in September 2023, followed by Skoda (722), Toyota (624), Kia (610) and Hyundai (592). Together, these five makes represent just under a half (49%) of all new private cars licensed in September 2023.”
Source: Central Statistics Office
