The latest figures released for July by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that the most popular model in terms of new vehicle registrations is the Hyundai Tucson, with 1,591 units in the first 31 days of the new period and 4,812 units year-to-date. A total of 910 units of the Toyota Corolla Cross were registered in July, which is a strong performance for the all-new model and has contributed towards Toyota being the most popular brand in Ireland for new cars for the month and the year so far.
The popularity of SUVs and crossovers continues, with the Nissan Qashqai ranking third for new registrations in July with 798 units, ahead of the Hyundai Kona (777 units), Toyota Yaris Cross (716 units) and Kia Sportage (701 units). The latter half of the top ten registrations feature hatchbacks and a saloon. Toyota again appears in seventh place with the Yaris hatchback (643 units), Volkswagen Golf ranks in eighth with 609 units, and the MG 4 saw 569 units registered in July. The Toyota Corolla rounds out the top ten with 563 units.
Toyota currently leads the new vehicle registration figures, ahead of Volkswagen, Hyundai, Skoda and Kia. Commenting on the performance, Zoë Bradley, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Toyota Ireland, said: "The July results are incredibly positive and we are grateful for our hardworking dealer network and the continued support from customers for helping us achieve this position."
Several other brands have had strong performances in July, mainly by registering a wider variety of models across their respective ranges. Hyundai is listed in second place ahead of Volkswagen, Skoda, Kia, Renault and Nissan. Audi is the only premium brand in the top ten registrations, while Peugeot and Ford make up ninth and tenth places, respectively.
Electric cars continue to grow in popularity
More than one-third of all new vehicles registered in July were petrol cars, accounting for 9,116 units and an increase of 27.1 per cent from July 2022. The second most common type was diesel, although the figure of 6,122 units is down by 4.4 per cent over the same month last year. Petrol hybrids were the third most common type of powertrain registered with 5,414 units, while new electric vehicle registrations totalled 4,161 for the month, up 52.4 per cent from July last year.
That continued increase in the popularity of EVs has led to further calls for the government to expand the charging network in Ireland and to re-visit and sure-up the incentives that exist for business users and company car drivers. Increasing the number of electric company cars has been seen as a method of improving the used car market in the coming years.
The Director General of SIMI, Brian Cooke, said: "The new car market for the first month of the 232 registration plate indicates a strong performance, with an increase of 24 per cent on the same month last year. Improved production over the last few months has helped supply catch up with demand, resulting in July new car sales almost matching those of the key selling month of January. The new car market year to date now stands 20 per cent ahead of 2022 and less than 1 per cent behind pre-Covid 2019.
"The highlight of the market continues to be the performance of electric cars, with sales in July of 4,161 a record monthly total for EVs. So far this year 18,458 battery electric cars have been registered, an increase of nearly two-thirds on 2022. Improved supply and a greater range of new models available for motorists has supported this momentum behind EVs. The availability of SEAI grants to support positive decision making has been key, and their retention beyond this year, along with other EV incentives, is vital if we want to build on this success. Taking a closer look at the EV registration numbers, the main driver of growth is from consumers, who do qualify for the grant, and account for over 76 per cent of EV sales. However, there also needs to be a focus on the business market, which without grant support really needs to see the extension of the BIK reliefs in Budget 2024, while investment in the public charging infrastructure is also crucial at this stage."