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| Toyota Corolla Hybrid Saloon |
New car registrations for March were down 63pc (6,174) when compared to March 2019 (16,687) as Covid-19 put the breaks on sales, writes Trish Whelan. Registrations year to date are also down 20.5pc (51,015) on the same period last year (64,126).
Sales of Light Commercial vehicles (LCVs) are down 52.9pc (1,434) compared to March last year (3,044) and so far this year are down 15.2pc (9,378).
In contrast, Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are up 17.67 (313) when compared to March 2019 (266 and year to date are up 12.59pc (993).
Electric vehicle sales year to date (1,667) show a 16.17pc increase on last year (1,435). EVs for March this year (379) are up 21.86pc on 2019 sales (311).
Fewer Irish people are buying used car imports with sales for March (4,656) have seen a decrease of 48.1pc on March last year (8,970). Year to date, imports are down 34.9pc (17,471) on 2019 (26,832).
The five top selling car brands for 2020 were: 1. Toyota, 2. Volkswagen, 3. Hyundai, 4. Skoda, and 5. Ford.
The five top car models year to date were 1. Toyota Corolla, 2. Hyundai Tucson, 3. Volkswagen Tiguan, 4. Ford Focus and 5. Skoda Octavia.
The top selling car for March 2020 was the Toyota Corolla.
Market share by engine type 2020 shows diesel at 43.86pc, petrol 38.42pc, Hybrid 12.17pc, electric 3.27pc and Plug-In Hybrid at 2.02pc.
Commenting, Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General said: “The health of our nation is the overriding priority. The Motor Industry will assist the State in any way we can during this pandemic. While showrooms, service and other activities within the Industry are closed, members are available to assist in emergency call-out or delivery services.” He added that this will be vital in keeping essential and emergency services moving.
“The Motor Industry and its employees, like so many industries, is feeling the devastating impact of COVID-19. Even before the crisis commenced, the new car market was in decline, and this fall has accelerated rapidly in the last fortnight with new car activity down nearly two-thirds on last year. Whatever the duration of this crisis, once we emerge, we will need to see decisive and ambitious action from Government to protect the nearly 50,000 jobs in our sector.”
