New car registrations for May were up 42.7pc (7,557) compared to May 2022 (5,295) while registrations year-to-date are up 18.2pc (74,542) on the same period last year (63,057), writes Trish Whelan.
Figures released by SIMI for May show some 1,725 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 743 in May last year and that nearly one-in four new cars sold were electric, outperforming diesel sales for the month.
SIMI statistics also show that so far this year 12,875 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to +55.9pc (8,258) on the same period 2022.
Electrified vehicles, including all-electrics, Plug-in hybrids and hybrids now have a combined market share (year to date) of 42.75pc.
Imported Used Cars saw a 14.9pc (4,486) increase in May 2023 compared to May 2022 when 3,905 second hand cars were imported here. Year-to-date, imports are up 5.2pc (20,797) on 2022 (19,766).
Petrol remains dominant at 32.36pc, with diesel accounting for 22.17pc, hybrid 17.51pc, electric 17.27pc and Plug-in electric hybrid 7.96pc.
Light Commercial vehicles are up 76.2pc (2,528) compared to May last year (1,435) and year to date are up 31.1pc (16,255) while Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) sales are also showing an increase of 11.9pc (217) over May 2022 (194). Year to date HGVs are up 35.6pc (1,424).
The five top selling car brands in 2023 are 1. Toyota, 2. Volkswagen, 3. Hyundai, 4. Skoda, 5. Kia while the top car models are: 1. Hyundai Tucson (pictured above), 2. Kia Sportage, 3. Toyota Corolla, 4. Toyota Yaris Cross, 5. VW ID4.
Top selling EV models are: 1. VW ID.4 (pictured below), 2. Hyundai Ioniq 5, 3. Tesla Model Y, 4. Skoda Enyaq, 5. Kia EV6.
