Another month of declining new car sales: Motor Industry calls on Government for no tax increases on new cars

Official statistics released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that the total new car registrations for the month of August are down 13.3% (5,131) when compared with August 2018 (5,921). New car registrations year to date are down 7.9% (110,572) on the same period last year (120,003).

New Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations are up 35.1% (1,880) on August 2018 (1,392), however registrations year to date are down -2.2% (21,906). While New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HGV) decreased 20.7% (157) in comparison to August 2018 (198) and year to date are up 3.1% (2,207)

Imported Used Cars for August saw an increase of 10.2% (9,708) on the same month last year (8,812) and year to date imports are up 5% (72,211) ahead of 2018 (68,784).

New electric vehicle registrations continue to grow month on month with 172 vehicles registered for the month of August an increase of 4.2% on August 2018 (165) while a total of 2,860 EV cars were registered so far this year.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General comments: Despite the strong economic growth, the new car market continues to contract this year, with registrations for the month of August following this trend. In this business context and with the increasing likelihood of a hard Brexit, SIMI is calling on the Minister for Finance not to increase taxes on new cars in Budget 2020. It is important that our new car market is as strong as possible from both an environmental and employment view point. Instead the current Brexit and taxation mix only encourages people to hold on to their older higher emitting cars for longer. New car sales need to increase if Ireland is to see the real benefit of improvements in emissions from new technologies, and taxation systems should support not hinder this.

192 New Vehicle Stats

  • New car sales total year to date (2019) 110,572 v (2018) 120,003 -7.9%
  • New Car sales total August (2019) 5,131 v (2018) 5,921 -13.3%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2019) 21,906 v (2018) 22,398 -2.2%
  • Light Commercial Vehicles sales total August (2019) 1,880 v (2018) 1,392 +35.1%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2019) 2,207 v (2018) 2,141 +3.1%
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales August (2019) 157 v (2018) 198 -20.7%
  • Used Car Imports total year to date (2019) 72,211 v (2018) 68,784 +5.0%
  • Used Car Imports total August (2019) 9,708 v (2018) 8,812 +10.2%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total year to date (2019) 2,860 v (2018) 1,077 +165.6%
  • New Electric Vehicles sales total August (2019) 172 v (2018) 165 +4.2%
  • 5 Top Selling Car Brands year to date are: 1. Volkswagen 2. Toyota 3. Hyundai 4. Ford 5. Skoda
  • 5 Top car model’s year to date 1 Toyota Corolla 2. Hyundai Tucson 3. Nissan Qashqai 4. Skoda Octavia 5. Volkswagen Tiguan.
  • Top Selling Car August 2019: Hyundai Tucson
  • Table below shows new car registrations by county year to date (January-August 2019)(Click to download pdf)
New Cars Registrations by County year to date (Jan-August 2019)
County 2019 Units 2018 Units % Change 2019 % Share 2018 % Share
Carlow 1200 1496 -19.79 1.09 1.25
Cavan 1114 1220 -8.69 1.01 1.02
Clare 2112 2572 -17.88 1.91 2.14
Cork 13234 14611 -9.42 11.97 12.18
Donegal 2233 2514 -11.18 2.02 2.09
Dublin 48787 49940 -2.31 44.12 41.62
Galway 4058 4519 -10.2 3.67 3.77
Kerry 2201 2570 -14.36 1.99 2.14
Kildare 4210 5092 -17.32 3.81 4.24
Kilkenny 1978 2247 -11.97 1.79 1.87
Laois 1273 1446 -11.96 1.15 1.2
Leitrim 376 466 -19.31 0.34 0.39
Limerick 3670 4118 -10.88 3.32 3.43
Longford 490 570 -14.04 0.44 0.47
Louth 2519 2680 -6.01 2.28 2.23
Mayo 1849 2092 -11.62 1.67 1.74
Meath 3136 3555 -11.79 2.84 2.96
Monaghan 843 965 -12.64 0.76 0.8
Offaly 1207 1490 -18.99 1.09 1.24
Roscommon 896 1026 -12.67 0.81 0.85
Sligo 1003 1043 -3.84 0.91 0.87
Tipperary 2846 3194 -10.9 2.57 2.66
Waterford 2974 3193 -6.86 2.69 2.66
Westmeath 1494 1717 -12.99 1.35 1.43
Wexford 2638 3066 -13.96 2.39 2.55
Wicklow 2231 2601 -14.23 2.02 2.17

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