Recent data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveals a 25% decline in new electric vehicle (EV) registrations in Ireland last year, with only 16,786 units licensed during the first 11 months of 2024, compared to 22,249 in the same period in 2023.
This downturn in EV sales and registrations is likely attributed to several factors, including reduced government incentives, limited charging infrastructure and consumer concerns around vehicle range and cost. The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has expressed concerns over the impact of these challenges on the nation’s transition to sustainable transportation.
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has released its official statistics for new vehicle registrations in 2024, reporting a 1% decline in total new car registrations compared to 2023. A total of 121,195 new cars were registered, down from 122,400 in the previous year, showing a slight slowdown in the overall market.
- Counties with the most new car registrations in 2024 were:
- Dublin: 43.4% (-2.65% vs. 2023)
- Cork: 11.3% (-1.66% vs. 2023)
- Kildare: 4.46% (+3.93% vs. 2023)
- Galway: 3.88% (-2.3% vs. 2023)
- Limerick: 3.28% (+4.42% vs. 2023)
The overall market share for 2024 saw petrol vehicles maintain the highest share at 30.31%, followed by diesel at 22.80%. Hybrid vehicles accounted for 20.92% of new registrations, while electric vehicles made up 14.41% and plug-in hybrids accounted for 10.02%.
Together, electric, hybrids and plug-in hybrids now make up 45% of the car Irish market.
Registrations of new Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) saw an increase of 7%, with 30,786 units registered compared to 28,854 in 2023, while Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HGV) registrations increased by 8% last year.
Additionally, the imported used car market saw a significant boost in 2024 with registrations increasing by 21.4% last year.
Electric vehicles experienced a notable decrease in 2024. With a total of 17,459 new electric cars registered, a 23.6% drop compared to 2023. The drop in EV sales hints at broader market challenges, such as consumer hesitancy, infrastructure limitations and vehicle prices.
Despite this overall decline in EV registrations, certain electric vehicle models have remained popular. The Tesla Model 3 was the most registered electric car of the year in Ireland, followed by the Model Y.
SIMI’s figures also show that the hatchback remained Ireland’s top-selling car body type in 2024. While grey retained its title of most-popular car colour for the ninth year running.
John Kennedy, Managing Director of KennCo Insurance, said of the decline, “It’s a mixed picture. Petrol is still the most popular engine type on Irish roads and we continue to see steady growth in the commercial vehicle market. But there still seems to be a growing preference among consumers for hybrids and alternatives to petrol and diesel. The decline in electric vehicle registrations last year points to some reluctance on the part of consumers and, overall, more probably needs to be done to support EV adoption in Ireland.”
About KennCo Insurance
KennCo Insurance, established in 2008, operates as a part of KennCo Underwriting Limited, which has risen to become one of Ireland’s largest underwriting agencies. Proudly based in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin, we are committed to supporting the adoption of electric vehicles through tailored insurance products and services.
KennCo Underwriting Ltd T/A KennCo Insurance is regulated by The Central Bank of Ireland.