Number of new cars are down but electric car sales continue to grow

WHILE new car registrations are down on last year, however, sales of electric vehicles have already surpassed the total for the number of EVs registered for the whole of 2018 and that sector is showing strong growth.

Official statistics released today by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that total new car registrations for March are down 5.6% (16,738) when compared with March 2018 (17,726). New car registrations year to date are down 10.7% (64,098) on the same period last year (71,760).

The new Commercial Vehicle sector shows a similar picture, with new Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations down 2.2% (3,067) on March 2018 (3,137), and year to date are down 10.7% (11,182). While New Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HGV) saw a slight decline of 1.5% (267) in comparison to March 2018 (271) and year to date down 3.3% (886).

Imported Used Cars on the other hand increased by 9.98% (8,970) on March 2018 (8,156) and year to date are 2.74% (26,832) ahead of 2018 (26,117).

New electric vehicle registrations continue to grow with a total of 1,437 EV cars registered so far this year, compared to 1,233 for all of 2018.

Commenting on the registrations Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General Designate said that while new car sales are being dampened by Brexit uncertainty, the increase in VRT on new cars for 2019, arising from the fact that no allowance was made for the first step in the move to the new WLTP emissions testing regime, has also had a negative impact.

‘Ireland is the only country in the EU that has sought to charge consumers higher registration taxes due to the improved emissions testing regime.

‘While the VRT increases in this first phase of the transition to the WLTP test figures only saw an average increase of five per cent in the CO2 values, the second phase next year will see these increasing by a further 21%,’ said Mr Cooke.

‘All other Member States have followed the EU Commission view that consumers should not be faced with increased taxation due to the improved emissions testing regime. SIMI had warned that not adjusting for such large increases in CO2 values will burden the consumer, damage new car sales and will actually reduce State revenues.’

Mr Cooke said this has been the case as the decrease in new cars sales in the first quarter of 2019 has meant that the State’s tax revenues from new cars have fallen by more than €60 million so far this year, and this shortfall is only going to increase as the year progresses.

Current low volumes in the new car market have largely resulted from lower used car values for consumers’ trade-ins due to the huge volume of used car imports from the UK due to the Brexit-driven Sterling exchange rate.

‘ To add a tax increase that only applies to new cars, in such circumstances can only lead to the current result. We urge the Government to take account of the impact of increasing taxes, not just on new car sales but also on employment in the Motor Industry across the country, and on the environment when recasting VRT and other motor related taxes in 2020.’