New car sales in Laois were up 5% in July according to figures released this week by SIMI, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.
While nationally there was a 17.3% decrease on new car sales in July, in Laois that figure was up by 5%.
In total there were 273 new car sales in the county in July, compared to 260 in July of 2021.
The Laois figures are also up on 2019, the last pre-Covid year – with 243 new car sales sold in July of that year.
In the year to date, compared to 2021, the figures are almost identical – with 1,065 new cars registered in Laois in 2021, compared to 1,068 this year. Nationally, there has ben a 3.6% decrease compared to a year ago.
Compared to 2019, there has been a decrease of 11.15% (down from 1,202) in the comparative seven months. Nationally that figure is 17.3%.
The pace of electric car sales continues to increase with 124 electric vehicles (EVs) sold this year already compared to 83 in 2021, 31 in 2020 and 33 in 2019.
“Disappointingly July new car registrations, our second highest sales’ period, are down 17.3% on July 2021,” said Brian Cooke, Director General of SIMI in relation to the national figures.
“This means the new car market is now 4% behind year to date and 17% behind pre-COVID 2019.
“The electric vehicle segment continues to grow, both in quantum and as a proportion of the new car market, with an 80% year on year growth and a market share of 13%.
“While it appears that there is appetite among consumers for both new and used cars, supply issues are hampering overall activity.
“The impact of this is another year of below par performance in the Irish new car market, which results in the Irish car fleet continuing to get older.
“The underlying new car market needs to grow significantly over the next few years if we are to optimise transport emission reductions.
“Government policies must contain the right measures, to support and encourage the change to lower and zero emitting vehicles. Reducing EV supports or increasing taxation will only act as a barrier to change and add to the cost of living.
“In this context, SIMI is asking the Government to continue its support for the EV project by extending EV supports at current levels out to 2025 and to resist any VRT increases in Budget 2023 which will only prove counterproductive and prevent us dealing with the legacy fleet in an effective manner that supports a just transition.”
