The number of new car sales in Laois saw a slight increase in July, rising by 6.5% compared to the same month in 2023, according to figures released by the Society for the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
312 new cars were recorded as sold here in July compared to the 293 sold 12 months ago.
After a 64% decline in June and a 48% decline in May, this rise of 6.5%, though modest, is welcome news.
Nationally, new car sales fell by 6%, dropping from 27,336 in July of 2023 to 25,698 for the same month this year.
July is the fifth month in a row to show a national decline – the only five months since Covid that there has been a drop in car sales across Ireland.
However, the advent of the new car registrations coming in the seventh month of each year continue to give new car sales an enormous boost each July.
In Laois, the 312 new cars sold is up from just eight in June, representing a monthly increase of over 97%.
Nationally, the 25,698 new cars sold is up from just 1,491, representing a monthly increase of almost 94%.
Electric cars were the most popular choice in Laois during June, but they they have been overtaken in July, with petrol cars up over 20%.
Diesel, despite falling almost 15% on 2023 figures, outperformed Petrol Electric Hybrids, which saw a rise of over 78%.
The full spread saw 105 new petrol cars sold in July, 85 diesel, 75 Petrol Electric Hybrids, with just 19 electric cars sold, down almost 57% year on year.
Despite a fall of over 12.5%, petrol cars remain the most popular choice nationally, with Petrol Electric Hybrids taking over from diesel cars in second place.
The sales of new electric cars continue to plummet, with July showing a a decline of almost 25% compares to the same month last year.
SIMI Director General Brian Cooke commented: “The 242-registration plate sales period is, as is always the case in July, an exciting and optimistic period for the Irish Motor Industry.
“However, July has continued the trend of recent months with a decline in new car sales. Year to date new car registrations are now marginally behind the first seven months of last year.
“Light commercial vehicles registrations also saw a decline in sales for July, but the activity remains strong, and sales are ahead of last year for both the light and heavy commercial fleet.
“The key headline for July continues to be the drop in Electric Vehicle (EV) registrations, which are down by 25% year to date. EV sales are now back to 2022 levels.
“We are at a critical juncture on the journey to Zero Emission Vehicles, but we need decisive actions in the Budget to arrest this slide and to reignite Ireland’s EV momentum.”
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