NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS have fallen again this year, according to the latest official Statistics released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
So far, in the first half of 2017, 91,189 new cars have been registered – down 10 per cent from the same period last year.
But apart from the registration numbers, the SIMI report also gives use an insight into the car-buying habits of the Irish public – which have been remarkably consistent over time.
In fact, our top five favourite manufacturers for the first half of the year have been the same since 2013. For the last four years (Jan to June), the best selling brand has been Volkswagen, with Toyota the runner-up. In fifth place every year since 2013 has been Nissan with Hyundai and Ford battling it out for third and fourth. (This year it’s Hyundai in third and Ford in fourth.)
Our favourite models of cars also vary little from year to year with the five best sellers from January to June this year the same as they were this time last year albeit in a different order.
Top 5 models January-June 2017:
Our love affair with diesel continues, with 66 per cent of all new vehicles registered diesel powered. Petrol-powered motors accounted for 30 per cent.
We are however seeing an increase in electric and hybrid cars which account for 3.7 per cent of new cars registered in the first half of this year, up from a 2 per cent market share for the same period last year.
Overall, 374 electric cars were registered this year compared with 286 during the same period last year and 3,035 hybrid vehicles were registered H1 of 2017 compared with 1,771 Q1 of 2016.
And, the top selling car colours? Well, since you asked:
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