Strong start to 2024 for new car registrations in Kilkenny

The new year got off to a great start for Kilkenny motor dealers with almost a 21% surge in new car registrations recorded in the county for January.

The latest registration figures, which were released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) showed there were 650 new car registrations in Kilkenny for the month of January, up from 538 in the same period in 2023 - a 20.82% increase.

Nationally, new car registrations for the month of January were up 15% (31,470) when compared to January 2023 (27,337).

However, despite this growth, registrations remain 3% lower than pre-Covid levels in 2019.

Electric Vehicle (EV) sales saw continued growth, with a record breaking 4,109 new electric vehicles registered for the month of January when compared to 3,674 in January 2023 (+12%).

In terms of the new car market share in 2024, petrol cars continue to dominate at 31.83%, with hybrid (petrol electric) 23.95% surpassing diesel 21.77%, followed by electric 13.06%, and plug-in electric Hybrid 6.96%.

“January 2024 has seen a positive start to the year for the Irish Motor Industry,” said Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General.

“Sales of commercial vehicles, both Light (LCV) and Heavy (HGVs) registrations, are showing increases on last year, a positive signal from the business sector.

“While EV sales can be viewed positively, the growth is slightly less than the overall increase in the new car market,” he added.

“This highlights the ongoing challenge as we move away from the early adapter stage into a more mainstream market. The industry continues to supply a greater range of Electric Vehicles (EVs) with over 70 different EV models available for sale in Ireland. Ongoing Government support in terms of incentives and charging infrastructure will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the next phase in the transition to electrification.”