Electric car sales plunge 41pc amid fresh calls for government price intervention

There is now serious concern about how the transition to electric vehicles has stalled over the first quarter of 2024 – traditionally the biggest-buying period of the year.

Just 2,009 new BEVs were registered last month, down from 3,412 on the equivalent period last year. Perhaps even more worrying for the motor industry and the government is that there has been a 14.3pc dive in sales in the first quarter (to 7,971).

In the corresponding period in 2023, there were 9,297 electric cars registered.

The gap between 2023 over 2024 so far would likely have been even wider if there hadn’t been such a scarcity of supply at the beginning of last year.

Electric car owner Aidan Jordan

The figures, by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), also show a severe fall (16pc) in conventional car buying last month, though year-to-date they are ahead of 2023 by 8pc. The early Easter may have impacted on the volume of people actively buying. It will be interesting to see how April goes.

SIMI Director General Brian Cooke said the notable decline in BEV registrations highlights the ongoing challenge of transitioning to electrification.

He said: “The electrification of the fleet requires increased collaboration between all stakeholders to bridge this current chasm in the market. For the industry, this means investment and delivery of EV technology.”

For government, it means increased support through extension of current incentives, including purchase grants and Benefit-In Kind (BIK) relief for companies, Mr Cooke said.

It also means, Mr Cooke claimed, working with private enterprise to “upgrade the national charging infrastructure, to boost consumer confidence in making the switch to electric vehicles”.

Petrol power lead the new-car market share of 33.37pc, followed by diesel at 23.05pc, hybrid 21.33pc, electric 12.69pc and plug-in hybrid (7.92pc).

Used imports rose 11.0pc (5,216) in March and are up 24.2pc (15,487) on 2023.

Sales of light and heavy commercial vehicles both show growth in registrations for March which is taken to be a sign of confidence in the economy.

The best-selling brands so far are: Toyota, Skoda, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Kia.

The Top five best-selling new models are: Hyundai Tucson, 2. Skoda Octavia, 3. Kia Sportage, Toyota Rav 4, and the Toyota Yaris Cross.

The top five BEVs brands to date are: Volkswagen, Hyundai, Tesla, BYD and Kia.