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Press Statement

Preasráiteas

08 February 2021

Press Statement Vehicles licensed for the first time January 2021

Number of new cars licensed in January 2021 down by 18%
  • The number of new cars licensed in January 2021 fell by 3,717 (-18.0%) vehicles compared with January 2020
  • In January 2021, 9.2% of all new cars licensed for the first time were electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV)
  • The combined number of new electric and hybrid cars licensed in January 2021 was 29.5% greater than those licensed in January 2020 (5,581 compared to 4,308)
  • There was an increase of 448 (+5.8%) used private cars licensed in January 2021 compared with January 2020

Go to release: Vehicles licensed for the first time January 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (08 February 2021) published Vehicle Licensing figures for January 2021. These figures are based on the National Vehicle and Driver File compiled by the Department of Transport.

Today’s publication shows that the number of new cars licensed for the first time in January 2021 was 16,948 compared with 20,665 in January 2020, a fall of 18.0% or 3,717 less cars.

Commenting on the data, Noreen Dorgan, Assistant Principal, said: “Today’s figures from the CSO show the continued growth in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles licensed in Ireland. Despite the drop of 18.0% in the overall number of new cars licensed in January 2021, the number of new hybrid and electric cars licensed in January 2021 accounted for 32.9% of all new cars licensed. The number of new electric cars licensed in January 2021 grew by 27.6% from 579 to 739. New plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) cars licensed almost doubled (+93.2%) in January 2021 compared with January 2020 (827 compared to 428).”

Further commenting on the results, Noreen Dorgan, said: “The number of used cars licensed in January 2021 rose by 5.8% compared with January 2020. Furthermore, the number of used (imported) diesel private cars licensed fell by 6.7% from 5,260 in January 2020 to 4,905 in January 2021.”

For further information contact:

Noreen Dorgan (+353) 21 453 5260

or email transport@cso.ie

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