Press Statement

Preasráiteas

12 January 2022

Go to release: Vehicles licensed for the first time December and Year 2021

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (12 January 2022) published Vehicle Licensing figures for December and Year 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 2021 was 101,853 compared with 84,309 in 2020, an increase of 21%. However, the number of new cars licensed in December 2021 was 832 compared with 1,032 in December 2020, a fall of 19%.

Commenting on the data, Nele van der Wielen, Statistician, said: “Today’s figures from the CSO show the continued growth in the number of electric vehicles licensed in Ireland. The number of new electric cars licensed in 2021 grew by 117% from 3,940 in 2020 to 8,554. Furthermore, the number of used (imported) diesel private cars licensed fell by 28% from 50,886 in 2020 to 36,495 in 2021.”

Further commenting on the results, Nele van der Wielen, said: “The number of new cars licensed in December 2021 shows a decrease of 19% compared with December 2020. Data for the year, shows there were 17,544 more new cars licensed than in 2020, an increase of 21%. However, the number of new cars licensed in 2021 was still 10% lower compared with the number of new cars licensed in 2019.”

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