Low-emitters make sales surge

The new-vehicle industry has announced 2023 was a record year for low-emission vehicle (LEV) registrations after they increased by 45 per cent from the numbers seen in 2022.

They also took out a 72.5 per cent share of the market in December after clocking up 7,077 sales, according to figures from the Motor Industry Association (MIA).

The MIA’s latest data shows that in the light passenger segment alone, 59,367 units sold last year were battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) or hybrids. 

This was up by 45.6 per cent when compared with the 40,765 electrified units registered in the prior 12 months.

Aimee Wiley, MIA’s chief executive, says: “With the end of the clean car discount (CCD), it is unsurprising that December was a record month and 2023 a record year for LEV registrations.” 

December’s 8,564 sales for light passenger vehicles were comparable to the same month of 2022, rising by only 0.8 per cent or 64 units, and represented the industry’s third-best figures for that month.

However, the annual total of 110,488 registrations was a drop of 4.9 per cent, or 5,762 units, compared with 2022. 

Wiley, pictured, notes demand for light commercials was “significantly impacted by hold-off awaiting the end of the CCD fees”.

December registrations for those vehicles plummeted to 624 last year, a drop of 63.9 per cent, or 2,131 units, from the same month of 2022 and 73.5 per cent fewer than in December 2021. 

On a full-year basis, the segment’s 30,611 registrations was 25.7 per cent and 35 per cent lower than in 2022 and 2021 respectively. 

Overall, 9,768 new vehicles were registered in December, which was 17.5 per cent fewer than the same month of 2022 when there were 11,835 units sold and down 19.3 per cent from 12,097 in December 2021. 

For the whole year, registrations in 2023 ended 9.5 per cent or 15,704 units lower than in 2022 and 9.8 per cent or 16,199 units below 2021’s tally. 

Electric boom

A breakdown of the MIA data shows there were 21,621 BEVs, 8,988 PHEVs and 29,343 hybrids registered last year. These totals compare with 16,223 BEVs, 7,259 PHEVS and 17,621 hybrids in 2022.

The top-selling BEV for 2023 was Tesla’s Model Y with 3,936 units, followed by the BYD Atto 3 on 3,171 and the MG 4 with 1,793. 

Mitsubishi’s Eclipse Cross retained its place as the top PHEV last year after notching 2,777 registrations. Next was the marque’s Outlander on 1,934 units and the Kia Sorrento with 718.

For hybrids, the Toyota RAV4 was again the best-seller with 6,001 sales, followed by the Toyota Corolla and Honda Jazz on 2,246 and 1,958 respectively.

The MIA reports there were 3,469 light vehicle BEVs registered in December, along with 987 PHEVs and 2,621 hybrids.

Market leaders

Toyota took out 21.7 per cent of last year’s overall new-vehicle market after completing 32,359 registrations.

It was followed by Ford on 10.9 per cent and 16,178 units, and Mitsubishi with nine per cent and 13,401 units.

The top three segments in 2023 were medium SUVs, which accounted for 27 per cent of activity, followed by compact SUVs with 20.5 per cent and pick-up/chassis cab 4X4 vehicles on 13.3 per cent. 

For overall sales in December alone, Toyota led the way with a 19.4 per cent market share and 1,892 registrations. Ford was next on nine per cent and 882 units, with MG third on 8.2 per cent and 804.