Sales trend improving for new vehicles
The Motor Industry Association (MIA) says sales for the new-vehicle market are encouraging after increasing for the third month in a row.
A total of 11,739 vehicles were registered in August, which was up “a heartening” 17.5 per cent from 9,986 in the same month last year.
The latest figures are boosting hopes among suppliers of sustained improvement for the sector following more than a year of subdued sales activity.
Aimee Wiley, chief executive officer, says the three consecutive months of improved sales is providing growing cause for optimism that a corner has been turned.
“We saw a sharp increase in June – possibly off the back of the Investment Boost measure contained in the May budget – and numbers have remained steady through July and August, so that is an encouraging trend.”
MIA notes sales of light passenger vehicles totalled 8,090 last month, which was up from 7,635 in July and a 19.6 per cent increase from 6,761 in August 2024.
Registrations of light commercial vehicles remained steady at 3,031, compared with 3,532 in July and 3,225 in August 2024.
However, the trend for battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) continued the downward direction recorded in recent months.
From the perspective of achieving carbon dioxide emissions targets, Wiley describes this trend as “alarming”.
Sales of BEVs came in 385 last month, down from 638 in July and 564 in August last year. Tesla’s Model Y was the top-seller in this category on 68 units
PHEVs recorded 408 sales in August, a drop from 749 in July but up from 231 a year ago. The GWM Haval H6, pictured, led this group with 61 sales, with Mitsubishi’s Outlander close behind on 59.
As for hybrid vehicles, the 3,091 sold last month compared with 3,434 units in July and 2,434 in August 2024.
Toyota’s RAV4 was the clear leader and accounted for 1,039 registrations in August, with the marque’s Yaris Cross, Corolla and Corolla Cross filling the next three spots with 181, 167 and 141 sales respectively.
