Hybrids are now the most favored new cars on the Irish market, outselling either petrol or diesel models, according to initial registration figures for the first 10 days of the year.
Sales of regular hybrids have been increased by 30% of the new car market, with plug-in hybrids making up another 9.8 %t. This compares to 27.9% for petrol and just 20%for diesel engine cars. Sales of fully electric cars account for 11% of the new cars registered so far in 2022.
It reflects a dramatic change in the Irish market, which was formerly dominated by diesel. In 2017, for example, diesel accounted for 65 %of new car sales, petrol for 30% and hybrids made up just 3.4 %.
Overall, the new car market this year is down 18.6 per cent with 7,892 registrations compared to 9,700 in the same 10-day period last year