Hybrid Vehicle sales have began to increase over the last three years ever since new car sales took a nose dive in 2009. During the boom years, new car sales were on the increase and Hybrid sales were no exception. C.S.O figures released show that new car sales reached a high in 2000 of just over 225,269 and remained strong up to 2007 where they fell rapidly to just under 55,000 by 2009 (see table below).
Sales of Hybrids showed a slightly different picture. Their presence on the Irish market was much smaller, with the first Hybrid regstered in 2002. Their subsequent sales numbers were nothing like standard car sales, only reaching a peak of 1,215 in 2008. In 2009 sales also slumped back to 292 vehicles registered, but this has began to rise, with the latest figures indicating sales of 635 Hybrids in 2012.
The market leaders in Hybrid sales have been Toyota with the Prius and Lexus with their Hybrid range. In the last year alone, a number of manufacturers have released Hybrid models to the market, includng Peugeot, Citroen, Ford, Audi and even Porshe. Other manufacturers are planning to do so in the coming year.
Figures for the first half of 2013 are not available yet, but end of year sales should indicate a steady rise in these numbers as motorists have a greater choice available to them.
The table below, outlines the number of new vehicles registered of type “petrol and electric” Hybrid.
Vehicles Licensed for the First Time (Number) by Type of Fuel, Type of Vehicle Registration and Year |
|||||||||||||||
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
||
Petrol and electric | |||||||||||||||
All Vehicles |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
237 |
316 |
645 |
1,061 |
1,215 |
292 |
739 |
558 |
635 |
|
New Private Cars |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
228 |
310 |
620 |
1,032 |
1,182 |
280 |
713 |
538 |
591 |