The number of new cars being registered in Galway this year is significantly higher than in 2021.
Figures for the first three months of the year show that there were 2,272 new cars registered in Galway in that time.
These numbers, from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, are 13.2% higher than in the same period last year.
In fact Galway recorded the biggest increase in new care registrations compared with 2021 of any county in Ireland.
Nationwide, the 49,928 new cars registered in the first three months of the year, 4% higher than in 2021.
But the growth accelerated in the month of March, which saw registrations up 40.7% compared with last year.
Brian Cooke, Director General of SIMI, said that despite this growth, new car sales are still behind pre-COVID levels.
“There is strong demand for new and used cars among consumers, although supply continues to remain a major challenge for the Industry, while the hire drive market continues to be well below pre-pandemic levels.”
The number of used car imports is 36% lower than last year, and 56% lower than in 2019, before the pandemic.
One area that has seen huge growth is the sale of electric vehicles, which are up 121% this year to date compared with 2021.
“This acceleration in EV sales is down to both the increase in the number of models now available for sale, and the SEAI Grants supporting their purchase,” Brian Cooke said.
“It is vital that Ireland delivers a modern agile charging infrastructure that keeps pace with both the increasing number of EVs and the ongoing improvements in charging technologies.
“By doing this, we can work together to build consumer confidence in the EV project.”
