Latest news with #SocietyoftheIrishMotorIndustry
RTÉ News
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Competition watchdog issues warning over car sales and repair practises
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued a warning to the Irish motor industry following reports of anti-competitive practices in the sale, maintenance, and repair of vehicles. In an industry-wide letter sent late last week to car manufacturers and dealerships it received complaints about, the CCPC reminded them that under competition law consumers must not be prevented from freely choosing who services or repairs their vehicle, or what parts they use. The warning follows complaints from motorists who claim they have been prevented or discouraged from getting their vehicles serviced or repaired by independent garages. In some cases, motorists claim to have been told that their warranty will be void if they have their vehicle serviced or repaired outside an authorised dealership network, or if non-original or non-manufacturer-supplied spare parts are used. Others claim to have been blocked from using independent garages, due to restricted access to essential diagnostic data or tools, which were not made available by the manufacturer or distributor. Such practices can break competition law, according to the CCPC. The CCPC said these practices drive up prices and limit choice, harming consumers and independent garages. The letter was also sent to independent dealerships and garages, as well as the industry representative group: the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). The CCPC says it has informed independent garages of their right to freely repair vehicles and use non-original spare parts that are of a matching quality, as well as to access repair and diagnostic tools. The consumer agency is seeking information from distributors of motor vehicles in Ireland and has urged them to review and, if necessary, amend any arrangements they have in place. It gave a deadline of 6 August for information to be submitted. No formal proceedings have been instigated against any motor dealer over the issue so far, but the CCPC said it will take action if illegal practices are identified. Under competition law, motorists may bring their vehicle to an independent garage of their choosing to get their vehicle serviced or repaired without it affecting their warranty, so long as this work is done by a competent individual. Similarly, non-original spare parts can be used in repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty without the warranty being affected, so long as the parts are of "matching quality" to original spare parts. "Motorists must be free to choose where they service their vehicles and what parts they use without fear of losing their warranty," Director of Antitrust at the CCPC Craig Whelan said. "Independent garages must not be blocked from accessing essential diagnostic data or tools." Mr Whelan added that "these restrictive practices hurt consumers, stifle competition, and unfairly advantage authorised dealerships. "We will continue to monitor this issue closely and will take appropriate enforcement action where we believe competition law has been breached." The CCPC is urging independent garages to report any experiences of unfair restrictions, including being prevented from accessing essential diagnostic data or tools, by emailing antitrust@ or calling the helpline on 01 402 5555. The watchdog can impose financial sanctions on businesses of undertakings of up to €10 million, or 10% of its annual worldwide turnover (whatever is greater), for breaches of competition law. Alternatively, more serious breaches, including cartel behaviour, may be prosecuted as criminal offences and fines of up to €50 million, or 20% of a business's annual worldwide turnover (whatever is greater), can be imposed.
Irish Independent
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Tesla launches Powerwall battery in Ireland as its car sales rebound to take top spot in June
The box device, which is just over a metre in height and costs €8,500, can store energy both from separate home solar panels and from the electricity grid at off-peak charging times. Capable of storing around half a normal household's daily energy use, up to four of the devices can be connected together, although the units require an indoor or sheltered outdoor space for installation. While Tesla says it's the first time it has launched the product into Ireland, it has previously been available from third party distributors here. The news comes after Tesla bounced back from a slump in its Irish car sales to reclaim top spot in Ireland in June. According to registration figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi), Tesla's Model 3 was the top selling new car of any kind in the Irish market in June, making up one in eight of all car sales. The same brand's Model Y car was second, giving Tesla a 22pc market share for all car sales in June. However, this comes after a dramatic fall in Tesla sales earlier this year, with Tesla ranked 17th in car sales in Ireland for 2025, behind brands such as Opel, Seat and Suzuki. Its best-selling car, the Model 3, ranks 21st in Irish car sales so far in 2025, behind Volkswagen's ID4 but ahead of Kia's EV3 and BYD's Seal. Tesla's slump and sudden spike in Ireland may be related to issues attached to its factory in Berlin, where production of the Model Y was reduced to allow for a new Model 3. However, the brand is still seeing falling international sales, overall. This week, Tesla announced a 13.5pc drop in global quarterly deliveries from 443,956 vehicles to 384,122 for the same three-month period in successive years. It's the second consecutive quarterly sales decline, with the company still hit by significant brand damage from Elon Musk's political activities. Sales of its flagship Cyberturck car were just 5,000, making the vehicle one of the industry's biggest flops in recent years. Despite the struggling sales figures, Tesla's share price remains over $300, valuing the company at close to $1 trillion, as investors hope that robotaxis and other futuristic promises from Elon Musk kick off a new wave of commercial success for the brand.
Irish Examiner
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Electric cars top Irish sales in June as Tesla Model 3 leads booming EV market
Over half of the new cars registered during the traditionally slow month of June were electric, as the total number of new cars sold rose by 63.5%, according to new data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). June was the last month for the 251 licence plate, and as a result, many customers held off on purchases until July, when the 252 plates were issued. According to the data, 2,441 new cars were registered last month — up from 1,493 in June of last year. In July 2024, 25,726 new cars were registered. Last month, 1,246 new electric cars were registered, representing an 81.9% year-on-year increase. The top-selling car in June was an electric vehicle, the Tesla Model 3. Tesla sales have been falling across Europe for months due to backlash against the company's CEO, Elon Musk. However, there are some tentative signs that this trend may be reversing. Tesla sales rose in Norway and Spain during June, an early indication that buyers are responding to the revamped Model Y. However, sales declined for the sixth consecutive month in Sweden and Denmark, highlighting the ongoing challenges the company faces. In Ireland, 1,054 new light commercial vehicles were registered, up 54.1%, while registrations of heavy goods vehicles increased by 3.2% to 128. Director-general of SIMI Brian Cooke: 'Electric vehicles represent nearly 17% of new cars sold this year. While this is clearly a positive development, it should be highlighted that EV sales are behind 2023 levels, and extension of Government support is still vital in the establishment of the electric vehicle market.' Registrations of imported used cars rose by 10.6% to 5,713 during the month. In the first half of the year, year-to-date new car registrations rose by 3.5% to 81,750, compared to the same period in 2024. So far this year, 13,631 new electric cars have been registered, a 27% increase. SIMI Director General Brian Cooke said the 'most notable statistic' for the first half of the year had been the consistent growth in battery electric vehicle sales. 'Electric vehicles represent nearly 17% of new cars sold this year. While this is clearly a positive development, it should be highlighted that EV sales are behind 2023 levels, and extension of Government support is still vital in the establishment of the electric vehicle market.' So far this year, petrol cars made up 27.23% of all cars sold, while petrol-hybrid cars accounted for 22.77%. Diesel cars made up 17.26% of the market, with electric, plug-in electric, and electric hybrids comprising the remainder. Toyota is the top-selling car brand so far in 2025, followed by Volkswagen and Hyundai. The top-selling car model is the Hyundai Tucson, followed by the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Yaris Cross. The top-selling electric car this year is the Volkswagen ID.4, followed by the Tesla Model 3 and the Kia EV3. Additional reporting Reuters Read More Inbound tourism drops 10% in May as persistent decline continues
Irish Examiner
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
New car registrations fell 8.8% in May but EV sales rise again
New car registrations fell 8.8% last month compared to May 2024, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) said, though EV sales continue an upward trend. There were 5,832 cars registered in May 2025, compared to 6,398 last year. Registrations year to date are up 2.4% (79,301) on the same period last year (77,461). The most popular selling car in May was the Volkswagen Tiguan. Sales of battery electric vehicles (EVs) were up 5.3% during May, with 1,092 new electric cars registered, compared to 1,037 registrations in May 2024. The most popular EV sold in May was the Hyandai Inster. So far this year, 12,392 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 23.3% increase on the year to date in 2024, when 10,052 electric cars were registered. Elon Musk's Tesla sales were down 60% compared to May 2024, with 91 units sold over the month compared to 237 in May 2024, with sales of the brand's Model Y down over 50%, though sales of its Model 3 are up 43%. Mr Musk's political links to Donald Trump have seen Tesla sales across Europe fall significantly in recent months, though Irish sales had remained robust. Tesla has sold 993 units to date in Ireland this year compared to 1,085 in 2024. Last week, Mr Musk announced he was stepping away from the US Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which has slashed budgets at several US government agencies. Tesla is the fourth highest EV seller by brand this year, behind Volkswagen, Kia, and Hyandai, and just ahead of Chinese EV maker BYD. The Tesla Model 3 is the third highest selling EV, behind the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Kia EV3. May was the fifth consecutive month that EV sales have increased on 2024, said SIMI director general Brian Cooke, with over 12,300 new electric cars sold so far this year, representing a 23% increase on last year. "While we are now on schedule to reach the interim Climate Action Plan target of 175,000 electric cars by the end of this year, as highlighted by the EPA recently, we need to do more to accelerate the growth in EV sales between now and the end of the decade,' said Mr Cooke. User car imports were up 7.9% (5,949) in May 2025, compared to May 2024 (5,513). Year to date imports are up 7.5% (28,184) on 2024 (26,206). In the new car market share by engine type for 2025, petrol cars remain the new car market leader at 27.6%, followed by hybrid (petrol electric) at 23.09%, diesel at 17.42%, electric at 15.63%, and plug-in electric hybrid at 14.64%.
Extra.ie
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Extra.ie
What were the five best-selling cars in Ireland last year?
In 2024, new car sales fell by 1% vs the previous year. Toyota retained its much sought-after position as the most popular carmaker in the country but, when it comes to the best-selling models, the Japanese manufacturer first appears at number four. Here are the top five most popular cars in Ireland as of 2024, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. The Hyundai Tucson. Pic: Hyundai The Hyundai Tucson maintained its position as Ireland's top-selling vehicle for the fourth consecutive year, achieving a 4.3% market share in 2024. Skoda Octavia. Pic: Skoda The Skoda Octavia experienced massive growth last year, more than doubling its sales and climbing to second position in the top five. Its rise into the top slots knocked Volkswagen's ID.4 off the list. Kia Sportage. Pic: Kia The Kia Sportage secured third place, continuing its strong performance in the Irish market. However, there will be a bit of a sting for Kia, having been in second place among 2023's best sellers. Toyota Rav 4. Pic: Toyota The Toyota RAV4 climbed to fourth place, marking a substantial increase in sales and highlighting the continuing demand for SUVs and crossovers amongst Irish car buyers. Toyota Yaris Cross. Pic: Toyota Having only been launched in the Irish market in 2021, the Toyota Yaris Cross rounded out the top five in 2024 – again demonstrating a steady demand for compact SUVs. 2024 also marked a remarkable shift in buying trends in the Irish motoring industry after a surge of electric vehicle sales in the years prior. From 2019 to 2023, the sales of EVs grew by over 560% in Ireland. However, in 2024, EV sales surprisingly lost their momentum and slumped by 23.6%. The drop off has been attributed to reduced Government grants, concerns over charging infrastructure and, perhaps most notably, consumer apprehension with regard to EV sell on value.
