New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 45% of all new private cars licensed during the month of October electric, PHEV or hybrid.
The CSO noted that the number of new electric cars licensed has grown by 47% from 14,707 between January and October of last year to 21,667 in the same 10-month period of 2023.
Today's CSO figures show that the number of new cars licensed in October rose by 1% to 4,587 from 4,527 the same month last year.
They also reveal that the number of new private cars licensed in the first 10 months of 2023 rose by 16% when compared with the same time last year.
The CSO noted that 37,714 new cars which were licensed in the first ten months of this year were petrol cars. This compares with 29,427 during the same time in 2022 and marked an increase of 28%.
Over the same time period, new diesel cars licensed have decreased by 4%.
Meanwhile, the number of used cars licensed in the first 10 months of 2023 rose by 5% compared with the same time in 2022 - 41,898 compared to 39,942.
Today's figures also show that Volkswagen was the most popular make of new private car licensed in October, followed by Skoda, Kia, BMW and Toyota.
Together, these five makes represent 42% of all new private cars licensed in October of this year, the CSO added.
