Registrations of new cars for the first two months of 2023 are up 9.4pc on the same period last year, according to figures from Ireland’s motor trade organisation SIMI, writes Brian Byrne. Within that, sales of electric cars are showing much higher growth, up 37.5pc on the 2022 first two months. Electric vehicles are now at 14.56pc of total new car registrations, led by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (above)from the VW ID.4, the Hyundai Kona, Kia EV6 and BMW i4. Petrol cars represent almost a third of a third of engine types, followed by diesel at 23.32pc, and hybrid at 19.16pc. The top selling car brands so far this year are Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Skoda and Kia. Light Commercial Vehicle sales are up 11pc on last year.