Dede Sophie

Sales of electric cars in Ireland in 2022 were 15,678, and 81pc increase on 2021, writes Brian Byrne. According to figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry today, total registrations of new cars were 105,253, a marginal 0.3pc increase on 2021 and 10.1pc down on pre-Covid levels. Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said new car sales and those of commercial vehicles had been impacted by supply constraints. He also said that dealers are reporting strong orders for the new 231 sales period which began yesterday. New light commercial vehicle sales of 23,653 units for 2022 were 17.7pc down on 2021. Petrol accounted for 30.16pc, Diesel 26.77pc, Hybrid 19.29pc, Electric 14.90pc, and Plug-In Hybrid 6.76pc. Hybrid, electric and plug-in hybrid now account for 41pc of the market.   Automatic transmissions now account for 57pc in powertrains, in part reflecting the increase of electrified power. 

Opel is to be the official car partner to the Forever Young Festival 2003, at Palmerstown House Estate in Naas from 14-16 July, writes Brian Byrne. Acts confirmed for the festival include Erasure’s Andy Bell, Bananarama, Jason Donovan, Soul II Soul, Tony Hadley, Billy Ocean, Midge Ure, Go West, Hothouse Flowers, Cry Before Dawn, and Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey. For further details see foreveryoung.ie .  The third year of the Festival, attendance is capped at 20,000 per day and facilities include luxury glamping, hot showers and golf buggy transport. The music is 1980s which makes it very much an adults-focused event. Pictured at the official launch of the festival are Dr Sharon Alston, festival organiser; James Brooks, Managing Director at Opel Ireland; and a 1980s Opel Kadett with the multi-award winning Opel Astra, Irish Compact Car of the Year 2023.