New passenger vehicle uptake lifted slightly in August, but the market is still sluggish.

IMPRESSION of the electric new car market having all but stalled this year has been reinforced by registrations data issued today.

Market state information shared by the Motor Industry Association, which represents almost new car distributors including all the big names in the EV sector - save for Tesla - suggests registrations in August compared to the same month of 2023 was a good news story, in that they climbed by 202 units, a 2.1 percent lift.

However year to date data to September 1 reminds the market is 18,846 units behind the same period of last year, an almost 19 percent decrease.

The biggest sector to show action is with full internal combustion petrol and diesel product, which command 71.9 percent of sales, with 58968 registrations year to date, against 66 percent for the same period of last year, but with 66,244.

Among battery-involved fare, hybrids in a mild (non mains-replenished) format are the top year to date choice, also with a slight climb, 21.7 percent share, from 17827 registrations, versus 18.1, with 18215. 

Plug in hybrid registrations have gone backward, from 5137 for 5.1 percent to 1641, for two percent. 

But full battery cars have been hurt massively; a category that achieved 11317 registrations by this time in 2023 - a 11.2 percent share - has backed off to a 4.4 percent stake, on basis of 3631 registrations. 

BEVs took 565 registrations last month, against 856 for August 2023, while PHEVs secured 231 (versus 778) and there were no electrics in the monthly top 10.

The top five electrics were the Tesla Model Y, on strength of achieving 116 units - equivalent to a quiet week last year. Next was the Nissan Leaf on 59, then the MG 4 (39), BYD Atto 3 (36), and BYD Dolphin (28).

The strongest performing PHEVs were the BYD Sealion 6 (42 units), followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander (34), Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (18), Hyundai Tucson (17) and Ford Escape (11).

Mild hybrids lifted, with 2435 for the month, a 36 percent lift on 2412 last year, and 3534 ICE in August against 2925 in August 2023.

The top five mild hybrids in August were the RAV4 (541), followed by Toyota Yaris Cross (190), Suzuki Swift (188), Toyota Yaris (136) and Honda HR-V (126).

The top selling model in August is also the leading seller year to date, Ford Ranger, whose 842 registrations added in a year to date tally of 7803. This time last year, it was also the top seller, but on 7228.

Next was Toyota Hilux, on 687 for the month (against 465 for August last year) and 5044 year to date (against 6310 in the same period of 2023) then the Toyota RAV4, on 541 (773) and 5137/5115.

The MIA attributes the bump in passenger sales last month to a surge in rental sales volumes, which were well up on the same time last year.

Average monthly registrations in the light commercial vehicle arena - which utes inhabit - remain stable year to date.