New data has shown that last year 2,491 new tractors were licensed for the first time, which translates to an increase on 2,190 during the previous 12 months. This 2021 period also marks a 16.5% rise on the 2019 figure of 2,137.
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), these figures show that the number of new tractors licensed for the first time in 2021 increased by almost 14% compared to the previous year.
In addition, the CSO said that 3,341 used (imported) tractors were licensed for the first time over the past year; an increase of 26% on the 2020 tally of 2,648. This is also a 29% jump on the 2,595 used (imported) tractors that were registered in 2019.
However, the monthly figures show a dip in December 2021, where 196 used (imported) tractors were licensed for the first time last month – a drop of 36% compared to the same month in 2020. In December 2019, 150 used (imported) units were registered.
In total, 5,832 tractors were licensed for the first time last year. CSO data also shows that 101,853 new private cars were registered, an increase of almost 21% on the previous year. The number of used (imported) private cars licensed fell by 13.4% to 68,042 in 2021, compared with 78,541 in 2020.
The popularity of electric or hybrid car models continues to rise, with electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles accounting for 16% of all new cars registered for the first time in 2021, compared to 7.5% in 2020.
The research illustrates that almost half of all new private cars registered in the country in 2021 were licensed in Dublin and Cork.