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DATA FROM DONEDEAL, released today, shows Ireland’s used electric vehicle (EV) market is showing signs of recovery and stability.
According to DoneDeal, used-EV prices are now more affordable than equivalent diesel and hybrid models.
Used-EVs are now 11.2% cheaper than comparable diesel cars and 12.7% cheaper than equivalent hybrid models on a like-for-like basis, the report says.
And while used-EVs are dearer than used-petrol cars, the gap is narrowing, from 30% in 2022 to just 10.7% in the second half of 2024.
Demand for used EVs on DoneDeal is also up 29% in the past year.
Other data shows that used car imports increased by 21% last year to over 60,000. However, this is 46% below 2019 levels of 113,000.
And a significant change has happened in the source of the imports, with 75% of imports now coming from non-UK sources, a stark contrast to 2019, when 95% of all imports were UK-sourced vehicles.
DoneDeal noted that demand for used cars on its website declined by 15% in the second half of last year when compared to the first half.
However, the last quarter of 2024 saw a rebound, with demand rising 20% year-on-year when compared to Q4 of 2023.
The supply of used cars on the platform also grew by 4% across 2024.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Protection watchdog has called on the Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to “deliver better and easier access to information for buyers of used cars”.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has warned that consumers in Ireland have to “rely on the honesty of sellers of used cars to tell them about the condition of that vehicle”.
However, this can expose consumers to misleading practices, as well as deceptive or ill-informed private sellers.
The CCPC warned that consumers aren’t able to check if what they are being told by the seller is true due to a lack of access to verifiable information.
Last year, the CCPC received 3,192 contacts to its national consumer helpline concerning issues related to second-hand cars.
These related to a range of issues including clocked cars, previously crashed cars, excessive repair/resolution times, and recurring faults after repair.
Other consumers reported issues with misleading advertising and mis-selling.
The CCPC also noted that Ireland compares poorly with countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as many European countries, in providing online access for consumers to information about the history and condition of used cars.
It said that consumers should be “armed with the information they need when buying a used car to help them avoid being misled into making a purchase they would not otherwise have made”.
It has called on O’Brien to establish a “one-stop shop portal for free access to vital information on the history of used cars”.
This would include information such as if the car has been in a crash, the car’s verified mileage, if there has been a safety recall on the car, and if the car was imported into Ireland.
The CCPC said that allowing consumers to more easily access this information would help limit the number of dangerous, clocked, or poorly repaired cars on Irish roads, as well as helping consumers to avoid being at a loss.
The CCPC stated that while much of this information is already gathered by the State, it is “either inaccessible or available only for a fee from commercial car history providers”.
“Action is urgently required to enhance and extend the delivery of information on used cars by the State to help consumers to avoid being misled, by both traders and private sellers,” said the CCPC.
While the CCPC stated that it has a “strong record of acting against traders who fail to share important information or who give false details about a car”, it added that an online system would ensure fewer people are misled.
However, when a car is purchased from a private seller, these sales are not covered by consumer protection laws and that CCPC cannot take action if someone is misled.
Brian McHugh, Chair of the CCPC, called on the State to close the knowledge gap for consumers.
“CCPC officers carry out regular investigations, inspections and enforcement action, but arming consumers with information is the most efficient and cost-effective way to help safeguard every second-hand car sale in the country,” said McHugh.
“Sharing car history with buyers will protect all road users, helping to keep dangerous cars off Irish roads.
“It is in the public interest to have an open, free and accessible State database of essential car history information.
“Much of this information is already collected by the State. Some of that is made available to traders and car history providers, but not directly to consumers.
“We also know that information available from car history providers can be incomplete. Consumers deserve better.”
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This is another Iranian-backed militia attack, after the attack that milled the American contractor a couple of days ago. Here’s footage of US bombing of the first retaliation over the contractors death:
The US argues that they have a legal right to be in Syria, as Syria was not able to counter ISIS and the genocide they perpetrated against Yazidis. There are some ISIS still operating in the region, the US conducted several raids on ISIS cells the last few months, but the main reason is the oil and gas fields, that the US is sitting on, that and the embargo is crippling Syria’s economy.
That said, it is easy to argue for US withdrawal, but that would be complicated as they support the Kurds, who have established a peaceful Secular multiethnic democracy in the region the US controls, Rojava. The Kurds are not enemies of the Syrian government, they share joint control of the city of Qamishli, for example. The Kurds / US also have 60,000 ISIS, mostly women and children and a few thousand prisoners at Al-Hawl camp.
The Turks conducted three wars against the Kurds so far, as Turkey believes the Syria Kurds are = PKK. Turkey ethnically cleansed several the northern Syria regions of Kurds, e.g. Operation Olive Branch established, in effect, Islamic caliphate that’s enforced by Turkish backed anti-government FSA militias. The last war, Operation Peace Spring, saw Turkish army and FSA militias ethnically cleanse the northern border of Syria of Kurds. That was halted by Russia who established observations posts, and pro-government militias.
@David Jordan: Another excellent informative post. You’re wasted here.
@David Jordan: The US has no right to be in Syria – there may be a US argument but there is no legal argument. Syria has a right to choose its allies and if that ally is Iran then so be it – at least, Iran is part of the middle east and has legitimate interests there. The US has no such legitimate interests in the region.
Israel regularly bombs Syria – imagine what would happen if Syria retaliated against Israel every time it was attacked.
@David Jordan: you know so much so quickly, some wonder how and where it’s originating. But most know exactly why you have a cock for a face
@David Jordan: such deep analysis is wasted on your average journal commentator as they just want an opportunity to jump in with anti USA & Israel statements and never mind this analysis crack.
@Thomas Sheridan: Looks like you can’t help yourself from insulting anyone who does not agree with you. And, if “the average Journal commentator” holds anti-American or anti-Israeli views you might consider that they have just cause.
@Declan McKenna: I’m not auguring in favour of the continued presence of the US in north eastern Syria, I mainly want to point out that a US withdrawal is not as simple as people imagine.
The area still has an ISIS insurgency, the US / Kurds have 60,000 ISIS in Al-Hawl camp and a US withdrawal will likely result in yet another Turkish led invasion and round of ethnic cleansing, the replacement of Syrian Kurds and Christians (Christians are more numerous in NE Syria) with Sunni Arabs refugees that Turkey is trying to send back to Syria.
See: “Why Erdogan wants to remake northeast Syria’s demographics”
Rojava is currently peaceful, secular, inhabited by a coalition of Kurds, Christians and moderate Arabs, they are not enemies of the Syrian government. They are more of a parallel administration, that mostly ignores each other, sometimes cooperates.
I am well aware of the fact that the US does not really care about the Kurds and their nascent democracy and their presence is not legal (the argument that they are there to fights ISIS had worn thin).
The US’ main aim is to destroy the economy of Syria though sitting on their oil / gas fields while imposting a crippling blockade on Syrian ports, that Iran, so far, has been able to break through by seizing ships in the Gulf.
The continued existence of Rojava, for the time being, is a mere side effect of US policy against Syria.
I am only pointing out if the US withdrew and Syria got its oil fields back, Turkey would go to war against the Kurds again, ISIS would escape Al-Hawl as YPG fighters leave to fight Turkey and their rabble of Jihadist fighters. It would be sad to see.
One of the scenes I recall seeing in 2016, which illustrates what Rojava is like (secular) and what replaced it, was the scenes of Turkish backed rebels smashing up bars and off licences, they allowed alcohol.
See: “We’ve spoken to a Syrian rebel fighter filmed destroying an alcohol shop in the village of Bulbul during Turkey’s Afrin offensive. In his own words: “We do not accept [alcohol]. It would destroy the morals of young children.”
Video: https://twitter.com/dlshadothman/status/959436997206175744
Most people don’t understand the complexities of Syria, think it just US backed rebels v the Russia supported government, it’s far more complicated than a bad Game of Thrones episode. It annoys me to read people suggesting simple solutions to complicated problems.
If the US withdrew I’d feel sad and resigned to something that I feel is inevitable. This situation is not going to last forever. The Kurdish saying is apt:
“No friends but the mountains”
A Kurdish proverb which is expressed their feeling of betrayal, abandonment and loneliness due to their history as a semi-stateless ethnic minority in the Middle East without faithful allies.
@David Jordan: correction:
” and their presence is now legal “
@087mail: “Remind us again why america is there”
The US aim is to cripple the economy of Syria by sitting on their oil and gas fields while imposing a blockade of their ports. They achieved this with relatively little cost to themselves, there’s for example, only c. 500 – 600 US troops in eastern Syria, they control c. 42,000 km2 (about half the area of Ireland) and one of the largest gas fields on the planet (Conoco gas field).
U.S.-backed forces capture big gas field in Syria’s Deir al-Zor: senior commander – https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-deir-zor-idUSKCN1BY0H6
@David Jordan: You are correct that it is a complex situation. However, the position abound the US occupation is simple: The US should not be there and there is no reason why it should not leave immediately. The only interests the US ever serve (at least, they are honest about this) is their own interests. This has been proven time and time again. Syria must be allowed to find the means to resolve problems in its own country under its own terms or in conjunction with other parties who are not hostile. The deliberate economic damage being inflicted on the Syrian people by the US is intolerable and must be condemned without reservation.
@Declan McKenna: the sanctions are not against Syrian people, but against the regime that will use the funds to kill more of its own people- aided by the Russian government and mercenary soldiers plus the usual Iranian rabble that are everywhere in the region that is at war. Your answer to everything is have US leave and everything will be rosy. Bless your simple little heart.
@Thomas Sheridan: You still feel the need to insult anyone who does not agree with you. Clearly, you know nothing about how the sanctions are impacting the lives of the Syrian people. Nor, I suspect, do you want to know.
So much for the “sovereignty” the US boasts of, by which it ensures the continuing slaughter of Ukrainians. But sovereignty only applies when it suits the US. The 70,000 barrels of oil per day, stolen from Syria is above all that.
U.S = Terrorist State. Simples
Why do the US get involved everywhere?? Back off they intimate others countries and then feck off!!
Mess with uncle Sam, get erased, it’s that simple.
@Aidy McBride: Uncle Sam is an ally of Saudi Arabia who were heavily involved in financing and enabling IS. The US has the blood of countless Syrians on their grubby oil stained paws.
@Pádraig Ó hAirtnéada: the Assads regime has been massacring their own civilians for the last 50 years
@Rian Lynch: yeah, and Saddam had WMD.
@Dinny Harkin: he didnt, but you need to educate yourself about the Assad family theyre very much in the same mould as Saddam
@Dinny Harkin: was it you or some other commenter that claimed that the US knew about Saddam’s WMDs because the US had supplied them to Saddam in the first place when Iran was Iraq and the US’s common enemy ?
have your say