New car registrations: decrease 15% in February 2025; battery electric increased +36%

04/03/2025

Today, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) released their official 251 new vehicle registration statistics for February.

New car registrations for February were down 15% (14,012) when compared to February 2024 (16,432) (which had an extra day of trading). Registrations year to date are also down 0.8% (47,483) on the same period last year (47,850).

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) declined by 8% (3,201) compared to February last year (3,486). Year to date LCVs are down 13.5% (9,471). HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) registrations are down 3% (292) in comparison to February 2024 (301). Year to date HGVs are up 0.9% (762).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 13.2% (5,599) rise in February 2025, when compared to February 2024 (4,946). Year to date imports are up 9.1% (11,203) on 2024 (10,271).

In February 2,524 new electric cars were registered, which was 36% higher than the 1,856 registrations in February 2024. So far this year, 7,447 new electric cars have been registered representing a 25.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 when 5,949 electric cars were registered.

In the new car market share by engine type for 2025, Petrol cars continue to lead the new car market at 27.88%, followed by Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 23.76%, Diesel at 16.65%, Electric at 15.68%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid at 14.30%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commented:

“Following a strong start in January, new car registrations have seen some retraction in February, with registrations declining by 15%, while year to date registrations are now marginally behind last year. However, going against this trend has been electric vehicles, with an increase in EV sales of 36% in February to 2,524 units, with private consumers, who benefit from the SEAI Grant, contributing two thirds of EV sales this year. The importance of Government supports is key to maintaining this momentum, particularly with a greater range of EVs coming on stream. Commercial vehicle registrations have seen a decline, with LCV sales, which had been down in January, also down by 8% in February, and HGVs registrations down 3%.”

2025 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2025) 47,483 v (2024) 47,850 -0.8% 
• New Car sales total February (2025) 14,012 v (2024) 16,432 -15%  
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2025) 9,471 v (2024) 10,953 -13.5% 
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total February (2025) 3,201 v (2024) 3,486 -8.2% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2025) 762 v (2024) 755 +0.9% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales February (2025) 292 v (2024) 301 -3% 
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2025) 110 v (2024) 164 -32.9% 
• New Buses/ Coaches total sales February (2025) 34 v (2024) 91 -62.6% 
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2025) 11,203 v (2024) 10,271 +9.1% 
• Used Car Imports total February (2025) 5,599 v (2024) 4,946 +13.2% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2025) 7,447 v (2024) 5,949 +25.1% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total February (2025) 2,524 v (2024) 1,856 +36% 
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2025 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. HYUNDAI, 3.VOLKSWAGEN, 4.SKODA, 5.KIA 
• 5 Top New Car Model’s 2025 were: 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2.TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 3.TOYOTA RAV, 4.SKODA OCTAVIA, 5.KIA SPORTAGE 
• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2025: 1. KIA, 2.VOLKSWAGEN, 3.HYUNDAI, 4.TESLA, 5.NISSAN  
• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicle Models (EVs) 2025: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2.KIA EV3, 3.TESLA MODEL 3, 4. KIA EV6, 5. HYUNDAI KONA  
• Top Selling New Car (February) 2025: HYUNDAI TUCSON 
• Top Selling New Electric Car (February) 2025: TESLA MODEL 3  
• Market share by engine type 2025: Petrol 27.88%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 23.76%, Diesel 16.65%, Electric 15.68%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 14.30% 
• Tables below shows total new car registrations by county 2025 and total new Electric car registrations by county 2025. 

New Cars Registrations By County 2025

(January-February)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

622

556

11.87%

1.31%

1.16%

Cavan

524

566

-7.42%

1.10%

1.18%

Clare

1102

1022

7.83%

2.32%

2.14%

Cork

5841

5559

5.07%

12.30%

11.62%

Donegal

1142

1126

1.42%

2.41%

2.35%

Dublin

17825

18987

-6.12%

37.54%

39.68%

Galway

2066

1918

7.72%

4.35%

4.01%

Kerry

1083

1077

0.56%

2.28%

2.25%

Kildare

2284

2223

2.74%

4.81%

4.65%

Kilkenny

864

922

-6.29%

1.82%

1.93%

Laois

678

657

3.20%

1.43%

1.37%

Leitrim

214

209

2.39%

0.45%

0.44%

Limerick

1706

1621

5.24%

3.59%

3.39%

Longford

228

268

-14.93%

0.48%

0.56%

Louth

1165

1157

0.69%

2.45%

2.42%

Mayo

845

850

-0.59%

1.78%

1.78%

Meath

1710

1697

0.77%

3.60%

3.55%

Monaghan

419

425

-1.41%

0.88%

0.89%

Offaly

603

574

5.05%

1.27%

1.20%

Roscommon

454

481

-5.61%

0.96%

1.01%

Sligo

460

489

-5.93%

0.97%

1.02%

Tipperary

1372

1287

6.60%

2.89%

2.69%

Waterford

1101

1097

0.36%

2.32%

2.29%

Westmeath

718

709

1.27%

1.51%

1.48%

Wexford

1277

1247

2.41%

2.69%

2.61%

Wicklow

1180

1126

4.80%

2.49%

2.35%

New Electric Cars Registrations By County 2025

(January-February)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

80

45

77.78%

1.07%

0.76%

Cavan

45

28

60.71%

0.60%

0.47%

Clare

126

84

50.00%

1.69%

1.41%

Cork

711

619

14.86%

9.55%

10.41%

Donegal

114

92

23.91%

1.53%

1.55%

Dublin

3418

2836

20.52%

45.90%

47.67%

Galway

248

195

27.18%

3.33%

3.28%

Kerry

133

75

77.33%

1.79%

1.26%

Kildare

476

341

39.59%

6.39%

5.73%

Kilkenny

106

79

34.18%

1.42%

1.33%

Laois

99

81

22.22%

1.33%

1.36%

Leitrim

16

17

-5.88%

0.21%

0.29%

Limerick

212

144

47.22%

2.85%

2.42%

Longford

18

23

-21.74%

0.24%

0.39%

Louth

186

136

36.76%

2.50%

2.29%

Mayo

84

58

44.83%

1.13%

0.97%

Meath

320

261

22.61%

4.30%

4.39%

Monaghan

45

25

80.00%

0.60%

0.42%

Offaly

70

36

94.44%

0.94%

0.61%

Roscommon

30

30

0.00%

0.40%

0.50%

Sligo

65

50

30.00%

0.87%

0.84%

Tipperary

162

83

95.18%

2.18%

1.40%

Waterford

152

144

5.56%

2.04%

2.42%

Westmeath

104

71

46.48%

1.40%

1.19%

Wexford

193

174

10.92%

2.59%

2.92%

Wicklow

234

222

5.41%

3.14%

3.73%

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