New car registrations: increased 4% in Q1 2025; battery electric increased 29%

01/04/2025

Today, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) released their official 251 new vehicle registration statistics for March. 
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New car registrations for March were up 18.4% (17,345) when compared to March 2024 (14,644). Registrations year to date are up 4% (64,824) on the same period last year (62,498).  

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) declined by 10.2% (3,940) compared to March last year (4,388). Year to date LCVs are down 13% (13,352). HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles) registrations are down 21.2% (275) in comparison to March 2024 (349). Year to date HGVs are down 6% (1,037). 

Imported Used Cars have seen a 11% (5,790) rise in March 2025, when compared to March 2024 (5,217). Year to date imports are up 9.7% (16,991) on 2024 (15,488). 

In March 2,544 new electric cars were registered, which was 29% higher than the 1,980 registrations in March 2024. So far this year, 9,978 new electric cars have been registered representing a 25.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024 when 7,929 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 27.85%, followed by Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 24.28%, Diesel at 16.73%, Electric at 15.39%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid at 14.14%.

Brian Cooke Director General SIMI

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commented:

“Buoyed by a strong performance in March, the first quarter of the year has seen new car registrations increase by 4% when compared to Q1 2024. Electric Vehicle sales have rebounded since the start of the year growing by 29% in March, to a total of 2,544 units, while year to date they stand at 9,978 units, capturing 15% of the market. In addition to the positive news on EVs, the market performance has been driven by an increase in the sales of hybrid cars, which when combined with EVs account for 55% of the market. On the other hand, Light Commercial Vehicle registrations have seen another month of decline with a 13% decrease in LCV sales this quarter and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 6% year to date. This decline in commercial registrations highlights the current uncertain economic climate.” 

 2025 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2025) 64,824 v (2024) 62,498 +4% 
• New Car sales total March (2025) 17,345 v (2024) 14,644 +18.4%  
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2025) 13,352 v (2024) 15,337 -13% 
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total March (2025) 3,940 v (2024) 4,388 -10.2% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2025) 1,037 v (2024) 1,104 -6% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales March (2025) 275 v (2024) 349 -21.2% 
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2025) 144 v (2024) 222 -35.1% 
• New Buses/ Coaches total sales March (2025) 58 v (2024) 34 +41.4% 
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2025) 16,991 v (2024) 15,488 +9.7% 
• Used Car Imports total March (2025) 5,790 v (2024) 5,217 +11.0% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2025) 9,978 v (2024) 7,929 +25.8% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total March (2025) 2,544 v (2024) 1,980 +29% 
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2025 were: 1.TOYOTA, 2.VOLKSWAGEN, 3.HYUNDAI, 4.SKODA, 5.KIA 
• 5 Top New Car Model’s 2025 were: 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2.TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 3.TOYOTA RAV 4, 4. KIA SPORTAGE, 5. SKODA OCTAVIA 
• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2025: 1.  VOLKSWAGEN, 2.KIA, 3. HYUNDAI, 4. TESLA, 5. NISSAN 
• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicle Models (EVs) 2025: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2.TESLA MODEL 3, 3. KIA EV3, 4. KIA EV6, 5. HYUNDAI KONA 
• Top Selling New Car (March) 2025: TOYOTA RAV 4 
• Top Selling New Electric Car (March) 2025: VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 
• Market share by engine type 2025: Petrol 27.85%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 24.28%, Diesel 16.73%, Electric 15.39%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 14.14% 
• Tables below shows total new car registrations by county 2025 and total new electric car registrations by county 2025. 

New Car Registrations by County 2025

 (January-March)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

806

667

20.84

1.24

1.07

Cavan

675

704

-4.12

1.04

1.13

Clare

1409

1325

6.34

2.17

2.12

Cork

7606

7227

5.24

11.73

11.56

Donegal

1475

1436

2.72

2.28

2.3

Dublin

26566

26027

2.07

40.98

41.64

Galway

2733

2479

10.25

4.22

3.97

Kerry

1376

1378

-0.15

2.12

2.2

Kildare

2883

2818

2.31

4.45

4.51

Kilkenny

1109

1139

-2.63

1.71

1.82

Laois

865

793

9.08

1.33

1.27

Leitrim

264

267

-1.12

0.41

0.43

Limerick

2160

2052

5.26

3.33

3.28

Longford

294

318

-7.55

0.45

0.51

Louth

1522

1446

5.26

2.35

2.31

Mayo

1163

1089

6.8

1.79

1.74

Meath

2242

2074

8.1

3.46

3.32

Monaghan

537

522

2.87

0.83

0.84

Offaly

762

711

7.17

1.18

1.14

Roscommon

588

617

-4.7

0.91

0.99

Sligo

629

635

-0.94

0.97

1.02

Tipperary

1718

1579

8.8

2.65

2.53

Waterford

1404

1380

1.74

2.17

2.21

Westmeath

918

903

1.66

1.42

1.44

Wexford

1633

1525

7.08

2.52

2.44

Wicklow

1487

1387

7.21

2.29

2.22

New Electric Car Registrations by County 2025 (January-March)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

97

65

49.23

0.97

0.82

Cavan

57

38

50

0.57

0.48

Clare

160

113

41.59

1.6

1.43

Cork

974

801

21.6

9.76

10.1

Donegal

144

109

32.11

1.44

1.37

Dublin

4666

3869

20.6

46.76

48.8

Galway

323

253

27.67

3.24

3.19

Kerry

182

110

65.45

1.82

1.39

Kildare

610

456

33.77

6.11

5.75

Kilkenny

127

114

11.4

1.27

1.44

Laois

135

95

42.11

1.35

1.2

Leitrim

22

22

0

0.22

0.28

Limerick

276

182

51.65

2.77

2.3

Longford

27

27

0

0.27

0.34

Louth

245

174

40.8

2.46

2.19

Mayo

111

76

46.05

1.11

0.96

Meath

435

332

31.02

4.36

4.19

Monaghan

59

37

59.46

0.59

0.47

Offaly

82

44

86.36

0.82

0.55

Roscommon

45

46

-2.17

0.45

0.58

Sligo

84

59

42.37

0.84

0.74

Tipperary

218

101

115.84

2.18

1.27

Waterford

203

196

3.57

2.03

2.47

Westmeath

137

87

57.47

1.37

1.1

Wexford

249

224

11.16

2.5

2.83

Wicklow

310

299

3.68

3.11

3.77

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