New data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry indicates a sharp rise in electric vehicle sales at the start of the year, with January recording the highest number of new electric car registrations on record.
A total of 7,319 new electric cars were registered during the month, representing an increase of 48.7% compared with January last year. Electric vehicles accounted for close to two thirds of all new car sales, while the combined share of petrol and diesel vehicles fell to 33%.
Hybrid electric vehicles emerged as the most popular engine type for the first time, becoming the leading choice among new car buyers. This shift reflects a broader trend towards battery supported vehicles across the Irish market.
Overall new car registrations rose by 3.3% year on year, increasing to 34,604 units from 33,499 in January of the previous year. The commercial vehicle sector also recorded mixed results. Light commercial vehicle registrations increased by 21.6% to 7,579 units, while heavy goods vehicle registrations declined by 16.6% compared with last year.
Imported used cars experienced a notable rise, with registrations increasing by 43.5% to 8,041 units, up from 5,604 in January 2024.
The Toyota Yaris Cross was the best selling new car model in January, while the Volkswagen ID.4 topped the list for new electric vehicles. The leading car brands for the month were Toyota, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Skoda, Kia, Peugeot, Ford, Audi, Dacia and Renault.
The most popular new car models included the Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Kona, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen Tiguan. Among electric vehicles, the strongest performers were the Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Inster, Kia EV3, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Ioniq, Toyota BZ4X, BYD Sealion7, Skoda Elroq, MG MGS5 and Ford Explorer.
Grey, black and blue were the most popular car colours chosen by buyers during the month.
SIMI noted that battery technology vehicles, including battery electric, plug in hybrid and hybrid electric models, showed strong momentum entering the year. More than one in five new cars registered in January were fully electric, with private buyers accounting for three quarters of these sales. Continued government incentives, increasing model availability and a wider range of price points have supported consumer uptake. Industry representatives have highlighted that ongoing investment in charging infrastructure and sustained policy support will remain central to maintaining growth in the electric vehicle market.
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