Electric vehicle registrations for July help exceed Ireland’s interim Climate Action Plan Target

New car registrations for July 2025 were up 4.3% (26,787) when compared to July 2024 (25,676), with registrations year to date up 3.7% (108,531) on the same period last year (104,655).

This is according to the official 252 new vehicle registration statistics for July, released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). 12,534 units were registered from January to July in Cork and increase of just under 6% on the 2024 figure. 1,837 of these were electric vehicles, up from 1,299 in the period during 2024.

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 22.8% (6,133) compared to July last year (4,995). Year to date LCVs are down 0.9% (24,945). Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) registrations are down 18.8% (380) compared to July 2024 (468). Year to date, HGVs are down 11.3% (2,028).

Imported used cars have seen a 16.8% (6,803) rise in July 2025, when compared to July 2024 (5,825). Year to date imports are up 9.4% (40,698) on 2024 (37,195).

In July 4,913 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was 57% higher than the 3,129 registrations in July 2024. So far this year, 18,542 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 33.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 13,866 electric cars were registered. 504 of these were in Limerick, 383 in Tipperary and 376 in Waterford.

In the new car market share by engine type for 2025, petrol cars continue as the new car market leader at 26.90%, followed by hybrid (petrol electric) at 22.72%, diesel at 17.13%, electric at 17.08%, and plug-in electric hybrid at 14.71%.

The 5 top selling new car brands were: 1. Toyota, 2. Volkswagen, 3.Hyundai, 4. Skoda and 5. Kia. While the 5 top new car models were: 1. Hyundai Tucson, 2. Toyota Yaris Cross, 3. Skoda Octavia, 4. Toyota Rav 4 and 5. Kia Sportage.

ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commented on the significant of the uplift in electric vehicle sales.

“New battery-electric car registrations increased by 57% when compared to July 2024, with 4,913 units sold, while year to date they have reached 18,542, a 34% increase on the same period last year, and are now back to 2023 levels. Notably, this means that we have surpassed the 175,000 EV target (BEV & PHEV combined) for 2025 contained in the Government’s Climate Action Plan. This important landmark on the road to electrification could not have been achieved without the significant levels of Government incentives.

“If we want to continue this momentum, these supports must be maintained and extended well beyond the end of this year,” he said.

“Light Commercial Vehicle sales, which had been disappointing during Q1, have bounced back since then, with the July LCV market up 23% on last year, and are now less than 1% behind 2024 year to date. Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 19% in July and down 11% year to date. The mixed results and market fluctuations in the commercial sector reflect the current economic and political uncertainty.”