Volkswagen Group Ireland has announced record-breaking sales for 2025. Despite a challenging economic environment, the Group delivered a historic year with 40,950 vehicle registrations across its six brands – Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, CUPRA, SEAT, Škoda, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Ireland’s leading automotive group secured a 29 per cent share of the overall new car market and accounted for more than one in four electric vehicles sold. Volkswagen’s ID.4, Ireland’s best-selling EV of all time, topped the sales charts for a fifth consecutive year with registrations up 35% in the past 12 months, consolidating Volkswagen’s position as Ireland’s BEV leader.
Elsewhere, it was a strong year for Volkswagen Group’s other brands:
- Škoda achieved record sales for the third year in a row, aided in part by a 300% surge in BEV registrations
- Audi increased its BEV and PHEV share to 40% of the order bank for 2026 and is gearing up for its F1 debut in 2026
- CUPRA continued its Irish success story, with registrations up 55% in 2025 and average year-on-year growth of 43 per cent since coming to Ireland
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles registrations rose 39%, helping it achieve second place overall in light commercial vehicle sales.
Globally, Volkswagen Group sold nearly nine million vehicles in 2025, demonstrating the Group’s resilience and scale in challenging times. In Europe, the Group achieved a new high of 25% market share, highlighting strong brand momentum.
“Despite a backdrop of intense competition, 2025 was an exceptional year, everything we do has been built on trust, built for Ireland,” says Pierre Boutin, CEO & Group Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Ireland. “Our record sales reflect the strength of our products, the commitment of our dealer network, and the trust customers have in our brands.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Volkswagen Group will launch 20 new models spanning all brands, powertrains, and segments – reinforcing the Group’s leadership in innovation, sustainability, and customer choice.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- CUPRA Raval, the first model in the Group’s Urban EV family, arriving in September
- Volkswagen’s 325PS Golf GTI Edition 50, all-new T-Roc, Passat, ID.Polo and ID.Cross Concept
- Škoda BEVs, the Epiq, and seven seat Peaq SUV plus a heavily updated plug-in hybrid Superb
- Audi’s product offensive continues, starting with the blistering RS5 sports sedan & avant
- The debut of the all-electric e-Caravelle from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
2026 marks Audi’s debut in the Formula One World Championship. Last week in Berlin, the brand unveiled the R26 race car. It is powered by a 400 kW 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine that runs on sustainable fuel supplemented by a 350kW electric motor. Drivers Gabriel Bortoleto (Brazil) and Nico Hülkenberg (Germany) will power the Audi Revolut F1 team on to the grid for its Grand Prix debut in Melbourne, Australia on March 8th.
BEV LEADERSHIP AND A CUSTOMER-FIRST APPROACH
While Volkswagen led the way in battery electric vehicles, it also strengthened consumer confidence by proactively supporting drivers on their journey toward an electric future. The brand’s new ID. Promise initiative marks a bold leap forward, giving Irish customers up to 100 days of freedom* to discover the thrill of going electric with total confidence. By empowering motorists to ‘drive and decide’ across the full ID. range, Volkswagen is removing any doubt and igniting a new wave of excitement on the road to an electric future.
Skoda achieved a 300% uptick in BEV sales thanks to the addition of the new Elroq and facelifted Enyaq in the second half of 2025. This momentum is expected to continue in 2026 with the addition of the all-new Epiq, the second member of Volkswagen Group’s Urban EV family, and the seven-seat Peaq SUV towards the end of the year.
Audi is increasing its electrified model sales with BEV and PHEV models now making up 40% of its order bank going into 2026 (up 100% on 2025 actuals). Over the next 12 months, the updated Q4 e-tron, the all new Q7 and Q9 will provide even more choice for customers looking to go electric. At the end of the year Audi will launch an entry-level, fully electric crossover.
In September, CUPRA will bring the game-changing Raval to Irish shores. The first of Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ platform compact urban EVs will have its world premiere in March. In a significant commitment to its Spanish operations, all of Volkswagen’s Urban EVs will be made in Martorell near Barcelona.
In Europe, its BEV sales grew 66%, to a market-leading share of approximately 27%. Five Group models ranked among Europe’s top 10 best-selling BEVs last year. Globally, Volkswagen Group strengthened its leadership position in electrification during 2025.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were in demand in 2025. In Europe, PHEV sales were up 72% while globally the Group delivered 428,000 PHEVs. This strong performance is expected to continue over the next 12 months.
GLOBAL MOMENTUM SPURRED BY TECHNOLOGY, AI AND SOFTWARE LEADERSHIP
Volkswagen Group is pursuing its ambition to become the global automotive technology driver. Software-defined vehicles are the next step in the evolution of the car. Artificial intelligence is central to this strategy. The Group plans to invest up to €1 billion in AI by the end of the decade, aiming to make processes faster, better, and more efficient.
Volkswagen Group is moving forward with a customer-centric, software-first philosophy with systems designed to simplify, rather than complicate the user experience. In-house development by CARIAD coupled with strategic partnerships with Rivian in Western markets and XPENG in China, are enabling faster innovation and scalable platforms.
“Rather than technology for the sake of technology, we need solutions that make life easier,” says Boutin “Our cars are rapidly becoming software-defined vehicles, inspiring digital experiences on four wheels that put customers at the centre of every decision.”
IN POSITION TO BECOME EUROPE’S BATTERY POWERHOUSE
In 2026, Volkswagen Group will achieve a major milestone in battery technology as the first European carmaker to establish its own battery cell development and production at scale. Volkswagen Group subsidiary PowerCo is positioned as Europe’s leader in battery technology, strengthening the Group’s technological sovereignty, supply security, and long-term competitiveness.
The Unified Cell Battery, produced at Salzgitter, Germany, provides a competitive global technology platform, offering scale, cost efficiency, speed, and flexibility in an otherwise Asian-dominated market. By ramping up cell factories in Salzgitter and Valencia, Volkswagen Group is establishing critical infrastructure for the European battery industry.
“We are entering 2026 with great momentum,” says Boutin, “We have combined record-breaking sales, technology leadership, software-first innovation, and electrification to lay the foundations for a sustainable, future-proof business. With our new vehicles, batteries, and AI-enabled processes, the best is yet to come for our customers and our brands. We have built on trust, built for Ireland.”
*ID.Promise terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Full T&Cs to follow on volkswagen.ie
