Ireland’s new car market continued to grow in August, with new registrations increasing by 3 per cent compared with the same month last year, while demand for fully electric cars maintained its strong upward trajectory. Figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry show that 7,811 new cars were registered during August, up from 7,581 in August 2025. The latest figures bring total new car registrations for the year to date to 121,979, an increase of 5 per cent on the 116,068 cars registered during the same period last year.
Battery electric vehicles continued to be one of the strongest areas of the Irish market. A total of 2,265 new electric cars were registered during August, representing an increase of 7 per cent compared with the 2,115 registered in August 2025. The year to date figures paint an even stronger picture for the transition to electric. Some 32,079 new battery electric cars have now been registered in Ireland during 2026, up 55 per cent from 20,642 during the corresponding period in 2025.
That growth has pushed battery electric vehicles into the leading position when it comes to new car market share. BEVs now account for 26.3 per cent of the market, ahead of petrol hybrids at 24.14 per cent. Traditional petrol models account for 20.09 per cent, plug in hybrids hold 14.85 per cent and diesel has fallen to 12.56 per cent. Elsewhere in the market, light commercial vehicle registrations fell by 10 per cent during August to 2,382 units, although the sector remains 7 per cent ahead year to date with 29,604 registrations. Heavy goods vehicle registrations increased by 9 per cent during the month to 223 units, but remain 1 per cent lower across the year to date at 2,205.
The used import market also continues to grow significantly. A total of 8,093 used imported cars were registered during August, a substantial 36 per cent increase on the 5,963 recorded in August last year. Used imports are now up 37 per cent year to date, reaching 63,815 vehicles compared with 46,661 during the same period in 2025. Commenting on the figures, SIMI Director General Brian Cooke said the move towards electric vehicles was becoming increasingly clear and called on the Government to use Budget 2027 to maintain the momentum already established.
Cooke highlighted the importance of retaining existing supports including the SEAI electric vehicle grant, VRT relief and the zero per cent Benefit in Kind threshold. SIMI believes these measures remain important in maintaining consumer confidence as the electric vehicle market continues to develop. The organisation is also calling for further measures including targeted scrappage incentives, continued investment in high powered public charging infrastructure and additional focus on encouraging businesses to transition their fleets to electric vehicles. With BEV registrations now 55 per cent ahead of last year and electric cars accounting for more than a quarter of the new car market, SIMI believes Budget 2027 represents an opportunity for the Government to build on that momentum rather than begin withdrawing supports.
“Now is the time to invest in incentives to drive change,” Cooke concluded.
