Q1 new car sales up 4pc
New vehicle registration statistics from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that new car registrations for March were up 18.4 per cent (17,345) when compared to March 2024 (14,644).
Registrations year to date (Q1 2025) are up four per cent (64,824) on the same period last year (62,498).
Imported used cars have seen a 11 per cent (5,790) rise in March 2025, when compared to March 2024 (5,217). Year to date imports are up 9.7 per cent (16,991) on 2024 (15,488).
In March, 2,544 new electric cars were registered, which was 29 per cent 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 per cent 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 per cent, followed by hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 24.28 per cent, diesel at 16.73 per cent, electric at 15.39 per cent, and plug-in electric hybrid at 14.14 per cent.
2025 total new vehicle stats:
Top selling car brands:
1. Toyota; 2. Volkswagen; 3. Hyundai; 4. Skoda; 5. Kia
Top car models:
1. Hyundai Tucson; 2. Toyota Yaris Cross; 3. Toyota RAV4; 4. Kia Sportage; 5. Skoda Octavia.
Top 5 selling EV brands:
1.Volkswagen; 2. Kia; 3. Hyundai; 4. Tesla; 5. Nissan.
Top 5 selling EVs:
1. VW ID.4; 2. Tesla Model 3; 3. Kia EV3; 4. Kia EV6; 5. Hyundai Kona.
Top 5 selling van brands:
1. Ford; 2. Renault; 3. Volkswagen; 4. Opel; 5. Peugeot.
Top selling car (March):
Toyota Rav4
Top selling EV (March):
VW ID.4
Top selling van (March):
Renault Trafic
Elsewhere, light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales are down 10.2 per cent (3,940) compared to March last year (4,388). Year to date LCVs are down 13 per cent (13,352).
HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations fell by 21.2 per cent (275) in comparison to March 2024 (349). Year to date HGVs are down six per cent (1,037).