EV demand drives up new car registrations in April – SIMI

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released its official 261 new vehicle registration statistics for April.

New car registrations for April were up 17 per cent (10,184) compared to April 2025 (8,707). Registrations year to date are up 2.1 per cent (75,074) on the same period last year (73,491).

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) decreased by three per cent (2,450) compared to April last year (2,525). Year to date LCVs are up 14.2 per cent (18,101).

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 20.5 per cent (221) in comparison to April 2025 (278). Year to date, HGVs are down 9.5 per cent (1,191).

Imported used cars have seen a 43.1 per cent (7,510) rise in April 2026, when compared to April 2025 (5,248). Year to date imports are up 40.1 per cent (31,154) on 2025 (22,235).

In April, 2,779 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was 109.7 per cent higher than the 1,335 registrations in April 2025.

So far this year, 16,779 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 48.5 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 11,299 electric cars were registered.

In the new car market share by engine type, hybrid (petrol electric) leads at 26.67 per cent as the most popular engine type, followed by electric 22.35 per cent, petrol 21.25 per cent, plug-in hybrid 14.41 per cent, and diesel 12.96 per cent.

Top 5 selling new car brands 2026
Toyota; Volkswagen; Skoda; Hyundai; Kia

Top 5 selling new car models 2026
Toyota Yaris Cross; Hyundai Tucson; Kia Sportage; Skoda Kodiaq; Toyota Corolla

Top 5 selling new electric cars 2026
VW ID.4; Kia EV3; Hyundai Inster; Skoda Enyaq; Skoda Elroq

Top 5 selling new EV brands 2026
Hyundai; VW; Kia; BYD; Skoda

Top selling new car for April
Toyota RAV4

Top selling new EV for April
Skoda Enyaq