New car registrations up 4.2pc for first six months of the year
New car registrations for the first six months of 2026 are up 4.2 per cent (85,203) on the same period last year (81,749), according to the latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). Registrations for June were down 9.7 per cent (2,200) compared to June 2025 (2,436).
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 2.9 per cent (1,082) compared to June last year (1,052). Year to date LCVs are up 14.3 per cent (21,492). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations experienced a decrease of 25 per cent (96) in comparison to June 2025 (128). Year to date, HGVs are down 5.9 per cent (1,553).
Imported used cars have seen a 42.7 per cent (8,149) increase in June 2026, when compared to June 2025 (5,712). Year to date imports are up 39 per cent (47,109) on 2025 (33,895).
In June, 1,123 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was a 9.7 per cent decrease from the 1,244 registrations in June 2025. So far this year, 20,164 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 48 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 13,629 electric cars were registered.
In the new car market share by engine type, hybrid (petrol electric) continues to lead the market at 25.89 per cent as the most popular engine type, followed by electric 23.67 per cent, petrol 21.06 per cent, plug-in hybrid 14.21 per cent, and diesel 12.87 per cent.
Brian Cooke, SIMI director general, said: “Overall, the new car market outturn for the first half of the year was positive, with 85,203 new cars sold, an increase of four per cent on the first six months of last year. The clear trend in sales is the move towards Battery Electric and Hybrid Electric sales, which now account for nearly two-thirds of the market; only seven years ago petrol and diesel cars accounted for 88 per cent of registrations.
“This is a fundamental market development and is particularly underlined this year by the increase in BEV sales, which at 20,164 units represent a 24 per cent market share.
“Looking forward to the 262 July registration plate, we are expecting further growth in BEV sales. The extension of the SEAI purchase grants, backed up by generous offers from Distributors and Retailers, has now been further enhanced by the 2,000 customers availing of the Government’s BEV pilot scrappage scheme.”