New car registrations: down 8.8% in May 2025; Battery Electric Vehicles up 5.3%

03/06/2025

Today, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) released their official 251 new vehicle registration statistics for May. 

New car registrations for May were down 8.8% (5,832) when compared to May 2024 (6,398). Registrations year to date are up 2.4% (79,301) on the same period last year (77,461).  

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) decreased by 1.6% (1,913) compared to May last year (1,944). Year to date LCVs are down 8.8% (17,795). Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) registrations are down 21.6% (207) in comparison to May 2024 (264). Year to date, HGVs are down 10.3% (1,521). 

Imported Used Cars have seen a 7.9% (5,949) rise in May 2025, when compared to May 2024 (5,513). Year to date imports are up 7.5% (28,184) on 2024 (26,206). 

In May 1,092 new electric cars were registered, which was 5.3% higher than the 1,037 registrations in May 2024. So far this year, 12,392 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 23.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024 when 10,052 electric cars were registered. 

In the new car market share by engine type for 2025, Petrol cars remain the new car market leader at 27.60%, followed by Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 23.09%, Diesel at 17.42%, Electric at 15.63%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid at 14.64%. 

Brian Cooke Director General SIMI

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commented:

“New car registrations in May saw a 9% decline when compared to the same month last year, although year-to-date sales remain ahead of last year, with a total of 79,301 new cars registered, up over 2%. For the fifth consecutive month, new electric vehicle sales have increased, with EV registrations 5% ahead of May last year, with over 12,300 new electric cars sold so far this year, representing a 23% increase on last year. Private consumers continue to account for the majority of EV sales. While we are now on schedule to reach the interim Climate Action Plan target of 175,000 electric cars (EV & PHEV) by the end of this year, as highlighted by the EPA recently, we need to do more to accelerate the growth in EV sales between now and the end of the decade. In this context, Government initiatives and supports will be vital. The Commercial vehicle sector experienced a decline in May, with the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market down nearly 2% in May and 9% year to date. Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 22% in May and 10% year to date. Overall commercial vehicle sales are a concern, reflecting the uncertain business environment at present, with many companies deferring investment decisions.”

2025 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2025) 79,301 v (2024) 77,461 +2.4% 
• New Car sales total May (2025) 5,832 v (2024) 6,398 -8.8%  
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2025) 17,795 v (2024) 19,508 -8.8% 
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total May (2025) 1,913 v (2024) 1,944 -1.6% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2025) 1,521 v (2024) 1,694 -10.3% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales May (2025) 207 v (2024) 264 -21.6% 
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2025) 259 v (2024) 424 -38.9% 
• New Buses/ Coaches total sales May (2025) 65 v (2024) 104 -37.5% 
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2025) 28,184 v (2024) 26,206 +7.5% 
• Used Car Imports total May (2025) 5,949 v (2024) 5,513 +7.9% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2025) 12,392 v (2024) 10,052 +23.3% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total May (2025) 1,092 v (2024) 1,037 +5.3% 
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2025 were: 1.TOYOTA, 2.VOLKSWAGEN, 3.HYUNDAI, 4.SKODA, 5.KIA 
• 5 Top New Car Models 2025 were: 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 2. TOYOTA RAV 4, 3. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 4. KIA SPORTAGE, 5. SKODA OCTAVIA 
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2025: 1. VOLKSWAGEN, 2. KIA, 3. HYUNDAI, 4. TESLA, 5. BYD  
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Models 2025: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. KIA EV3, 3. TESLA MODEL 3, 4. KIA EV6, 5. HYUNDAI KONA 
• Top Selling New Car (May) 2025: VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 
• Top Selling New Electric Car (May) 2025: HYUNDAI INSTER 
• Market share by engine type 2025: Petrol 27.60%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 23.09%, Diesel 17.42%, Electric 15.63%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 14.64% 
• Tables below show total new car registrations by county 2025 and total new electric car registrations by county 2025. 

New Car Registrations by County 2025 (January-May)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

891

754

18.17

1.12

0.97

Cavan

797

804

-0.87

1.01

1.04

Clare

1670

1577

5.9

2.11

2.04

Cork

9019

8612

4.73

11.37

11.12

Donegal

1754

1699

3.24

2.21

2.19

Dublin

34082

34340

-0.75

42.98

44.33

Galway

3272

2966

10.32

4.13

3.83

Kerry

1608

1595

0.82

2.03

2.06

Kildare

3496

3360

4.05

4.41

4.34

Kilkenny

1279

1312

-2.52

1.61

1.69

Laois

1043

929

12.27

1.32

1.2

Leitrim

306

318

-3.77

0.39

0.41

Limerick

2590

2461

5.24

3.27

3.18

Longford

353

360

-1.94

0.45

0.46

Louth

1794

1695

5.84

2.26

2.19

Mayo

1358

1279

6.18

1.71

1.65

Meath

2655

2487

6.76

3.35

3.21

Monaghan

634

626

1.28

0.8

0.81

Offaly

872

819

6.47

1.1

1.06

Roscommon

711

730

-2.6

0.9

0.94

Sligo

740

745

-0.67

0.93

0.96

Tipperary

1996

1849

7.95

2.52

2.39

Waterford

1661

1601

3.75

2.09

2.07

Westmeath

1073

1053

1.9

1.35

1.36

Wexford

1872

1839

1.79

2.36

2.37

Wicklow

1775

1651

7.51

2.24

2.13

New Electric Car Registrations by County (January-May)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

113

77

46.75

0.91

0.77

Cavan

75

46

63.04

0.61

0.46

Clare

206

139

48.2

1.66

1.38

Cork

1190

939

26.73

9.6

9.34

Donegal

188

129

45.74

1.52

1.28

Dublin

5885

5111

15.14

47.49

50.85

Galway

403

301

33.89

3.25

2.99

Kerry

221

126

75.4

1.78

1.25

Kildare

765

569

34.45

6.17

5.66

Kilkenny

162

141

14.89

1.31

1.4

Laois

163

116

40.52

1.32

1.15

Leitrim

23

26

-11.54

0.19

0.26

Limerick

333

246

35.37

2.69

2.45

Longford

32

31

3.23

0.26

0.31

Louth

294

214

37.38

2.37

2.13

Mayo

127

88

44.32

1.02

0.88

Meath

523

407

28.5

4.22

4.05

Monaghan

72

38

89.47

0.58

0.38

Offaly

92

65

41.54

0.74

0.65

Roscommon

58

59

-1.69

0.47

0.59

Sligo

100

68

47.06

0.81

0.68

Tipperary

257

124

107.26

2.07

1.23

Waterford

247

236

4.66

1.99

2.35

Westmeath

168

108

55.56

1.36

1.07

Wexford

302

283

6.71

2.44

2.82

Wicklow

393

365

7.67

3.17

3.63

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