New car registrations: down 9.7% in June 2026; Growth expected as July 262 sales begin

01/07/2026

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

New car registrations for June were down 9.7% (2,200) compared to June 2025 (2,436). Registrations year to date are up 4.2% (85,203) on the same period last year (81,749).

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 2.9% (1,082) compared to June last year (1,052). Year to date LCVs are up 14.3% (21,492). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations experienced a decrease of 25% (96) in comparison to June 2025 (128). Year to date, HGVs are down 5.9% (1,553).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 42.7% (8,149) increase in June 2026, when compared to June 2025 (5,712). Year to date imports are up 39% (47,109) on 2025 (33,895).

In June 1,123 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was a 9.7% decrease from the 1,244 registrations in June 2025. So far this year, 20,164 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 48.0% 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% as the most popular engine type, followed by Electric 23.67%, Petrol 21.06%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.21%, and Diesel 12.87%. 

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting: 

“Overall, the new car market outturn for the first half of the year was positive, with 85,203 new cars sold, an increase of 4% 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% 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% 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.”

2026 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2026) 85,203 v (2025) 81,749 +4.2% 
• New Car sales total June (2026) 2,200 v (2025) 2,436 -9.7%
• New Light Commercial Vehicle sales year to date (2026) 21,492 v (2025) 18,799 +14.3%
• New Light Commercial Vehicle sales total June (2026) 1,082 v (2025) 1,052 +2.85%
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2026) 1,553 v (2025) 1,651-5.94%
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales June (2026) 96 v (2025) 128 -25%
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2026) 383 v (2025) 275 +39.3%
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2026) 47,109 v (2025) 33,895 +39.0%
• Used Car Imports total June (2026) 8,149 v (2025) 5,712 +42.7%
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2026) 20,164 v (2025) 13,629 +48.0%
• New Electric Vehicle sales total June (2026) 1,123 v (2025) 1,244 -9.7%
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2026 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. SKODA, 4. HYUNDAI, 5. KIA
• 5 Top New Car Models 2026 were: 1. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 2. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 3. KIA SPORTAGE, 4. TOYOTA COROLLA, 5. SKODA KODIAQ
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2026: 1. VOLKSWAGEN, 2. HYUNDAI, 3. KIA, 4. TESLA, 5. SKODA
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Models 2026: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. TESLA MODEL 3, 3. TESLA MODEL Y, 4. SKODA ENYAQ, 5. SKODA ELROQ
• Top Selling New Car (June) 2026: TESLA MODEL 3
• Top Selling New Electric Car (June) 2026: TESLA MODEL 3
• Market share by engine type 2026: Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 25.89%, Electric 23.67%, Petrol 21.06%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.21%, Diesel 12.87%.  
• Tables below show total new car registrations by county for June 2026 and total new electric car registrations by county for June 2026.

New Car Registrations by County 2026

(January-June)

County

2026

2025

% Change

2026 Share

2025 Share

Carlow

892

906

-1.55

1.05

1.11

Cavan

895

808

10.77

1.05

0.99

Clare

1817

1710

6.26

2.13

2.09

Cork

10009

9251

8.19

11.75

11.32

Donegal

1828

1786

2.35

2.15

2.18

Dublin

35777

35323

1.29

41.99

43.21

Galway

3512

3353

4.74

4.12

4.1

Kerry

1790

1663

7.64

2.1

2.03

Kildare

3989

3642

9.53

4.68

4.46

Kilkenny

1358

1304

4.14

1.59

1.6

Laois

1073

1070

0.28

1.26

1.31

Leitrim

334

311

7.4

0.39

0.38

Limerick

2877

2657

8.28

3.38

3.25

Longford

355

356

-0.28

0.42

0.44

Louth

1968

1837

7.13

2.31

2.25

Mayo

1443

1391

3.74

1.69

1.7

Meath

2905

2722

6.72

3.41

3.33

Monaghan

625

644

-2.95

0.73

0.79

Offaly

895

883

1.36

1.05

1.08

Roscommon

798

727

9.77

0.94

0.89

Sligo

844

753

12.08

0.99

0.92

Tipperary

2085

2063

1.07

2.45

2.52

Waterford

1815

1705

6.45

2.13

2.09

Westmeath

1134

1102

2.9

1.33

1.35

Wexford

2142

1935

10.7

2.51

2.37

Wicklow

2043

1847

10.61

2.4

2.26


New Electric Car Registrations by County 2026 (January-June)

County

2026

2025

% Change

2026 Share

2025 Share

Carlow

207

116

78.45

1.03

0.85

Cavan

157

81

93.83

0.78

0.59

Clare

439

218

101.38

2.18

1.6

Cork

2380

1319

80.44

11.8

9.68

Donegal

302

193

56.48

1.5

1.42

Dublin

8008

6590

21.52

39.71

48.35

Galway

749

438

71

3.71

3.21

Kerry

399

238

67.65

1.98

1.75

Kildare

1312

828

58.45

6.51

6.08

Kilkenny

333

171

94.74

1.65

1.25

Laois

294

175

68

1.46

1.28

Leitrim

51

24

112.5

0.25

0.18

Limerick

669

362

84.81

3.32

2.66

Longford

74

33

124.24

0.37

0.24

Louth

483

314

53.82

2.4

2.3

Mayo

236

137

72.26

1.17

1.01

Meath

952

564

68.79

4.72

4.14

Monaghan

102

77

32.47

0.51

0.56

Offaly

168

97

73.2

0.83

0.71

Roscommon

159

65

144.62

0.79

0.48

Sligo

167

101

65.35

0.83

0.74

Tipperary

469

274

71.17

2.33

2.01

Waterford

416

262

58.78

2.06

1.92

Westmeath

322

182

76.92

1.6

1.34

Wexford

560

329

70.21

2.78

2.41

Wicklow

756

441

71.43

3.75

3.24

 

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