New car registrations: increased 1.9% in April; battery electric increased 23.7%

01/05/2025

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

New car registrations for April were up 1.9% (8,731) when compared to April 2024 (8,565). Registrations year to date are up 3.4% (73,505) on the same period last year (71,063).  

Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) increased by 15% (2,558) compared to April last year (2,225). Year to date LCVs are down 9.5% (15,901). Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) registrations are down 14.6% (280) in comparison to April 2024 (328). Year to date HGVs are down 8.0% (1,317). 

Imported Used Cars have seen a 0.8% (5,249) rise in April 2025, when compared to April 2024 (5,205). Year to date imports are up 7.5% (22,237) on 2024 (20,693). 

In April 1,343 new electric cars were registered, which was 23.7% higher than the 1,086 registrations in April 2024. So far this year, 11,311 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 25.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024 when 9,015 electric cars were registered. 

In the new car market share by engine type for 2025, Petrol cars retain the new car market lead at 27.68%, followed by Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 23.66%, Diesel at 17.36%, Electric at 15.39%, and Plug-in Electric Hybrid at 14.29%. 
 

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General

 Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General commented:

“April new car registrations saw a marginal rise of 1.9% when compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date registrations increased by 3.4% on last year, with a total of 73,505 new cars registered. New electric vehicle sales have rebounded this year, experiencing a fourth consecutive month of growth. EV registrations are 23.7% ahead of April last year, and year to date increased by 25.5%, representing 11,311 new electric cars. EV sales have increased in 25 counties during the first four months of the year and SIMI welcomes Minister O’Brien’s announcement on the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. Such initiatives are vital to provide rural drivers with more confidence in EVs. The Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market saw an improvement in April with a 15% increase in sales, a positive result following the decline in sales in the first Quarter of the year. LCVs remain 9% behind for the year to date. Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 14.6% in April and 8% year to date.”  

 2025 Total New Vehicle Stats

• New Car sales total year to date (2025) 73,505 v (2024) 71,063 +3.4% 
• New Car sales total April (2025) 8,731 v (2024) 8,565 +1.9%  
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2025) 15,901 v (2024) 17,562 -9.5% 
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total April (2025) 2,558 v (2024) 2,225 +15% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2025) 1,317 v (2024) 1,432 -8.0% 
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales April (2025) 280 v (2024) 328 -14.6% 
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2025) 195 v (2024) 320 -39.1% 
• New Buses/ Coaches total sales April (2025) 52 v (2024) 98 -46.9% 
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2025) 22,237 v (2024) 20,693 +7.5% 
• Used Car Imports total April (2025) 5249 v (2024) 5,205 +0.8% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2025) 11,311 v (2024) 9,015 +25.5% 
• New Electric Vehicle sales total April (2025) 1,343 v (2024) 1,086 +23.7% 
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2025 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. SKODA, 4. HYUNDAI, 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 Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2025: 1. VOLKSWAGEN, 2. KIA, 3 HYUNDAI, 4. TESLA, 5. BYD   
• 5 Top Selling Electric Vehicle Models (EVs) 2025: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. KIA EV3, 3. TESLA MODEL 3, 4. KIA EV6, 5. HYUNDAI KONA 
• Top Selling New Car (April) 2025: TOYOTA RAV 4 
• Top Selling New Electric Car (April) 2025: VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 
• Market share by engine type 2025: Petrol 27.68%, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 23.66%, Diesel 17.36%, Electric 15.39%, Plug-In Electric Hybrid 14.29% 
• 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-April)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

857

729

17.56

1.17

1.03

Cavan

752

758

-0.79

1.02

1.07

Clare

1587

1465

8.33

2.16

2.06

Cork

8491

8115

4.63

11.55

11.42

Donegal

1669

1601

4.25

2.27

2.25

Dublin

30886

30510

1.23

42.02

42.93

Galway

3066

2786

10.05

4.17

3.92

Kerry

1535

1522

0.85

2.09

2.14

Kildare

3229

3133

3.06

4.39

4.41

Kilkenny

1211

1263

-4.12

1.65

1.78

Laois

973

887

9.7

1.32

1.25

Leitrim

286

294

-2.72

0.39

0.41

Limerick

2437

2294

6.23

3.32

3.23

Longford

334

345

-3.19

0.45

0.49

Louth

1693

1595

6.14

2.3

2.24

Mayo

1297

1205

7.63

1.76

1.7

Meath

2488

2297

8.32

3.38

3.23

Monaghan

601

586

2.56

0.82

0.82

Offaly

837

769

8.84

1.14

1.08

Roscommon

667

684

-2.49

0.91

0.96

Sligo

694

698

-0.57

0.94

0.98

Tipperary

1897

1756

8.03

2.58

2.47

Waterford

1554

1515

2.57

2.11

2.13

Westmeath

1015

991

2.42

1.38

1.39

Wexford

1796

1731

3.76

2.44

2.44

Wicklow

1653

1534

7.76

2.25

2.16

New Electric Car Registrations by County 2025
(January-April)

County

2025 Units

2024 Units

% Change

2025 % Share

2024 % Share

Carlow

101

71

42.25

0.89

0.79

Cavan

67

40

67.5

0.59

0.44

Clare

184

127

44.88

1.63

1.41

Cork

1094

882

24.04

9.67

9.78

Donegal

170

118

44.07

1.5

1.31

Dublin

5333

4499

18.54

47.15

49.91

Galway

370

279

32.62

3.27

3.09

Kerry

206

122

68.85

1.82

1.35

Kildare

693

505

37.23

6.13

5.6

Kilkenny

143

133

7.52

1.26

1.48

Laois

152

110

38.18

1.34

1.22

Leitrim

22

25

-12

0.19

0.28

Limerick

315

218

44.5

2.78

2.42

Longford

29

28

3.57

0.26

0.31

Louth

266

189

40.74

2.35

2.1

Mayo

123

82

50

1.09

0.91

Meath

484

367

31.88

4.28

4.07

Monaghan

68

37

83.78

0.6

0.41

Offaly

87

53

64.15

0.77

0.59

Roscommon

56

52

7.69

0.5

0.58

Sligo

92

63

46.03

0.81

0.7

Tipperary

241

113

113.27

2.13

1.25

Waterford

226

220

2.73

2

2.44

Westmeath

154

95

62.11

1.36

1.05

Wexford

283

257

10.12

2.5

2.85

Wicklow

352

330

6.67

3.11

3.66

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