Ireland Records Highest-Ever Monthly Electric Vehicle Registrations as EVs Take Market Lead

Ireland recorded its highest-ever monthly number of new electric vehicle (EV) registrations in July, with demand continuing to accelerate as government incentives and growing consumer interest boosted sales across the country.

New figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that 9,682 new battery electric vehicles were registered during the month, almost double the total recorded in July last year.

The strong performance has pushed EVs to the top of the Irish new car market for the first time. Between January and July, 29,840 new electric cars were registered, representing a 61% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Battery electric vehicles accounted for 26.12% of all new vehicle registrations during the first seven months of the year, ahead of every other engine type. Hybrid petrol-electric vehicles held a 24.59% market share, followed by petrol at 20.39%, plug-in hybrids at 14.45% and diesel vehicles at 12.45%.

SIMI Director General Brian Cooke described the latest figures as a milestone for the industry, saying battery electric vehicle sales had delivered record-breaking results.

Cooke credited government support measures for helping drive the growth, pointing in particular to the pilot vehicle scrappage scheme introduced in July and the continuation of battery electric vehicle grant programmes.

He said the latest figures demonstrated that financial incentives were encouraging buyers across both urban and rural communities. According to SIMI, motorists in rural areas accounted for the majority of scrappage grants issued since the scheme began, while increases in EV registrations were recorded in every county.

Cooke called on the government to retain and expand the current incentive programmes in Budget 2027, arguing that continued support would help maintain sales momentum while contributing to Ireland’s climate targets. He said investment in electric vehicle incentives today would bring long-term savings for motorists and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The broader new car market also posted solid growth during July. A total of 29,046 new cars were registered during the month, an increase of 8.63% compared with July 2025.

For the first seven months of 2026, new vehicle registrations reached 114,228, representing year-on-year growth of 5.2%.

Alongside the rise in new car sales, Ireland also experienced continued growth in used vehicle imports. SIMI reported that 8,616 imported used cars were registered in July, an increase of 27% compared with the same month last year.

From January through July, used import registrations reached 55,724 vehicles, marking a 37% increase over the corresponding period in 2025.

The latest figures highlight the changing shape of Ireland’s car market, with electric vehicles continuing to gain ground while overall vehicle demand remains strong. Industry representatives say maintaining policy support will be important as the country works toward wider adoption of lower-emission transport in the years ahead.