New figures released by the Central Statistics Office show a sharp rise in electric vehicle registrations in March, reflecting a continued shift in consumer preference toward cleaner transport options.
The data indicates that 3,429 new private electric cars were licensed during the month, a 39 percent increase compared with 2,473 recorded in March last year. The CSO said this growth pushed the share of electric vehicles among all new private cars to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2026, up from 17 percent during the same period in 2025.
At the same time, registrations of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) declined. A total of 2,049 PHEVs were licensed in March, down 7 percent from 2,202 a year earlier, suggesting a shift in demand within the broader electrified vehicle category.
The overall market for new private cars also expanded modestly. A total of 15,130 new private cars were licensed in March, marking a 5 percent increase compared with the same month in 2025.
Alongside new vehicle sales, imports of used cars saw a significant rise. The number of used (imported) cars licensed climbed 34 percent to 7,955, up from 5,917 in the previous year, highlighting continued demand for second-hand vehicles amid changing market conditions.
The data also showed strong growth in commercial transport. New goods vehicles licensed in March reached 3,872, an increase of 19 percent year-on-year. Over the first three months of 2026, registrations in this category rose to 10,225, up 17 percent compared with the same period last year.
Despite the rise in electric vehicles, traditional fuel-powered cars are losing market share. The combined proportion of petrol and diesel vehicles among new private car registrations fell to 33 percent in the first quarter of 2026, down from 43 percent a year earlier.
Brand performance data highlighted strong competition in the market. Volkswagen was the most popular manufacturer in March, with 1,966 new private cars licensed. It was followed by Toyota, Škoda, Kia and Nissan. Together, these five brands accounted for 45 percent of all new private car registrations during the month.
In the electric vehicle segment, the Tesla Model Y remained the most popular model with 249 registrations, followed by the Volkswagen ID.4 with 230 and the Tesla Model 3 with 217.
The CSO data points to a broader transformation in the Irish car market, with electric vehicles steadily gaining ground while hybrid and traditional petrol and diesel models lose share.
