The number of electric vehicles (EVs) licensed in Ireland surged in July, with new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing a significant shift in consumer preferences away from traditional petrol and diesel cars.
A total of 3,973 new electric cars were licensed last month, representing a 64% increase compared to July 2024, when 2,421 were registered. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) also saw strong growth, with 3,080 licensed in July — up 56% from 1,974 during the same period last year.
The trend extends beyond a single month. In the first seven months of 2025, 17,075 new private electric cars were licensed, marking a 34% increase from 12,765 in the same period of 2024.
The surge in electric and hybrid vehicle registrations comes as petrol and diesel models continue to lose ground. The CSO reported that 26,454 new petrol cars were licensed between January and July this year, down 14% from 30,911 last year. Diesel cars saw an even steeper decline, with registrations falling 23% to 16,681 from 21,624 in the same period of 2024.
Despite the shift toward low-emission vehicles, overall new car registrations have grown. The number of new private cars licensed in July increased by 8% year-on-year, rising from 18,512 to 19,923. The used car market also recorded notable gains, with 6,640 used private cars licensed last month — a 17% rise from 5,660 in July 2024.
Brand preferences among Irish motorists remained concentrated in a handful of manufacturers. Toyota led the market in July with 2,851 new private cars licensed, followed by Volkswagen (2,358), Hyundai (2,142), Skoda (2,093), and Kia (1,524). Together, these five brands accounted for 55% of all new private car registrations.
Industry analysts say the figures reflect a growing acceptance of electric vehicles as battery technology improves, charging infrastructure expands, and government incentives make EV ownership more attractive. The strong performance of plug-in hybrids also suggests that many drivers are using them as a stepping stone toward fully electric models.
The decline in petrol and diesel car sales is consistent with wider European trends, where stricter emissions regulations and climate commitments are pushing automakers and consumers toward low- and zero-emission options.
With EV and hybrid sales showing sustained momentum throughout 2025, industry observers expect the market share of fossil fuel-powered cars to continue shrinking in the coming years, potentially accelerating as new environmental policies come into force.
