New data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) reveals that over half of new cars registered in June, a typically slow month, were electric. Overall, new car sales increased by 63.5%.
June marked the final month for the “251” license plate, leading many customers to postpone purchases until the “252” plates were issued in July.
The data indicates that 2,441 new cars were registered last month, a significant rise from the 1,493 registered in June of the previous year. In July 2024, 25,726 new cars were registered.
Specifically, 1,246 new electric cars were registered last month, representing an impressive 81.9% year-on-year increase.
The best-selling car in June was the electric Tesla Model 3.
While Tesla sales have been declining across Europe due to concerns surrounding CEO Elon Musk, there are emerging signs of a potential reversal.
Tesla saw sales increases in Norway and Spain during June, potentially signaling a positive response to the revamped Model Y. However, sales continued to decline in Sweden and Denmark for the sixth consecutive month, highlighting persistent challenges.
In Ireland, registrations of new light commercial vehicles reached 1,054, a 54.1% increase, while heavy goods vehicle registrations rose by 3.2% to 128.
Registrations of imported used cars increased by 10.6% to 5,713 during the month.
For the first half of the year, new car registrations have risen by 3.5% to 81,750, compared to the same period in 2024. A total of 13,631 new electric cars have been registered so far this year, a 27% increase.
SIMI Director General Brian Cooke highlighted consistent growth in battery electric vehicle sales as the “most notable statistic” for the first half of the year.
“Electric vehicles represent nearly 17% of new cars sold this year. While this is clearly a positive development, it should be highlighted that EV sales are behind 2023 levels, and extension of Government support is still vital in the establishment of the electric vehicle market.”
Petrol cars currently account for 27.23% of all cars sold this year, while petrol-hybrid cars comprise 22.77%. Diesel cars hold 17.26% of the market, with electric, plug-in electric, and electric hybrids making up the remaining portion.
Toyota currently leads in car brand sales for 2025, followed by Volkswagen and Hyundai. The Hyundai Tucson is the best-selling car model, followed by the Toyota RAV4 and the Toyota Yaris Cross.
The Volkswagen ID.4 is the top-selling electric car this year, ahead of the Tesla Model 3 and the Kia EV3.
