Power surge: Latest SIMI figures show a registrations dip in March in Ireland while electric vehicles gain ground across all counties most likely driven by the fuel crisis in the wake of Trump’s war in Iran.
Ireland’s new car market eased in March, but electric vehicles continued to pick up pace as buyers shifted steadily toward battery‑powered models.
New car registrations fell 10.4% in March to 15,485 units, down from 17,291 a year earlier, according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
“There is a real momentum in the interest in electric vehicles now across the whole country”
Despite the monthly drop, first‑quarter registrations remained broadly stable at 64,967 cars, a marginal rise on the 64,784 recorded in the same period of 2025.
EV adoption surges 52%
SIMI reported that 3,851 battery electric cars were registered in March, representing a 52.1% increase on the same month last year. Year‑to‑date electric registrations have reached 14,004, up 40.5% on 2025 levels.
Hybrid petrol‑electric models remained the most popular engine type in the new‑car market at 27.36%, followed by electric at 21.56%, then petrol at 21.24%, plug‑in hybrid at 14.41% and diesel at 12.92%.
“Following a strong start to new car sales in the first two months of the year, March new car registrations indicate a softening in demand, with a decline of 10% when compared to the same month last year,” said SIMI director-general Brian Cooke.
“New car sales for the first quarter of the year are now marginally ahead of Q1 in 2025, with a total of 64,967 new cars registered. Despite the slowdown in March, new battery electric car registrations continue to grow, with 3,851 units registered.
“Year-to-date BEV registrations reached 14,004 units, which is a 40.5% increase on the same period last year. A better guide perhaps is that the BEV market share stands at 21.5%, compared to 18.9% for the full year 2025. The strong growth in EV registrations has been reflected across all counties. In addition, new car registrations in Q1 have seen continued growth for Hybrid electric (HEV) and Plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), while traditional Petrol and Diesel cars continue to see a decline, with their combined market share now just 34% of the new car market.
“The commercial sector saw a positive uptake in registrations for March. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) increased by 13%, and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) experienced their first month of growth this year, with a 10% increase on March last year,” Cooke said.
Electric share broadens across fuel mix
With registrations for the opening quarter hovering just below 65,000 units, the electric market is expanding at a brisk pace. Battery electric vehicles now hold a 21.56% share of the new‑car market and have become the second most popular fuel type after hybrid models.
Petrol and diesel have slipped to the third and fifth positions respectively, while plug‑in hybrids occupy fourth place. Combined, vehicles that can run on electricity account for more than one‑third of all new cars sold so far this year.
The latest sales rankings show strong demand for the Volkswagen ID.4, Kia EV3, Hyundai INSTER, Toyota bZ and Hyundai Kona. BYD’s Sealion 7 has also entered the top tier, reaching seventh place after only limited availability last year. Hyundai, Volkswagen, Kia, BYD and Tesla are currently the leading electric brands in the Irish market.
Growth has been recorded across every county, with Roscommon, Cavan and Kilkenny seeing the sharpest increases in electric adoption.
Industry voices signal strengthening momentum
Derek Reilly of Nevo.ie said interest in electric vehicles is building in every part of the country.
“There is a real momentum in the interest in electric vehicles now across the whole country. It is not just limited to the urban and suburban areas as the recent price shock with petrol and diesel is nationwide.
“The interest in EVs will not truly be reflected in these numbers, so I am expecting an even stronger sales period to follow. There are more choices than ever before and with price parity along with some electric models being priced cheaper than hybrid or combustion engines variants.”
Reilly added that charging infrastructure is providing reassurance to prospective buyers. “The improvement in the public charging network is giving confidence to potential buyers but they soon realise most of their charging is done at home.”
Nevo.ie has reported a notable increase in engagement over the past year, with a 35% rise in new visitors and a 457% jump in users arriving from social media channels. Organic search traffic has climbed by 99% as consumers seek information on buying, charging and range.
Simon Andreucetti, managing director of Nevo, said the company’s long‑term focus on education is paying off.
“Nevo has not reacted to the recent fuel crisis. Our team has stayed consistent in providing leading educational content and the latest EV reviews over the past number of years. Nevo has always focused on delivering the facts and benefits of switching to electric, which has never been in more demand than now.”
Top image: Photo by Kenny Leys on Unsplash
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
