New car registrations: down 10.4% in March 2026; Battery Electric Vehicles up 52%
Published on 01st April 2026 at 17:00
New car registrations: down 10.4% in March 2026; Battery Electric Vehicles up 52%
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released its official 261 new vehicle registration statistics for March.
New car registrations for March were down 10.4% (15,485) compared to March 2025 (17,291). Registrations year to date are up 0.28% (64,967) on the same period last year (64,784).
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 13.5% (4,463) compared to March last year (3,931). Year to date, LCVs are up 17.5% (15,654). Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) registrations are up 10.2% (302) in comparison to March 2025 (274). Year to date, HGVs are down 6.5% (971).
Imported Used Cars have seen a 37.7% (7,970) rise in March 2026, when compared to March 2025 (5,787). Year to date imports are up 39.2% (23,646) on 2025 (16,987).
In March 3,851 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was 52.1% higher than the 2,531 registrations in March 2025. So far this year, 14,004 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 40.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 9,964 electric cars were registered.
In the new car market share by engine type, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) continues to lead as the most popular engine type at 27.36%, followed by Electric 21.56%, Petrol 21.24%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.41%, and Diesel 12.92%.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting:
“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. 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.”
2026 Total New Vehicle Stats
• New Car sales total year to date (2026) 64,967 v (2025) 64,784 +0.28%
• New Car sales total March (2026) 15,485 v (2025) 17,291 -10.4%
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2026) 15,654 v (2025) 13,322 +17.5%
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total March (2026) 4,463 v (2025) 3,931 +13.5%
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2026) 971 v (2025) 1,038 -6.5%
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales March (2026) 302 v (2025) 274 +10.2%
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2026) 288 v (2025) 142 +102.82%
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2026) 23,646 v (2025) 16,987 +39.2%
• Used Car Imports total March (2026) 7,970 v (2025) 5,787 +37.7%
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2026) 14,004 v (2025) 9,964 +40.5%
• New Electric Vehicles sales total March (2026) 3,851 v (2025)2,531 +52.1%
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2026 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. HYUNDAI, 4. SKODA, 5. KIA
• 5 Top New Car Models 2026 were: 1. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 2. HYUNDAI TUCSON, 3. KIA SPORTAGE, 4. TOYOTA COROLLA, 5. TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2026: 1. HYUNDAI, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. KIA, 4. BYD, 5. TESLA
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicle (EVs) Models 2026: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. KIA EV3, 3. HYUNDAI INSTER, 4. TOYOTA BZ4X, 5. HYUNDAI KONA
• Top Selling New Car (March) 2026: TOYOTA COROLLA
• Top Selling New Electric Car (March) 2026: TESLA MODEL 3
• Market share by engine type 2026: Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 27.36%, Electric 21.56%, Petrol 21.24%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.41%, Diesel 12.92%.
• Tables below show total new car registrations by county for March 2026 and total new Electric car registrations by county for March 2026.
| New Car Registrations by County 2026 (January-March) | |||||
| County | 2026 | 2025 | %Change | 2026 Share | 2025 Share |
| Carlow | 744 | 807 | -7.81 | 1.15 | 1.25 |
| Cavan | 715 | 672 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 1.04 |
| Clare | 1439 | 1410 | 2.06 | 2.21 | 2.18 |
| Cork | 7983 | 7597 | 5.08 | 12.29 | 11.73 |
| Donegal | 1492 | 1472 | 1.36 | 2.3 | 2.27 |
| Dublin | 25383 | 26545 | -4.38 | 39.07 | 40.97 |
| Galway | 2829 | 2732 | 3.55 | 4.35 | 4.22 |
| Kerry | 1447 | 1381 | 4.78 | 2.23 | 2.13 |
| Kildare | 3086 | 2878 | 7.23 | 4.75 | 4.44 |
| Kilkenny | 1105 | 1109 | -0.36 | 1.7 | 1.71 |
| Laois | 851 | 864 | -1.5 | 1.31 | 1.33 |
| Leitrim | 277 | 264 | 4.92 | 0.43 | 0.41 |
| Limerick | 2315 | 2157 | 7.32 | 3.56 | 3.33 |
| Longford | 270 | 294 | -8.16 | 0.42 | 0.45 |
| Louth | 1592 | 1521 | 4.67 | 2.45 | 2.35 |
| Mayo | 1204 | 1162 | 3.61 | 1.85 | 1.79 |
| Meath | 2244 | 2242 | 0.09 | 3.45 | 3.46 |
| Monaghan | 512 | 537 | -4.66 | 0.79 | 0.83 |
| Offaly | 721 | 762 | -5.38 | 1.11 | 1.18 |
| Roscommon | 619 | 588 | 5.27 | 0.95 | 0.91 |
| Sligo | 708 | 631 | 12.2 | 1.09 | 0.97 |
| Tipperary | 1745 | 1717 | 1.63 | 2.69 | 2.65 |
| Waterford | 1461 | 1405 | 3.99 | 2.25 | 2.17 |
| Westmeath | 914 | 918 | -0.44 | 1.41 | 1.42 |
| Wexford | 1703 | 1632 | 4.35 | 2.62 | 2.52 |
| Wicklow | 1608 | 1487 | 8.14 | 2.48 | 2.3 |
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For further information: Teresa Noone, SIMI, Tel: 087 792 8844 Email tnoone@simi.ie