New car registrations: up 7.4% in February 2026; Battery Electric Vehicles up 14.4%
Published on 02nd March 2026 at 17:01
New car registrations: up 7.4% in February 2026; Battery Electric Vehicles up 14.4%
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released its official 261 new vehicle registration statistics for February.
New car registrations for February were up 7.4% (15,033) compared to February 2025 (13,994). Registrations year to date are up 4.3% (49,557) on the same period last year (47,493).
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 15% (3,635) compared to February last year (3,160). Year to date LCVs are up 19.3% (11,201). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 4.8% (277) in comparison to February 2025 (291). Year to date, HGVs are down 12.1% (669).
Imported Used Cars have seen a 36.5% (7,639) rise in February 2026, when compared to February 2025 (5,596). Year to date imports are up 40% (15,679) on 2025 (11,200).
In February 2,871 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was 14.4% higher than the 2,510 registrations in February 2025. So far this year, 10,172 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 36.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 7,433 electric cars were registered.
In the new car market share by engine type, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) leads at 27.26% as the most popular engine type, followed by Petrol 21.84%, Electric 20.53%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.51%, and Diesel 13.27%.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting:
“The positive start to the new car market this year has continued into February with 15,033 cars registered, a 7% increase compared to February last year. Year-to-date registrations increased by 4% on last year, with a total of 49,557 new cars registered.
The move towards electric and hybrid cars is also reflected in the figures; Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) reached 2,871 units in February, a 14% increase on the same month last year, while year-to-date 10,172 new BEVs have been registered. Private consumers account for 75% of BEV sales and remain the main driver of sales, a trend seen across all counties. New Hybrid electric (HEV) and Plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) registrations have also seen continued growth for February. Battery technology cars (BEV, PHEV, HEV) combined market share now accounts for over 62% of registrations.
The commercial sector continues to experience mixed results. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) saw an increase in February of 15%, while Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations saw a decrease of 5% on February last year.”
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2026 Total New Vehicle Stats
• New Car sales total year to date (2026) 49,557 v (2025) 47,493 +4.3%
• New Car sales total February (2026) 15,033 v (2025) 13,994 +7.4%
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales year to date (2026) 11,201 v (2025) 9,394 +19.3%
• New Light Commercial Vehicles sales total February (2026) 3,635 v (2025) 3,160 +15.03%
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales year to date (2026) 669 v (2025) 761 -12.1%
• New Heavy Goods Vehicle total sales February (2026) 277 v (2025) 291 -4.81%
• New Buses/ Coaches sales year to date (2026) 178 v (2025) 110 +61.8%
• Used Car Imports total year to date (2026) 15,679 v (2025) 11,200 +40%
• Used Car Imports total February (2026) 7,639 v (2025) 5,596 +36.5%
• New Electric Vehicle sales total year to date (2026) 10,172 v (2025) 7,433 +36.9%
• New Electric Vehicles sales total February (2026) 2,871 v (2025) 2,510 +14.4%
• 5 Top Selling New Car Brands 2026 were: 1. TOYOTA, 2. HYUNDAI, 3. VOLKSWAGEN, 4. SKODA, 5. KIA
• 5 Top New Car Models 2026 were: 1. HYUNDAI TUCSON 2. TOYOTA YARIS CROSS, 3. KIA SPORTAGE, 4. TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS, 5. HYUNDAI KONA
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicles (EVs) Brands 2026: 1. HYUNDAI, 2. VOLKSWAGEN, 3. KIA, 4. BYD, 5. RENAULT
• 5 Top Selling New Electric Vehicle (EVs) Models 2026: 1. VOLKSWAGEN ID.4, 2. HYUNDAI INSTER, 3. KIA EV3, 4. HYUNDAI KONA, 5. TOYOTA BZ4X
• Top Selling New Car (February) 2026: HYUNDAI TUCSON
• Top Selling New Electric Car (February) 2026: VOLKSWAGEN ID.4
• Market share by engine type 2026: Hybrid (Petrol Electric) 27.26%, Petrol 21.84%, Electric 20.53%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.51%, Diesel 13.27%.
• Tables below show total new car registrations by county for February 2026 and total new Electric car registrations by county for February 2026.
| New Car Registrations by County 2026 (January-February) | |||||
| County | 2026 | 2025 | % Change | 2026 Share | 2025 Share |
| Carlow | 606 | 622 | -2.57 | 1.22 | 1.31 |
| Cavan | 558 | 524 | 6.49 | 1.13 | 1.1 |
| Clare | 1159 | 1102 | 5.17 | 2.34 | 2.32 |
| Cork | 6221 | 5836 | 6.6 | 12.55 | 12.29 |
| Donegal | 1211 | 1143 | 5.95 | 2.44 | 2.41 |
| Dublin | 18149 | 17836 | 1.75 | 36.62 | 37.56 |
| Galway | 2267 | 2069 | 9.57 | 4.57 | 4.36 |
| Kerry | 1194 | 1089 | 9.64 | 2.41 | 2.29 |
| Kildare | 2424 | 2284 | 6.13 | 4.89 | 4.81 |
| Kilkenny | 889 | 865 | 2.77 | 1.79 | 1.82 |
| Laois | 685 | 676 | 1.33 | 1.38 | 1.42 |
| Leitrim | 222 | 214 | 3.74 | 0.45 | 0.45 |
| Limerick | 1809 | 1704 | 6.16 | 3.65 | 3.59 |
| Longford | 224 | 228 | -1.75 | 0.45 | 0.48 |
| Louth | 1272 | 1163 | 9.37 | 2.57 | 2.45 |
| Mayo | 970 | 845 | 14.79 | 1.96 | 1.78 |
| Meath | 1741 | 1709 | 1.87 | 3.51 | 3.6 |
| Monaghan | 406 | 419 | -3.1 | 0.82 | 0.88 |
| Offaly | 572 | 605 | -5.45 | 1.15 | 1.27 |
| Roscommon | 503 | 452 | 11.28 | 1.01 | 0.95 |
| Sligo | 561 | 460 | 21.96 | 1.13 | 0.97 |
| Tipperary | 1399 | 1373 | 1.89 | 2.82 | 2.89 |
| Waterford | 1175 | 1102 | 6.62 | 2.37 | 2.32 |
| Westmeath | 722 | 717 | 0.7 | 1.46 | 1.51 |
| Wexford | 1350 | 1277 | 5.72 | 2.72 | 2.69 |
| Wicklow | 1268 | 1179 | 7.55 | 2.56 | 2.48 |
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For further information: Teresa Noone, SIMI, Tel: 087 792 8844 Email tnoone@simi.ie