New electric car registrations in Ireland have surged by 34% in the first seven months of 2025, with 17,075 electric vehicles licensed compared to 12,765 in the same period last year, according to new Central Statistics Office figures.
The monthly comparison shows even stronger growth, with July 2025 recording a 64% increase in electric vehicle registrations – 3,973 EVs compared to 2,421 in July 2024. This represents the most significant month-on-month jump in electric vehicle adoption to date.
Electric vehicles now account for 17% of all new private cars licensed from January to July 2025, up from 14% in the same period last year. When combined with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which saw their own 56% monthly increase in July, alternative fuel vehicles are rapidly gaining market share.
The shift away from traditional combustion engines is evident in the data, with petrol and diesel cars representing just 44% of new private car licenses in the first seven months of 2025, down from 56% in 2024. New petrol car registrations fell 14% while diesel registrations dropped 23% over the same period.
CSO statistician Damien Lenihan highlighted the transformation occurring in Ireland’s automotive sector, noting the substantial growth in both electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle licensing alongside declining traditional fuel vehicle registrations.
Toyota maintained its position as Ireland’s most popular car brand with 2,851 vehicles licensed in July, followed by Volkswagen, Hyundai, Skoda, and Kia. Among electric vehicles specifically, the Volkswagen ID.4 led sales with 343 registrations, followed by the Hyundai Inster and Kia EV 3.
The figures reflect Ireland’s accelerating transition toward electric mobility as government incentives and expanding charging infrastructure encourage consumers to embrace cleaner transportation options.