Electric vehicle sales in Ireland dropped dramatically in 2024, with new registrations falling by 23.6% to 17,459 units compared to 22,852 in 2023, according to new figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

The sharp decline in EV sales coincided with the reduction of the SEAI grant from €5,000 to €3,500. However, SIMI Director General Brian Cooke remains optimistic, noting “tentative signs of a turnaround” in late 2024 and predicting increased EV sales for 2025.
Overall new car registrations showed a modest 1% decrease, totaling 121,195 vehicles compared to 122,400 in 2023. The market saw growth in other sectors, with light commercial vehicles up 7% and heavy commercial vehicles increasing by 8%. Notably, imported used car registrations surged by 21.4%.
According to The Journal, petrol vehicles dominated the market at 30.31%, followed by diesel (22.80%), hybrid (20.92%), electric (14.41%), and plug-in hybrid (10.02%). The data also reveals shifting consumer preferences, with automatic transmissions now accounting for 66.09% of sales, while grey remains Ireland’s favorite car color for the ninth consecutive year.
As the new 251 registration period begins, Cooke suggests it’s “a good time for customers to shop for a new or used car,” citing various retailer and manufacturer incentives.