Electric and hybrid car sales surpassed petrol and diesel vehicles for the first time last year, according to newly released official data, marking a major turning point in Ireland’s transition away from fossil fuels. The milestone is being viewed as a significant boost to the government’s efforts to reduce national CO2 emissions and meet climate targets.
Figures from Central Statistics Office show that a total of 69,014 electric and hybrid vehicles were sold over the year. This included 23,398 fully electric vehicles, 18,237 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and 27,379 hybrid cars. By comparison, combined petrol and diesel car sales reached 51,783 units, made up of 31,221 petrol cars and 20,562 diesels, leaving fossil-fuel vehicles trailing by more than 17,000 units.
The data highlights rapid growth across battery technologies. Plug-in hybrid sales rose by 65 percent year on year, while electric vehicles increased their share of the new private car market to 19 percent, up from 15 percent the previous year. Hybrid vehicles continued to perform strongly, reinforcing the broader shift in consumer preferences.
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman welcomed the figures, describing them as evidence that Irish motorists are increasingly embracing electric options. He said the data shows electric vehicles are becoming more attractive but warned that further progress depends on expanding public charging infrastructure to address range anxiety among drivers.
O’Gorman stressed that sustaining growth in electric and hybrid car sales will require continued government investment in publicly accessible charging points across the country, particularly outside major urban areas.
Industry leaders also described the figures as a watershed moment. Brian Cooke, director general of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, said battery technologies accounted for more than half of the new car market for the first time. He noted that both fully electric and hybrid vehicles drove the shift, reflecting a structural change in the market rather than a short-term trend.
According to SIMI, new battery electric car registrations reached 23,601 units, representing a 35 percent increase on 2024 and the highest annual total on record, surpassing the previous peak in 2023. The growth was recorded in every county, underlining the nationwide nature of the transition.
December sales data showed lower volumes overall, a trend attributed to buyers delaying purchases until January to secure new registration plates. Even so, electric vehicles dominated the monthly rankings, with Tesla emerging as the most popular new private car brand in December, followed by Volkswagen, Toyota, Audi, and Skoda. Together, these five marques accounted for 53 percent of all new private cars licensed that month.
Over the full year, Toyota ranked as the most popular new private car brand overall, while the Volkswagen ID.4 was the most popular electric model licensed. Industry data shows electric cars made up more than 18 percent of the total new car market, placing them ahead of diesel and plug-in hybrids, though still behind petrol and hybrid petrol-electric vehicles.
SIMI said the surge in electric and plug-in hybrid registrations meant Ireland comfortably exceeded the 2025 Climate Action Plan targets, reinforcing the role of cleaner transport in cutting emissions. Analysts say the figures signal a lasting shift in consumer behaviour, with electric and hybrid cars now firmly established as mainstream choices rather than niche alternatives.
