Ireland’s car market is undergoing a major transformation, with cleaner vehicles now firmly in the driving seat. In the latest breaking news ireland readers are following, new figures show electric vehicles and hybrids now make up roughly two-thirds of all new car registrations across the country in the first half of 2026.
Fresh data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) shows that regular hybrids accounted for 27.7 per cent of the market, battery electric vehicles held 23.7 per cent, and plug-in hybrids reached 14.7 per cent. Combined, that means low-emission models have overtaken traditional petrol and diesel by a wide margin, reflecting a major shift in consumer demand and the direction of ireland business news.
What the latest figures mean for breaking news ireland
The new registration numbers point to a clear change in how Irish motorists are choosing their next vehicle. Petrol cars represented 21 per cent of registrations in the first six months of the year, while diesel dropped to 12.9 per cent.
Total new car sales rose 4.2 per cent year-on-year, with 85,203 new vehicles registered by the end of June. That increase suggests the wider market remains resilient, even as buyers respond to fuel costs, emissions concerns, grant support and evolving model availability.
- Hybrids: 27.7%
- EVs: 23.7%
- Plug-in hybrids: 14.7%
- Petrol: 21%
- Diesel: 12.9%
The figures are likely to feature prominently in latest news ireland coverage because they underline how quickly the national fleet is changing.
Government supports boosting EV demand
A key factor behind the surge appears to be the Government’s pilot scrappage scheme. The initiative offered up to €8,500 in support for 2,000 motorists trading in petrol or diesel cars aged 13 years or older for a new electric vehicle. Interest was so strong that the scheme was already oversubscribed before its official launch date.
That demand is expected to support further growth during the new 262 registration period, making this one of the standout developments in ireland economy news and ireland transport news.
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Best-selling brands and models in ireland news today
Toyota led the market in the first half of 2026 with 11,912 registrations, followed by Volkswagen on 9,544 and Skoda on 8,368. Hyundai and Kia rounded out the top five, while Audi ranked sixth ahead of BMW.
The best-selling new car model was the Toyota Yaris Cross, which recorded 2,778 registrations. In the EV segment, Volkswagen was the leading brand, with the ID.4 topping the all-electric model rankings. Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y also remained strong performers after notable price changes over the past year.
Chinese manufacturer BYD continued to gain ground and was the best-selling Chinese marque in Ireland with 2,732 registrations so far this year, another sign of rising competition in ireland technology news and automotive retail.
Used imports also surge
The used import market is also growing sharply. Imports rose 39 per cent to 47,109 units in the first half of the year. Japan has now become the leading source market, supplying 25,647 vehicles, compared with 6,898 from the UK.
Volkswagen, Toyota and BMW were the most popular import brands. The VW Golf was the leading imported model, ahead of the VW Polo, Audi A3 and BMW 3 Series.
Fuel types in used imports were more mixed:
- Petrol: 38.4%
- Diesel: 19.2%
- Hybrids: 17%
- Plug-in hybrids: 15%
- EVs: 10%
Most imported vehicles were older models, with 61 per cent aged six years or more. Just under one-fifth were between one and three years old.
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Commercial vehicle market shows mixed picture
Outside passenger cars, the commercial sector produced a split result. New light commercial vehicle registrations, including vans, increased 14.4 per cent to 21,492. Ford led that segment with 4,175 registrations, ahead of Volkswagen on 3,408. The Renault Trafic was the best-selling van model with 1,565 sales.
However, the heavy truck market moved in the opposite direction, falling 6 per cent to 1,553 units for the year to date.
What happens next?
This shift in the car market is one of the clearest signs yet that Irish consumers are embracing lower-emission driving in greater numbers. For anyone tracking breaking news ireland, the message is simple: hybrids and EVs are no longer niche choices but the mainstream of new car buying. If current trends continue, the second half of 2026 could bring an even bigger leap toward electrification across Ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: BreakingNews.ie
