36,270 new battery electric cars were registered in Ireland to the end of October, according to SIMI. Electric is now the most popular powertrain for new car buyers in 2026.
Key points
- 36,270 new battery electric cars (BEVs) were registered from January to October, up 57% on the same period of 2025.
- BEVs account for 27.7% of new car registrations this year – more than any other powertrain.
- 61% of new electric cars registered this year went to buyers outside Dublin.
- In October, 1,092 new BEVs were registered, up 55%. That is 43.7% of the 2,501 new cars registered in the month (Net Trends calculation).
Battery electric cars have become the most popular choice for new car buyers in Ireland this year. Figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show 36,270 new BEVs registered to the end of October, up 57% on 2025.
Overall, 130,754 new cars were registered in the first ten months, up 6%. BEVs lead with 27.7% of the market, ahead of regular hybrids (23.5%), petrol (19.4%), plug-in hybrids (15%) and diesel (12.3%).
61% of new EVs registered outside Dublin
The growth is not limited to the capital. According to SIMI, both urban and rural areas are seeing strong increases in electric car registrations.
“Growth is being seen across the country, including strong increases in both urban and rural areas, with 61% of new electric cars registered outside Dublin this year.”
Emma Mitchell, Operations Director, Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI)
Mitchell described demand for battery electric cars as strong and said it was helped by Government support and the range of models on offer.
October: 1,092 new electric cars
In October, 1,092 new battery electric cars were registered, up 55% on October 2025. Total new car registrations rose 15% to 2,501.
That means more than four in ten new cars registered in October were fully electric. The Volkswagen ID.4 was the best-selling new car of the month.
Toyota leads, Kia tops EV brands
Toyota is the best-selling brand so far this year with 17,865 new cars, followed by Volkswagen (15,110), Skoda (12,736) and Hyundai (10,830). BMW (5,158) leads the premium brands, just ahead of Audi (5,105). BYD is the strongest Chinese brand in ninth place.
Among electric cars, Kia is the best-selling brand this year, ahead of Volkswagen. The Toyota Yaris Cross is the best-selling model overall with 3,886 registrations, while the VW ID.4 is the best-selling EV.
Used imports up 32%
Imported used cars are also rising. Their registrations are up 32% so far this year, according to SIMI.
In October alone, 1,040 more used imports were registered than in October 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How many new electric cars were registered in Ireland in 2026?
36,270 new battery electric cars from January to October 2026, up 57% on the same period of 2025, according to SIMI.
What share of new cars in Ireland are electric?
27.7% of new car registrations this year are battery electric, the largest share of any powertrain.
Where are new electric cars being registered?
61% of new electric cars registered this year went to buyers outside Dublin.
Sources and status
- Irish Examiner: Electric vehicles charge ahead in new-car market, 2 November 2026 (SIMI figures)
- The Irish Times: New car sales up 6% on last year as EV registrations rose 57%, 2 November 2026 (SIMI figures)
Research and data status: 13 November 2026. The October BEV share of 43.7% is a Net Trends calculation (1,092 ÷ 2,501).
Transparency note: AI-assisted tools were used in researching, structuring and writing this article. The sources used are listed in the article. Original article for Net Trends, written for Ireland.
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