September was a strong month for Ireland's car market, with 6,342 new cars registered, up from 5,607 in September last year. That pushed registrations for the first nine months of 2026 to 128,288 vehicles, a 5.4 per cent increase from the same period in 2025.
How many electric cars were sold in September 2026?
According to the latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), 35,195 new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been registered so far in 2026, up 57.3 per cent from the same period in 2025. September alone saw 3,126 new EV registrations, up more than 80 per cent year on year.
The growth means that battery electric vehicles now account for 27.43 per cent of the Irish new car market, ahead of hybrids (23.68 per cent), petrol cars (19.59 per cent), plug-in hybrids (14.93 per cent) and diesel models (12.36 per cent).
What were the top-selling cars in Ireland during September?
September's sales charts reflected the growing popularity of EVs, with Tesla emerging as Ireland's best-selling car brand, registering 944 vehicles and capturing 14.88 per cent of the market.
Toyota followed with 690 registrations, ahead of Volkswagen (625), Skoda (461) and Kia (444). MG, Hyundai, BMW, Ford and BYD completed the top ten best-selling brands for September.
Tesla's success was driven by the Model Y, which was not only Ireland's best-selling electric vehicle last month but also the best-selling passenger car overall. The electric SUV recorded 744 registrations, giving it an 11.73 per cent market share for the month.
Behind the Model Y, the MG4 secured second place with 296 registrations, followed by the Toyota RAV4 (234), Volkswagen ID.4 (207) and Tesla Model 3 (200).
Rounding out September's top ten best-selling models were the Skoda Octavia (138), Hyundai Inster (133), Toyota Yaris Cross (120), Volkswagen Tayron (99) and Skoda Kodiaq (94).
What electric car grants and supports will be available in Ireland in 2027?
That is still a big unknown, though the Budget announcement on 6 October should reveal all. SIMI is urging the government not to remove incentives that have helped drive adoption. SIMI Director General Brian Cooke described 2026 as a "landmark year" for battery electric vehicle sales, adding, “The momentum is clearly there, and the government has a real opportunity in Budget 2027 to ensure the continued expansion in BEV sales. This is especially important in the context of increasing fossil fuel costs and Ireland’s climate targets. So, for Budget 2027, SIMI is giving a simple message to government: extend the BEV supports for next year.”
Are EVs popular outside of the big cities?
While Dublin remains the largest market for electric vehicles, growth is being recorded across Ireland. Cork recorded 15,196 new car registrations during the first nine months of 2026, making it Ireland's second-largest market. Meanwhile, counties including Roscommon, Cavan, Carlow, Longford, Clare and Mayo all posted dramatic increases. The figures suggest that electric motoring is no longer confined to major urban centres and is increasingly becoming a mainstream choice for drivers nationwide.
Anything else interesting in SIMI’s September 2026 motoring report?
It depends on what you consider interesting, but the figures also show strong activity in the used car market, with imports rising 18.9 per cent during September and 34.4 per cent year-to-date. Ireland's commercial vehicle market also continued to grow, with light commercial vehicle (LCV) registrations up 7.3 per cent in September to 2,318 units from 2,159 in September 2025. Year-to-date, LCV registrations are up 7.4 per cent.
The Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) sector also posted growth in September, with registrations up 4.1 per cent, however, on a year-to-date basis, HGV registrations remain slightly behind last year's levels, with 2,381 registrations recorded so far in 2026, down 1 per cent from the 2,405 registered during the same period in 2025.
What does Ireland’s Budget 2027 mean for motorists?
The latest registration figures highlight a clear trend: Irish motorists are embracing electrification faster than ever before. With EVs now the country's most popular new-car powertrain, the focus will turn to Budget 2027 and whether the government maintains purchase incentives that have helped accelerate adoption. For consumers planning to change their car in the next 12 months, any announcements on EV grants, VRT reliefs or other incentives in Budget 2027 could significantly affect the cost of switching to an electric vehicle.
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