New car sales in Laois show over 10% increase according to 2025 figures – Laois Today
There were a total of 1,582 new cars sold in Laois in 2025, up more than 10% on 2024, according to the end of year figures released by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
The 1,582 new cars sold in the county in 2025 compares to 1,431 a year earlier, a 10.55% increase. This compares to a 3% increase nationally.
Nationally, there was a 35% increase in electric cars sold but in Laois this increase was even more pronounced with a 73% increase. A total of 295 electric cars were registered as sold in 2025 compared to 170 in 2024, though the 2024 figure was considerably down on the 214 that were sold in 2023.
However, almost one in five new cars sold in Laois now (19%) is electric which compares to under 7% back in 2021.
Laois bucks the trend on the national figure on diesel cars which account for 25% of the market share in the county.
Nationally that figure is just 17%. Diesel cars proved most popular in Laois again in the past 12 months compared to 20.4% for petrol and 18.65% for electric. Nationally, petrol cars enjoy the greatest market share at 25%.
23,601 new electric cars were registered in 2025, an increase of 35.1% from the 17,460 registrations seen in 2024.
Market share for 2025 sees Petrol accounting for 25.11%, Hybrid 22.48%, Electric 18.89%, Diesel 17.09%, and Plug-In Hybrid 14.82%. Petrol remains the most popular engine type of choice for 2025, despite a decline in market share.
When you group electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, they now account for over 56% of the market nationally, a figure almost identical to what it is on a local level in Laois.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting: “The new car market in 2025 finished in line with projections, as new car registrations reached 124,954 units, an increase of 3% on 2024.
“Battery-electric cars reached 23,601 units, an increase of 35% on 2024, the highest level of sales annually, surpassing the previous record year of 2023, with an increase in registrations in every county.
“This, along with the increase in plug-in hybrid registrations, meant that Ireland comfortably surpassed the 2025 Climate Action Plan targets. Hybrid-electric vehicles also continued to gain momentum in 2025, while traditional fuels (petrol and diesel) have seen a decline in their market share.
“The 261 sales period has now commenced, and the Irish Motor Industry is optimistic for the year ahead. Retailers and manufacturers have a variety of offers and different models available for both new and used cars to suit all buyers, making it a good time to shop around.”
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