New car registrations up 3.3% in January 2026 – Cork's 96FM
Tuesday, 3 February 2026 12:53
By News Team
Significant growth in battery technology cars.
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today released its official 261 new vehicle registration statistics for January, reporting a positive start to the year for the Irish motor industry.
New car registrations for January were up 3.3% (34,604) compared to January 2025 (33,499).
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) increased by 21.6% (7,579) compared to January last year (6,234). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations are down 16.6% (392) in comparison to January 2025 (470).
Imported Used Cars have seen a 43.5% (8,041) rise in January 2026, when compared to January 2025 (5,604).
In January 7,319 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered, which was 48.7% higher than the 4,923 registrations in January 2025. This growth represents the highest number of electric car registrations to date.
In the new car market share by engine type, Hybrid (Petrol Electric) has taken the lead for the first time at 28.28% as the most popular engine type, followed by Electric 21.15%, Petrol 20.94%, Plug-In Hybrid 14.56%, and Diesel 12.48%.
Automatic transmissions account for 78.74% of market share, while manual transmissions continue to see a decline at 21.21%.
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commenting:
“2026 has started promisingly for the new car market. January, a key month for sales, saw 34,604 new cars registered, a 3% increase on the same month last year. The commercial sector experienced mixed results. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) saw an increase of 22% while Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations saw a decrease of 17% on January last year.
Battery technology cars (BEV, PHEV, HEV) saw significant growth. Their market share accounted for nearly two-thirds of new car sales in January, with the combined market share of traditional petrol and diesel cars falling to 33%. Hybrid-electric vehicles are the most popular engine choice, taking the position as market leader for the first time.
The momentum in Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) sales from last year has carried over into January 2026. BEV sales rose significantly in January with 7,319 units registered compared to 4,923 units last year, the highest monthly volume to date. Over one in five new cars registered in January were fully electric vehicles. Private consumers accounted for 75% of BEV sales, an 11% increase on last year. Government incentives, expanding EV model choices, and a greater range of price points are all helping consumers make the switch. If we want this emerging market to continue to expand, focus on infrastructure and Government supports will be key.”
