Car sales rose in Mayo in first half of year

Sales of new cars were buoyant in counties Mayo and Galway in the first six months of the year, according to the latest data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

The figures, covering the 251 new vehicle registration period to June 30th, show that there were 1,391 new cars sold in Mayo since the start of the year compared to 1,294 for the same period last year, an increase of 7.5%. The situation was even better in Co Galway where 3,352 new vehicles were registered up to June 30th, compared to 3,017 last year, an increase of 11.1%. Co Galway's car market is bigger than the other four Connacht counties combined.

Counties Roscommon and Leitrim both posted slight declines in car sales in the 251 period while the data from Sligo showed that the market was stagnant. In Co Roscommon, 727 new vehicles were registered up to June 30th, compared to 741 for the first six months of 2024, while there were 311 new vehicle sales in Co Leitrim, a decline of 4.6% from last year's six-month figure of 326. In Co Sligo, some 753 new vehicles were registered in the 251 period, just one more than in the first six months of last year. 

Nationally, there were 81,750 new vehicles registered in the first half of this year, an increase of 3.5% from the 78,979 registered in the same period last year. June proved a very strong month for the motor industry with new car registrations increasing by a whopping 63.5% to 2,441 from 1,493 in June of last year.

Sales of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were down 6.7% to 18,820 in the first half of the year while sales of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) were down by 9.3% to 1,649.

Imported used cars have seen a 10.6% rise in June 2025 to 5,713 compared to 5,164 in June 2024. Year to date imports are up 8.1% to 33,896, compared to 31,370 in the first six months of 2024.

In June 1,246 new electric vehicles (EVs) were registered, which was 81.9% higher than the 685 registrations in June 2024. So far this year, 13,631 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 27% increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 10,737 electric cars were registered.

In the new car market share by engine type for 2025, Petrol cars continue as the new car market leader at 27.23%, followed by hybrid (petrol- electric) at 22.77%, diesel at 17.26%, electric at 16.67%, and plug-in electric hybrid at 14.46%.

The top-selling new car brands in Ireland during the 251 registration period were Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Skoda and Kia, while the top five new car models were the Hyundai Tucson, Toyota Rav, Toyota Yaris Cross, Kia Sportage and Skoda Octavia. 

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commented:

“June was a positive month for new car registrations, with a 64% increase compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date sales remain ahead of last year by 3.5%, with a total of 81,750 new cars registered. 

"The most notable statistic for the half of the year has been the performance of battery electric vehicle sales, which have shown consistent growth each month. EV registrations in June increased by 82% in comparison with June last year, with 1,246 units sold, while year to date new EV registrations reached 13,631 a 27% increase on the first half of last year. 

"EVs represent nearly 17% of new cars sold this year. While this is clearly a positive development, it should be highlighted that EV sales are behind 2023 levels (14,307), and extension of Government supports is still vital in the establishment of the EV market. 

"July marks the commencement of the 252 sales period, along with the debut of the new green ‘flash’ on license registration plates for zero-emission vehicles and we look forward to seeing the new EV plate on Irish roads.”