New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of new private electric cars licensed for the first time in August jumped by 57% to 3,763 compared to 2,394 the same month last year.
The CSO said this means the share of electric vehicles among new private cars licensed from January to August was 27% compared with 18% during the same time in 2025.
Today’s figures show that licensing of hybrid vehicles increased by 9% from 1,928 in August of last year to 2,110 new private cars in August of this year.
They also reveal that the combined share of petrol and diesel cars among new private cars licensed in the first eight months of the year was down compared to the same time last year, slowing to 32% from 44%.
Overall, the total number of new private cars licensed in August increased by 17% on the same month last year, rising to 10,924 from 9,355.
The CSO said the total number of used (imported) private cars licensed in August rose by 34% compared with August of last year, growing to 8,084 from 6,048.
Toyota was the most popular make of new private car licensed in August at 1,587 vehicles, followed by Volkswagen (1,293), Skoda (1,047), Kia (1,002) and Hyundai (646).
These five makes represented 51% of all new private cars licensed during the month, the CSO noted.
Meanwhile, the most popular brand of new electric car licensed in August was the Volkswagen ID.4 (274), followed by the Kia EV2 (149), and the Kia EV5 (126).
