Electric Vehicle Licenses Surge 82 Percent in Ireland

The Central Statistics Office reported that electric vehicles (EVs) drove a surge in newly licensed vehicles in Ireland during July 2026. New EV licenses rose 82% year-over-year to 7,216, making them the most popular fuel category for the month. For the first seven months of 2026, EVs accounted for 26% of all new private cars licensed, up from 17% during the same period in 2025.

This growth coincided with a sharp decline in traditional combustion engines. In July, petrol and diesel licenses fell by 31% and 30% respectively. Over the first seven months of the year, their combined market share dropped from 44% to 33%. Used electric vehicle licenses also grew, capturing an 11% share of the used car market from January to July.

Toyota and Volkswagen emerged as the dominant brands, together holding 25% of the market. The Toyota Yaris Cross was the best-selling model overall, while the Volkswagen ID.4 was the top-selling electric model. Additionally, the licensing of new goods vehicles increased by 16% in July and 12% over the first seven months of the year.