Dublin, Ireland – The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has released its official new vehicle registration statistics for November 2025, revealing a mixed picture across the automotive sector.
New car registrations fell sharply in November, down 25.2% to 838 units compared to 1,121 in November 2024. Despite this month-on-month drop, year-to-date figures remain positive, with 124,680 new cars registered in 2025, a 3.1% increase on the same period last year.
Commercial Vehicles Drive Growth
The commercial vehicle sector experienced notable growth, with Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations soaring 94.9% in November to 1,035 units, up from 531 in the same month last year. Year-to-date LCV registrations reached 32,476, representing a 6.2% increase. Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations also saw a monthly rise of 16.6%, reaching 112 units, although year-to-date HGV registrations remain 6.7% lower at 2,653 units.
Imported Used Cars on the Rise
Imported used car registrations continued to surge, climbing 28.4% in November to 6,373 units compared to 4,962 in November 2024. For the year to date, imports are up 14.4%, totaling 66,825 units, signaling strong consumer appetite for pre-owned vehicles.
Electric Vehicle Market Reaches New Heights
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations in November dropped 31.9% to 348 units from 511 in November 2024. However, the overall trajectory for electric vehicles in 2025 remains robust. So far this year, 23,431 new electric cars have been registered, a 36.5% increase compared to 17,164 in the same period last year. This surpasses the previous record set in 2023, highlighting a nationwide uptake of EV technology.
Market Share by Engine Type
Petrol remains the dominant fuel type in the new car market with a 25.14% share, followed by Hybrid (Petrol Electric) at 22.51%, Electric at 18.79%, Diesel at 17.1%, and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) at 14.84%.
Industry Perspective
Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, commented:
“November new car registrations declined by 25% compared to the same month last year. With November traditionally being quieter, year-to-date sales remain 3% ahead of 2024, with 124,680 new cars registered. New battery-electric car registrations fell by 32% in November, but this has not undermined the overall BEV market. In fact, 2025 has now surpassed the previous record year of 2023 for BEV registrations. To the end of November, 23,431 BEVs have been registered, a 37% increase on the same period last year and a 3% increase on 2023. This growth has been reflected across every county.”
Cooke added:
“In the commercial vehicle sector, both light and heavy vehicles experienced strong activity in November. LCV registrations are showing a 95% increase for the month and a 6% rise year-to-date. HGV registrations saw a 17% increase in November, although they remain 7% down on last year. With the year-end approaching, the Industry’s focus will shift to the key selling period at the start of 2026, with generous new car incentives across all brands and market segments.”
As 2025 draws to a close, the Irish automotive market demonstrates a clear evolution: strong commercial vehicle performance, record-breaking electric vehicle adoption, and a steady yet competitive landscape for traditional fuel types.
